When Lauren Gabrielle Photography and A Charming Fête set out to make inspiration that exudes artsy, vibrant details they hit that nail RIGHT on the head. This shoot takes eclectic to a whole new level of pretty. And it has details that can be pulled apart and folded into your day one by one or, if you’re anything like me, you can take the whole lot and plop them right into your affair; color explosion included. Click here for the FULL gallery of goodness.
From A Charming Fête… We were inspired by the idea of a mosaic in bright and vibrant colors -but in a much less traditional sense. We captured this essence through the use of texture and shapes in nearly all elements –from the bright flowers (garden roses, cockscomb, protea and dahlias) to the colored vintage glassware, tons of DIY yarn details, wooden floral lattice backdrop and brightly colored macaroon tower- all nods to the mosaic inspiration. We stumbled across this cosmic-graphic print fabric and it really captured our idea of an amped-up, contemporary mosaic- and served as our color palette. It juxtaposed perfectly with vintage details in a natural setting to create a unique, old-meets-new vibe. We really wanted to play on the bright pops color (oranges, corals, pinks and blues) through our detail elements which were balanced so nicely by bronze and neutral undertones. We did not want the design and color palette to be definitive of one particular season… but we decided to style the bride in a chic, fall-ready look.
Tablescape, Flowers and Backdrop–A cultural garden with a triple-arch architectural detail was the perfect setting for the shoot. We used a reclaimed wood table with bentwood farm chairs to create natural, organic base. We made a runner using a bit of the graphic fabric described above. We topped the table with eclectic, colored vintage glassware and created lush floral arrangements in white vintage milk glass. We used a combination of fresh-picked wild flowers and higher-end stems (such as David Austin garden roses) to create visual interest and varying texture. We also incorporated tons of DIY details made from brightly colored yarn, from the heart-shaped pompom chair swags (with a pseudo “mosaic” effect), coffee-stained hang tag seating cards and wooden candlestick holders. We wanted some unexpected color in our place setting and accomplished this through tumblers and wine glasses in shades of amber, peach and turquoise (some vintage and some Anthropologie) and blue lattice, milk glass salad bowls. The menus were also DIY and created in the same color palette as the seating cards. We made a colorful backdrop using a basic wooden garden lattice and tons of wild flower stems, which were easily popped right into the accordion creases.
Dessert–We went the less traditional route and used a bright macaroon tower and shapely petit fours in lieu of a cake. We worked with Coquette, a local French patisserie to achieve the perfect sweets combination and color palette. We created the “SUGAR” yarn art using a vintage white door, a box of nails and some colored yarn. We added some colored vintage glassware and displayed some of the dessert items on a tall, tiered, weathered wood stand. We also incorporated a small, ornate table that was up-cycled using some turquoise paint.
Fashion–We added a skinny leather belt to the bride’s vintage-inspired lace gown (designed by Laura Smith of A Bride’s Design). We also added a cropped leather jacket in a camel shade, gray suede mary janes, and a one-of-a-kind necklace created from hand-painted vintage lace. The bride also wore a third generation, gold heirloom watch. We kept the groom’s look equally cool with a tailored European gray suit, linen bowtie and a pair of brown leather Ferragamos. The bride’s bouquet had the same vibe as the centerpieces and was created using a mix of wild flowers and garden roses. We wrapped the bouquet in vintage cream lace and tied it off with a bit of brightly colored yarn and a peach ornament accent.
Other Details–We also incorporated a giant gold-gilded mirror and a hand carved wooden king’s chair as decorative accents. And we couldn’t resist using the vintage red Mercedes convertible. It was the perfect get-away car for this uber-cool couple. We created a simple “ever after” garland, some yarn pompoms and wrapped tin cans in bright yarn to attach to the back of the car.
Photography: Lauren Gabrielle Photography / Location: Syrian Cultural Garden in Cleveland, Ohio / Event + Floral Design, Styling, Stationery, Vintage Glassware: A Charming Fête / Macaroons + Pastries: Coquette Patisserie / Farm Chairs, Chargers, Flatware, Napkin: EventSource / Dining table, Tiered Stand, Mirror, King’s Chair: Arhaus / Blue Tumblers: Anthropologie / Runner Fabric: Whimzwhirled via Spoonflower / Wedding Dress: Laura Smith of A Bride’s Design / Bride’s Necklace: JEWELS / Bride’s Shoes: Mark & James by Badgley Mischka / Bride’s Sunglasses: Vintage Louis Vuitton / Bride’s Belt, Jacket, Watch: Stylist’s own / Hair + Makeup: Rania’s Hair Salon & Spa / Groom’s Suit: Adesso / Groom’s Bowtie: Bagzétoile / Groom’s Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo