Real Weddings

Meet the Boston Event Designer Who Turns Backyards Into Bridal Dreamscapes

With an eye for texture, tone, and narrative, Stephanie Kent reimagines the classic bridal shower as a "Sofia Coppola dreamland."

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A group of women standing on grass in a garden setting, dressed in colorful floral and pastel dresses. The central woman wears a white gown with floral details on the bodice and holds a white parasol. Several women hold pink parasols, and there is a backdrop decorated with flowers and greenery behind them. Tall trees and dense foliage form the background.

Grace Finneral’s bridal shower was all about celebrating sisterhood and friendship with the special women in her life. / Photo by Megan Holloway

For floral and event designer Stephanie Kent, crafting celebrations that feel deeply personal is both her passion and her philosophy. After nearly a decade working with legendary planner Janie Haas Events, Kent took time away upon having her first baby—and in doing so, discovered her next chapter. “The business found me,” she says. “It started organically, and I realized I wanted to design celebrations that tell a story and evoke a feeling.”

Rebranding as Wild at Heart Co. in 2020 allowed Kent to hone her signature approach: highly curated, emotionally resonant designs that balance artistry with intention. She takes on only a handful of events each year—each one a fully immersive experience marked by thoughtful detail and a “white glove” creative process.

That bespoke sensibility was on full display at a recent bridal shower for Grace Finneral, hosted by Grace’s mother, Megan, in their family’s backyard. “Grace and Megan were dream clients,” Kent says. “They came to me with unlimited trust.” Inspired by snaps on Grace’s Pinterest board that nodded to LoveShackFancy’s romantic aesthetic, Kent envisioned a modern interpretation—“something feminine and nostalgic, but not overly pink or trendy.”

A large outdoor event tent with a transparent roof and mauve draped curtains tied back at the corners. The entrance features a white lattice arch decorated with green foliage and colorful flowers. Inside, guests are seated at round tables covered with beige tablecloths, and a large chandelier hangs from the center of the tent. The setting is on a grassy lawn surrounded by trees.

Much of Kent’s work, she says, is in “juxtaposition.” Here, she felt the hard, black, structured tent with a clear top would be a beautiful contrast to the feminine color scheme. / Photo by Megan Holloway

A wooden dining table set for a formal event with floral-patterned plates, gold flatware, and light purple napkins. The table features a floral centerpiece with pink, white, and green flowers, along with small bowls of fruit and olives. Tall, ribbed glass candle holders and wine glasses are also arranged on the table. In the background, there are elegant, dusty pink draped curtains tied with bows, and light wooden chairs with woven backs.

The tablescapes evoked a nostalgic English-garden vibe, while mauve napkins and tent draping added feminine richness. / Photo by Megan Holloway

A table covered with a pink floral tablecloth displays a variety of appetizers and drinks. There is a pyramid of clear coupe glasses filled with a light-colored beverage and garnished with orange peel. Surrounding the glasses are plates of small sandwiches and bite-sized appetizers, some served in small woven baskets with white napkins and blackberries. Greenery and small flowers are used as decorative accents on the table. A pink and white striped umbrella with fringe hangs above the setup. The background shows a white building with a black door and outdoor lighting.

Photo by Megan Holloway

A custom-built trellis entrance set the tone, drawing guests into an ethereal garden scene layered with florals in mauve tones, loden greens, and unexpected pops of cherry red and powder blue. Lola Valentina patterned plates echoed an English-garden motif, while velvet touches and delicate butterfly accents added whimsy. Kent balanced lush, floral-filled moments with intentional negative space to let textures and light breathe—an interplay she describes as “soft and hard, feminine and masculine.”

Touches of personality made the event unforgettable: an ’80s glass-phone guest book, a custom watercolor crest, and a trellis bar framed by blooms. “I wanted it to feel like a Sofia Coppola dreamland,” Kent says, “where girls are sipping spicy sauvignon blanc and espresso martinis in this magical, nostalgic garden.”

For Grace, the result was everything she imagined—and more. “Stephanie went way beyond my inspiration,” she says. “Every little detail was so thoughtful. It was the most perfect September day.”

A vintage-style rotary telephone with a clear, textured glass body and gold accents sits on a pink floral tablecloth. A hand with a sheer white sleeve is lifting the handset. Behind the phone, there is a bouquet of flowers including pale peach, purple, and white blooms. To the left, a wicker-framed sign with colorful floral illustrations and cursive writing is partially visible.

A glass push-button phone from the 1980s served as the guest book, where Grace’s friends recorded memory-filled messages of goodwill to her throughout the day. / Photo by Megan Holloway

Table setting with a floral napkin, a purple plate, and a card featuring an illustration of two women in dresses. Two white butterfly-shaped place cards with the names "Georgi Carney" and "Donna Carney" are placed on the plate. A can of Sanpellegrino Ciao! Cherry drink with a striped straw is next to an empty wine glass. The background includes a floral centerpiece with pink roses, white hydrangeas, and purple flowers on a green tablecloth.

The team at Art Experienced was at the event to create personalized sketches of the guests in their vibrant floral frocks. / Photo by Megan Holloway

Bartender Bartending by Tucker
Caterer Catering by Erin
Content Creation The Twentyfour Diaries
Drapery + Lighting Drape Art Designs
Floral + Event Design The Wild Dahlia
Floral Artistry Sweet Talk Floral
Invitations + Day-Of Stationery Gus & Ruby Letterpress
Live Artists and Custom Artwork Art Experienced
Musician Sam James
Photographer Megan Holloway, The New Romantic
Planner + Designer Wild at Heart Co.
Rentals Gooseberry Tabletop; Peak Event Service
Specialty Rentals and Custom Builds Form Creative Services
Tent Structure Peak Event Services
Textiles Lola Valentina

A large outdoor event tent with a transparent roof and mauve curtains is set up on a grassy lawn near a swimming pool. The tent features a floral archway at the entrance, and people are seated inside at tables. The surrounding area includes tall evergreen trees and a stone patio around the pool.

Photo by Megan Holloway

First published in the print issue of Boston Weddings 2026 with the headline, “The Art of the Intentional Celebration.”

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