A Wielki Dzień project
A civil wedding in the garden of Młyn VI
Written by: Magdalena Raba
Decorations for a civil ceremony and reception in the garden of Młyn VI in Gdańsk: white flowers, sage gauze, an arch draped in white fabric and tulle on the chairs.
Up close
Photos from the project
We based the setting for the civil wedding in the garden on white and sage
In August 2026, we prepared the setting for a civil wedding and reception at Młyn VI in Gdańsk for about 40 guests. We took care of the decoration of the ceremony, tables and flowers. Everything was placed in the garden of the facility, on the lawn, so the ceremony and reception had a common background. When both parts of the day take place in the same environment, we treat their decoration as one whole, not as separate projects. That's why one palette covers the whole day, and we match flowers and fabrics to it.
We built the palette from white, green and sage. We combined white and cream flowers with dark green ruscus, a sage shade appeared in table runners and napkins, and white tablecloths reached the floor. In the garden, moderation makes practical sense, because the lawn and old trees themselves create a green background in which any subsequent color would quickly get lost. The white of the flowers and tablecloths is clear against this background and it gives the tables order. This is clearly visible at the tables set under white blooming hydrangeas, which repeat the color of the decorations.
Młyn VI in Oliwa has a garden with a pond and the Oliwski Stream
Młyn VI is a building of a former water mill, which stands in Oliwa, Gdańsk, at Aleja Grunwaldzka, and the area of the facility is adjacent to Oliwa Park. The garden is approximately 3,000 m² in size, there is a pond, the Oliwski Stream flows through it and there are walnut, apple and plum trees in it. The facility accepts civil, church and humanist ceremonies in the garden, and one of the ceremony places is marked by an alder tree overlooking the pond. It also has one air-conditioned room for 100 people, with round and rectangular tables, a relaxation area for guests and a separate room for couples getting ready. Młyn VI describes his style as "slow".
It was our second wedding reception in Młyn VI in 2026, because we had already decorated another wedding here in the spring. This time, a wooden arch was placed on the lawn next to a whitewashed brick wall, and tables were placed in the garden. One of the long tables was placed in front of a red brick and half-timbered building, next to a stone wall. There is no need for tall compositions against such a background, because the brick and the drawing of the half-timbered wall fill the frame themselves. It is enough that the white of the tablecloths and flowers contrasts with the red of the facade, thanks to which the table stands out clearly from the building.
The wooden arch has white draperies and flowers with a cascade of ruscus
We threw a white, flowing fabric over the upper beam of the wooden arch, which flows down the sides and onto the grass. Soft folds soften the lines of the structure and give it lightness. In the upper corners of the arch we arranged compositions of white roses, carnations, eustoma and gypsophila. A cascade of ruscus falls from each of them, repeating the movement of the fabric and connecting the flowers with the draperies into one line. Its dark green also gives the white flowers an outline against the white fabric, so that from a distance you can see their shape and not just the white.
On a dark, old wooden official's table, we placed a low, round composition of white roses, carnations, eustoma, gypsophila and ruscus. During a civil wedding, the table is used for work, so the documents must fit on the table top. Therefore, we place the flowers low and compactly on it, so that they leave part of the tabletop free and do not cover the clerk. The round shape takes up little space and is readable both from the guests' chairs and from close up. The dark wood of the table is a calm background for the white flowers, against which the small composition remains clear.
White tulle on the chairs marked the path to the arch
We decorated the couple's bent wooden chairs with white tulle and flowers. On each backrest we placed a white rose with smaller roses, gypsophila and ruscus, and the whole thing was finished with a white satin bow with long ribbons. Smooth, shiny satin has a different texture from light, transparent tulle, and ribbons extend the line of decoration. The chairs next to them received smaller bouquets and bows. Thanks to this difference in scale, the couple's seats immediately stand out, while the adjacent chairs remain part of the same decoration.
Folding chairs made of wooden slats, placed by the alley, had long tulle falling on the grass and bouquets of white carnations and gypsophila tied with a white ribbon. The tulle repeated on subsequent chairs creates a bright line along the aisle that leads the eye straight to the arch and its white draperies. The decoration should not protrude far from the aisle, so the bouquets are small. The decorations of the chairs, as well as the tablecloths on the guests' tables, were finalized before the wedding. Then a ready-made palette helps, because we select new elements to it, instead of starting from scratch.
The guests' long tables were covered with white tablecloths and sage gauze
We placed floor-length white tablecloths on the guests' long tables. Sage-colored, crinkled gauze runners ran along them and also draped down the short sides of the tables, and sage-colored napkins were placed on white plates. The light gauze does not cover the whiteness of the tablecloth, but gently colors it, and the napkins repeat the color of the table runner with each setting. Additionally, there were white pillar candles in transparent glass cylinders. Outdoors, we only place candles in glass because the cover protects the flame from the wind. Place the cylinders securely, with a distance from the flowers and gauze.
We placed glass vases in the shape of carafes on the table runners, with one white rose or carnations and gypsophila. Single flowers in glass take up little space on a long table, so place settings and plates can be placed between them. With such a small decoration, guests on both sides of the table can see each other well. The stems are visible in the transparent glass, so the vases look light on the sage gauze and do not overwhelm the table runner. Rose and carnations with gypsophila have a different character, but they are united by white, thanks to which the whole remains calm.
The couple's table and the ceremony were united by the same set of flowers
We decorated the couple's table separately. We arranged a long, low composition of white roses, eustoma, carnations and gypsophila, from which ruscus flows down the tablecloth. This cascade softens the edge of the tabletop and repeats the movement of greenery from the corners of the arch, making the reception reflect the ceremony site. A continuous floral line distinguishes the couple's table from the guests' tables with vases, although the palette remains the same. The height of the composition is deliberately low, because the table is mainly viewed from the front, and the steam should not disappear behind the flowers.
On the arch, on the official's table, on chairs, on the couple's table and in vases, the same species returned in various combinations: white roses, eustoma, double and branch carnations, gypsophila and ruscus. The scale and form changed, and the flowers came from one short set throughout the day, which is why the ceremony and reception are perceived as one setting. Outdoors, we choose flowers that can withstand several hours in full light. The chairs, the official's table, the structure of the arch, the lighting above the tables and the garden plants visible in the photos are not our work, so we do not attribute them to ourselves.
We advise couples on how to plan a civil wedding and garden reception
Start by talking to the subject about where the arch can be placed in the garden and where the tables can be placed. The selected places will determine the background of the decoration, and with it the selection of colors and the scale of the composition. Also find out which garden equipment belongs to the facility, because this determines what the decorator will only decorate and what he or she must bring. For the official's table, order a low composition that will leave part of the tabletop free for documents. A tall decoration would take up the space needed by the official and hide him from the guests.
Make sure that the tulle on the chairs and the draperies on the arch are well tied, as the light fabric can easily shift and get tangled in open spaces. Place candles on tables only in glass covers that keep the flame away from tulle, gauze and flowers. Choose one set of flowers for the whole day and only change the scale, from a composition on an arch to a single flower in a vase. Thanks to this, the arch and tables will not fall apart into separate decorations, even if they are placed in different parts of the garden. There is no need to cover the green with anything, just complement it with white and one calm color of fabric.
