A Wielki Dzień project
An intimate wedding in Klekotki
Written by: Magdalena Raba
Styling for an outdoor ceremony and an intimate reception at Hotel Klekotki, with a calm, autumnal feel.
Up close
Photos from the project
The intimate wedding in Klekotki referred to autumn
In 2024, we have prepared the setting for an intimate wedding in Klekotki - an outdoor wedding by an oak tree and a small reception at a long table. The whole thing had a calm, autumn character. We dealt with outdoor ceremony decorations, table decorations and wedding floristry. During a small wedding, guests are close to the decorations all day long and see every detail, from the texture of the fabric to the flowers on the table. Therefore, instead of multiplying elements, we prefer to refine a few and repeat them consistently.
The concept referred to autumn and rustic aesthetics. The main plant of this project was heather, which blooms in late summer and autumn, so it is naturally associated with this time of year. We based the palette on shades of lilac and purple, and the white tables and gray napkins served as a calm background. This combination is expressive but not flashy, and works well with the natural surroundings rather than competing with them.
We framed the ceremony by the oak tree with a hoop and heather
The wedding venue was chosen at a large oak tree covered with ivy. Such a tree itself is the background of the ceremony, so instead of covering it, we matched the decorations to the natural surroundings. A hoop with lilac fabric appeared under the oak tree. The hoop is light in shape, marks the place where the couple stands, and covers little. The fabric adds softness and color, and in photos from the ceremony, the background is the tree, not the wall of decorations.
There was also a white table under the tree, and we placed heather next to the benches. Thanks to them, the decoration did not end with the ring, but also covered the place where the guests were sitting. Heather in a pot tolerates long periods of time outside and does not lose its shape as quickly as cut flowers. It is low and compact, so it does not obstruct the view. Its natural, slightly wild character matched the rustic concept and the ivy on the oak tree.
Klekotki Mill provides a beautiful backdrop in its own right
The wedding and reception took place at the Młyn Klekotki hotel. A former water mill stands here on the Wąska River and mill ponds, on the border of Warmia, between Morąg and Pasłęk. Mention about it dates back to 1539, and its half-timbered construction dates back to 1619. The historic shape, water and ancient oak create a background that requires a few well-chosen accents. Therefore, rather than the number of decorations, we cared about colors and textures that harmonize with the surroundings.
The facility has several spaces on a scale where an intimate party is not lost. The River Room can accommodate up to 60 people, the Winter Garden can accommodate up to 45 people, and the Fireplace Room can accommodate up to 40 people. Outdoor ceremonies are organized in the Mill Settlement, and there is also a terrace under a 600-year-old oak tree. The property can accommodate 114 people - in 41 rooms, including 8 suites, and in cottages, and the bride and groom have a separate apartment. With such accommodation, the party can easily be extended for two days without having to organize travel for the guests.
We decorated the long table with heather and lilac candles
After the ceremony, a floral decoration accompanied a small reception at the table. We placed a row of heather plants in jute covers along the long wedding table, and the whole was complemented by lilac candles and gray napkins. In this arrangement, decoration in one line works better than several separate compositions. It guides the eye from one end to the other, and the low form of the heather allows guests to talk freely over the flowers. The row of pots can also be easily adjusted to the length of the countertop by adding or removing individual plants.
Jute added a raw, matte texture, close to rustic aesthetics, and gray napkins muted the stronger purples. By the window, heather in jute and lilac candles stood out clearly against the white table. On the windowsill there was a vase with purple roses, eustoma and delphinium. In such a combination, roses deepen the purple, eustoma adds softness, and slender delphinium inflorescences provide a vertical line that low heather lacks. Flowers on the windowsill enliven the interior and do not take up space on the table.
Welcome glasses were waiting for guests in the garden
In the garden, on a white table, a circle of glasses with champagne and pink wine waited for the guests. It's a small element, but it matters in an intimate wedding. It gives everyone a moment to say hello and talk before they sit down at the table. Glasses arranged in a circle look neat, invite you to reach for them, and create a decoration in themselves. Therefore, such a point does not need an extensive setting, and the whiteness of the table highlights the color of the wine.
We plan the transition from the ceremony to the reception so that subsequent places share a common language of decoration. Here, the glue was repeated motifs. The whiteness of the tables appeared under the oak tree, in the garden and by the window. Heathers stood by the benches and on the wedding table, and the lilac color of the fabric from the hoop returned in the candles. In this way, the ceremony, greeting and reception formed one whole.
We install outdoor decorations with a plan for rain
We start each project by talking to the couple and reviewing their inspirations. On this basis, we prepare the concept and color palette, select flowers and textiles, and before the wedding, we finalize the details with the venue. We work in the Tri-City and Pomerania on a daily basis, and Klekotki is located in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. When traveling further, we pack the decorations in advance, because there is no time to deliver the missing items on site.
On the wedding day, we install outdoor decorations as soon as possible before the ceremony so that cut flowers do not stand outside for long. For each outdoor event, we also establish a contingency plan in case of rain - where the ceremony will be moved and which elements can be quickly moved. The hoop, potted plants and table can be moved much faster than a heavy structure. After the party, we dismantle the decorations, take our elements and leave the space tidy.
How to plan an intimate outdoor wedding in autumn
We always recommend starting at the ceremony venue and viewing it at the same time of day you are planning your wedding. In autumn it gets dark faster, so it is better to plan the outdoor part during the day and prepare lanterns or candles in glass covers for the evening. Look for a background that has character in itself - a tree, water, old buildings - and add little to it. The decoration is meant to frame the couple, not cover the place.
Outdoors, choose seasonal plants in pots, such as heather. They tolerate cooler days well, do not wilt in a few moments, and after the wedding they can be planted in the garden. Cut flowers, for example roses, work better in the interior, where they will last peacefully throughout the evening. Choose a leading theme and a calm color base, and then repeat them at the ceremony and at the table. On a long shared table, keep the decorations low so that guests can see each other. Make a plan for rain with the facility before you order decorations.
