Creating a Luxury Backyard Anniversary Celebration: My Experience Designing a Minnesota Lake Party

Creating a Luxurious and Intimate Celebration for Chris and Deb's 35th Anniversary with bold floral design

When Dakota from All Things Goods reached out to me on Instagram to talk about a client she had who needed last-minute florals for a wedding anniversary, I knew I was in for an exciting adventure.

Chris and Deb, a couple celebrating 35 years of marriage, wanted to mark the occasion by throwing a grand party at their beautiful home on a lake in Big Lake, MN. Working with Deb, I toured the property and took photos to create digital mockups for a proposal. With less than two months to plan the 200-person event, it was a whirlwind of preparation, but the end result was truly stunning.

From a freestanding entry installation at the top of the grand staircase, to large arrangements at the base of the stairs and a custom bar installation, every detail was carefully planned and executed. We even incorporated unique elements like driftwood and dried citrus fruits near the bud vases and hanging illusion floral strings in the tent and vow renewal area.

But it wasn't just about the final product - the planning process itself was an invaluable learning experience. I discovered the importance of pre-setup visits, sourcing extra help, and creating visual mockups to align with the client's vision. I also made valuable connections with other vendors, and above all, was reminded the importance of being kind and patient with clients and colleagues during such a nerve-wracking process.

Overall, it was an exhausting but incredibly rewarding adventure. I'm so proud of how beautifully everything turned out and eternally grateful for the opportunity to work with such an incredible couple and team.

Photographer: Kendra Lauck