Quentin and Emma share their first kiss in front of the broken floral arch in the chapel at Gateley Hill Gardens
Real Weddings · Dardanelle, Arkansas

Quentin & Emma, and their broken arch

A dusty blue June wedding, built around one unforgettable piece.
Photo: Kylee Grace Photography

Every so often a couple falls in love with one idea and builds the whole day around it. For Quentin and Emma, it was the broken arch, a tall, asymmetric installation of white and green florals that framed them for their vows and then followed them to dinner. One beautiful piece, used twice, tying a soft dusty blue June wedding together from the first kiss to the last dance.

Their palette was quiet and classic, dusty blue, white, and a lot of fresh green, but the florals were anything but shy. Emma chose our elevated arrangements throughout, the lush, generous size with real height and variety, and you could feel it the moment you walked in.

Emma with her bouquet beside the broken arch of white and green florals at Gateley Hill Gardens
Quentin and Emma in a tender moment on the chapel pew at Gateley Hill Gardens

The broken arch stood beside Emma for the ceremony, white and green against the white chapel.

One arch, two moments

The broken arch is our most dramatic ceremony backdrop, and it is freestanding by design. That is the quiet magic of it: once the ceremony is over, we can lift it and move it. For Quentin and Emma, it traveled from the front of the chapel to behind their sweetheart table, so the piece that framed their vows also framed their reception. Guests saw it twice, and it never felt repeated, it felt intentional.

"One beautiful piece, used twice. The broken arch framed their vows and then their sweetheart table, and it tied the whole day together."
Crystal Malloy, Owner & Planner
Reception tablescape with a tall elevated white and green centerpiece at Gateley Hill Gardens
Quentin and Emma with their wedding party in dusty blue and tan at Gateley Hill Gardens

Elevated centerpieces on the tables, dusty blue on the bridesmaids, tan on the groomsmen.

Dusty blue, done softly

Dusty blue is one of those colors that reads differently in every light, cooler in the chapel, warmer at golden hour, always easy on everyone in the photos. Paired with tan suiting and plenty of green, it gave the day a relaxed, garden-party feel that suited Quentin and Emma exactly. Nothing stiff, nothing fussy, just a beautiful afternoon that looked like them.

The broken arch moved behind the sweetheart table for the reception at Gateley Hill Gardens

The same broken arch, now behind their sweetheart table for the reception.

Thinking about a broken arch of your own?

If Quentin and Emma's day is speaking your language, the broken arch is the signature piece of The Gateley, and our visual guide to backdrops and floral sizes walks through it alongside our other ceremony options. Come see the chapel in person and we will help you picture your own.

Questions we get all the time

What is a broken arch?
A broken arch is a freestanding, asymmetric floral installation, taller and fuller on one side, that frames you without closing over the top like a traditional round arch. It is our most dramatic ceremony backdrop and a signature of The Gateley package.
Can our ceremony arch be reused at the reception?
Yes. Because the broken arch is freestanding, we can move it after the ceremony to stand behind your sweetheart table, as we did for Quentin and Emma. One beautiful piece, used in two places.
What does "elevated" floral mean at Gateley Hill?
Elevated is our lush, generous arrangement size, with more variety and height than our classic centerpieces. Quentin and Emma chose elevated florals for their reception tables and sweetheart table.
Who photographed Quentin and Emma's wedding?
Their photos were taken by Kylee Grace Photography.
Dreaming of your own day? We would love to show you the chapel and the grounds. Check your date and we will be in touch within a day or two.

Keep reading

See the full Quentin & Emma gallery → Our visual guide to backdrops & floral sizes → See our wedding packages →