Here at SMP we focus on the pretty, pretty weddings that girls are going to swoon over. But that doesn’t mean we forget about the guys. So when a shoot so perfectly masculine – beer included – yet still upholding the SMP fab factor comes along, I die. And honestly, I expect nothing less from this team. Carla Ten Eyck, Hartford Prints!, Whim Events… all pros in the industry whom we adore. Click here for the whole gorgeous shoot!
From the lovely ladies at Hartford Prints! and Whim Events … The original inspiration for this “Industrial Revolution” shoot came after a trip Callie (from Hartford Prints!) took to L.A. this past summer. She was walking around some pretty gritty areas and envisioned a wedding that would be for lovers of urban, untouched, and overlooked spaces. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but sometimes it is just around the corner!
As we began imagining a wedding that was post-industrial, masculine, urban, rustic, and minimalist we knew we needed the entire shoot to be revolutionary. We knew we wanted to style it as a gay wedding, conceptualizing our grooms as lovers of the place where raw space, design, and style all meet. We envisioned our two grooms, Jonathan & Noel, as urban hipsters, rocking handmade denim and made-to-measure suits at their wedding, while rocking out to Black Star on the dance floor! We planned a two-location inspiration shoot – an engagement session inside the studios of Hartford Denim Company and a ceremony + reception inside an old factory space.
Jonathan & Noel’s letterpress invitation reads “Cocktail attire, tattoos, bow ties, cigars, skateboards, and flasks are all welcome.” This wedding is a laid back affair, centered around five themes, “Fancy, Flight, Fete, Fed, and Footloose.” The colors are blood orange, sea blue, steel grey, and charcoal.
Guests arrive and are greeted with cocktails, polaroids, place cards, and bow ties. Their place cards are hanging from a geometric bulletin board, where a sign reads “Fancy! Leave a picture, take your name!” We loved the idea that guests are encouraged to put on a bow tie, take a polaroid, write a note, and replace their photo with their place card, organically transforming the seating chart into a wedding guest book! The bow ties then become a favor for guests to take home and remember the day.
A metal chain suspended from the ceiling, clipped with colored lights and grounded by a cinderblock full of greenery, sets the industrial landscape of the ceremony site. We loved the idea that metallic and cement everyday objects (that anyone could find at their local Home Depot) work together to create a dramatic and layered effect. We envisioned a ceremony sprinkled with laughter and a lot of love.
After the ceremony, we imagined guests mingling at the bar and lounge area. The bar tablescape echoes the industrial style of the ceremony site. Two ladders, linked by metal sheeting and decorated with green moss, orange florals, and glass lightbulbs, set up a bar offering a “Flight” of beer from a local brewery, Back East Brewing Company. The lounge area, is a “Fete” offering guests a place to relax, enjoy their drinks, and get rowdy with vintage board games.
Dinner is set on rustic wooden tables and guests are seated on vintage metal stools.The tablescape is inspired by our couples’ geometric, minimalist, and thoughtful taste. Each place setting is slightly different and unique, just as we imagine their guests to be. The light gray napkins and angular plates mimic the shapes of the invitation suite, and the orange menu pops against the black and white tones. The letterpress table number sits in a metal stand made from an everyday coat hanger. Keeping the florals to a minimum, bright hues and artistic touches create impactful centerpieces. Each flower blooms from a light bulb vase, made from real light bulbs and metal piping. Bulbs are stacked at varying heights, some lit from underneath to create a teal and orange glow. The flowers themselves – pincushion protea, thistle, orchids, and leonotis – are simple, masculine, and unique.
Jonathan & Noel are both wearing custom suits, shirts, and ties by Brooklyn Tailors, a bespoke tailor in Williamsburg, dedicated to producing artisinal cloth of the highest quality. The suits not only reflect our grooms’ love of handmade craft, but also fit them both like a glove! They each wore a boutonniere made from orange florals, with metal filament from the inside of a lightbulb adding a playful, masculine twist.
More and more couples are steering away from the “expected” and truly want their wedding to reflect their personal and unique style. We encourage every bride or groom to do something at their wedding that “revolutionizes” the norm and captures who they are. We loved working on every single moment of this inspiration shoot. From all the vendors we used, to our awesome models – Roberto and Noel, to the singular talents of Carla Ten Eyck behind the camera, to DD Nickel’s eye for beauty, everyone involved was enthusiastic, and, most importantly, had an awesome time! We hope that the fabulous readers of Style Me Pretty are as inspired and excited by our vision as we are!
Photography: Carla Ten Eyck / Venue: 30 Arbor Street, Contact William Howard at 860-202-6460 / Event Planning, Floral + Event Design: Whim Events / Wardrobe Styling: Callie Heilmann from Hartford Prints! / Paper + Event Design: Hartford Prints! / China & Glassware Rentals: Rentals Unlimited / Bow-ties: OoO Tie / Beer Selection: Back East Brewing Company / Men’s Apparel Denim: Hartford Denim Company / Suiting: Brooklyn Tailors / Shirts: Brooklyn Tailors + Hartford Denim Company / Ties: Brooklyn Tailors / Shoes: Tommy Hilfiger + Model’s Own / Leather Tote Bags: Lenworth Apparel by Lenworth Williams / Women’s Apparel: Stylist’s Own / Hair + Makeup: ddNickel / Models: Roberto Franco and Noel Keating