I hope everyone has had a chance to check out Vintage Week.... as promised, I've put together a little something for those that are looking to go a little retro...
I've had brides that have used just about every era for inspiration. When such inspiration is pulled from very style-specific places (such as Victorian or Mid-Century Modern).... it can seem limiting at first. The trick is to use the inspiration as a guide for planning... but to allow yourself the flexibility to go outside of just this genre. By allowing modern interpretations of and influences from these designs to appear in your event... you will keep it fresh and it will not seem dated. 
For instance.... and this is something that I have been getting quite a bit with my younger brides.... when a bride tells me "We are looking for an anti-wedding. I can't imagine myself in a bridal gown. I can't see him in a tux. We don't like fluffy flowers- can we not have flowers? I don't really want a big cake. We just want our guests to have a good time. We want something that is really vintage but a little rock star- you know?" .... (yes, I really have brides like this)... I generally take it in and interpret it something like this:
Solution A: Fall Vintage Rockstar- it is all about rich colors, textures, and a little velvet here and there... Play up the "feel" by using vintage wallpaper samples, cameos, and antique brooches throughout the event...
The Inspiration: Dita's Wedding
The Fashion: 
The Flowers: (via Fresh)
The Invitation: via huetopia
Suggested Seating: (Urban Outfitters and )
Elements to Tie the Wedding Together:
The Cake: 
Solution B: Spring Vintage-Mod Rockstar- This is all about ethereal romance with a twist- a design inspired by the past but so very NOW....
The Inspiration:Lula Magazine
The Fashion:
The Flowers:think poppies, kale and queen anne's lace- it's all about delicate texture
The Invitation:Unlesssomeonelikeyou (Etsy)
Suggested Seating: via Urban Outfitters
The Cake: Bakery Bar and Ann Wood
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Going Vintage.... But Staying Modern....
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Case Study One
This evening I went through my old journals to find inspiration and noticed how ridiculous my obsession with this industry has become... back in the early days when I had no clients and merely interned under anyone that would be willing to take me in, I started a habit of designing imaginary events... I would tear a picture of a couple from a magazine, make up a back story, and then develop an idea for their event- many times researching the perfect elements to compliment what I believed to be their distinct style and circumstance... as the years have progressed and I finally have real brides..... and budgets.... and expectations....I still practice this exercise... there is such creative freedom when there is no budget involved and no one to veto my over-the-top ideas... I am able to pull a Preston here and there in my journals and I think that my REAL designs really benefit from these little creative sessions.... thus I have decided to post a mini-version of this exercise ever so often (as my journals, though sacred to me... are unable to give me any feedback...)
Meet Aldona and Carter... they met in South Africa... Aldona was there on business (she's an aspiring photographer)... and Carter was a local... and her safari guide... and really strong.
As fate would have it, Carter decides to cross the pond and pop the question... so now what? Sure his Jayson Home and Garden can co-habit her Jonathan Adler... but how on earth will their wedding ever be able to share the same cohesiveness? She wants a feminine safari feel... he just wants to avoid it being too themed and overdone... they both love to travel and want it to really capture their sense of adventure, but avoid any Indiana Jones undertones... neither is too enthusiastic about flowers, as they feel that they are too "fluffy" for their tastes.... most important to the two is that it really reflects them and their love for life and the world at large and all its inhabitants...
2. A "dramatic aisle" : Imagine waist-high hedges of horsetail in fruitwood planters flanking either side of a dried palm aisle... I love a semi-obstructed view of the bride... it makes for such a dramatic entrance... and really allows guests to feel as though they are fortunate to view such an intimate and personal affair
3. A Rustic Arbor- I'm thinking... skip the flowers and all the fuss... a simple bone hemstitched linen draped loosely will do
4. A loosely-structured, elegant hand-tied bouquet (via i-village)
6. Mosquito net in leiu of chandeliers or lanterns... loosely constructed and effortless in design
7. Skip the formal tablescaping... just keep it honest... 
8. Get Creative but keep minimal floral varieties.... mainly buffet pieces and/or structures here and there.. keep it simple by only incorporating exotic orchids, zebra grass, horsetails, and pheasant feathers... the key is mass numbers of one element, repeated again and again... <like this>
9. Transition from candlelit lantern dinner to full-on party with unique lighting option inspired by Africa's sunset... line the space with silhouette-printed panels, backlit in vibrant oranges... hang Artfool lanterns over dance area.... create a canopy look simular to David Stark's Gutherie Theater Opening.
10. Keep the favors thoughtful and sincere... have photographer take photos of guest throughout the night afront white linen backdrop for guestbook... then suprise them with the photo in a passport cover... with an inspiring little quote such as... "“there is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.” - nelson mandela
