The afternoon before her wedding day, Tess Goris gathered 26 of the most important women in her life for an intimate bridal luncheon in Kohler, Wisconsin. Designed as “a breathtaking, fairy-tale garden setting,” the celebration was both a heartfelt thank-you to her loved ones and a reflection of the bride’s unmistakably feminine aesthetic.

“It was my wish to create a breathtaking, fairy-tale garden setting for my bridal luncheon to honor and thank the most special women in my life,” affirms Tess, who works in fashion at LoveShackFancy in Wilmette, Illinois, and also designs her own gowns. Known for her love of romance and vintage-inspired style, the bride infused every detail of the bridal luncheon with softness, elegance, and sentimentality.

Long tables were layered with vintage china and delicate glassware, while crystal candelabras flickered amongst lush floral arrangements beneath a vine-covered pergola. Oversized pink satin bows were suspended overhead, complemented by billowing flowers woven throughout the greenery. At each place setting, guests discovered custom monogrammed pink velvet bows, while pink chair wraps – and even a coordinating high chair for the bride’s baby niece Cecilia – carried the cohesive palette throughout the space.

“The beauty, femininity, and romance of the garden luncheon was my gift to the amazing women in my life,” the bride reflects. A floral-adorned champagne cart serving mimosas, bellinis, and rosé became one of the afternoon’s focal points, while a tapestry welcome sign set the tone for the enchanting gathering from the moment guests entered the garden setting.

“The beauty, femininity, and romance of the garden luncheon was my gift to the amazing women in my life.”

The elegant luncheon menu included avocado and pea shoot salad, a variety of tea sandwiches, and roasted red pepper soup, followed by dessert towers showcasing assorted macarons, miniature angel food cakes topped with raspberries, and key lime bars for a sweet touch.

Though every detail contributed to the magical atmosphere, Tess says the emotional toasts shared throughout the afternoon became the celebration’s most memorable element. “It meant so much to me to receive such love and support from all the ladies I admire and respect and love so much,” she shares. “I also loved being able to thank them all for their love and friendship and support. Lots of joyful loving tears were shed that day. I felt so loved and so grateful.”

From the lush garden setting to the sentimental moments shared between generations of loved ones, Tess’ bridal luncheon the day before her nuptials felt less like a traditional bridal shower and more like a romantic fête pulled from the pages of a storybook and an unforgettable beginning to Tess and Tommy’s wedding weekend.

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