Carolynne D.

So excited about the pattern and the combination of pearls and rhinestones is so fun!

The addition of the lace in this Versailles Swirl invitation is a first for us and wow!  We love!

Inspired Creations Contest – The stationery and feathers

Thanks so much for following along my behind the scenes look at my Alchemy at the Barn shoot.  If you missed the first two posts, check here and here!  Creepy was a word that continually entered my mind when designing this table.  I know, I know…creepy…for a wedding concept?  Something Colin Cowie said at Engage 10 recently, replays in my mind and I paraphrase; when planning an event, you want to keep your guests on the edge of comfort.  Now certainly Mr. Cowie did not mean seat guests at rigid chairs and serve cold food.  I think what he meant instead is to shock guests a bit and keep them guessing as to what is coming next.    There is a certain impact that shock, surprise and the unknown hold for event planning and decor.  My thoughts exactly.

My pen and ink illustrations of Scabiosa, ladybugs and pheasant feathers were highly detailed and loaded with textures.  I purposely avoided an overly cutesy or whimsical aesthetic.

I adore this shot.  A weather worn door as low table, complete with doorknob.  The crisp white china and gold (Deerlite) flatware strike a stunning contrast to the stationery decked out in brown paper bag color cardstock against a heavily textured grey stock named Anvil from our friends at Envelopments®.  The Scabiosa bloom and ladybug are contrast painted with a thick white acrylic and then brushed with gold dots and accents!

Brandee from Metro Gypsy came on board to craft several signature pieces for each place setting and the centerpiece.

A palette of silver, rich grey, aqua and gold shone throughout the stationery collection.  Each piece had a unique personality in brushstroke, hue and paper choice.

An old truck at our farm became a lovely prop for many shots.  The table number’s gold, peach and grey palette stands stunningly against the patina of the trucks exterior.

Last but not least is the vintage 7-Up  cooler used as seating card display.  Brandee perched fallen tree branches around the unit and tucked each card amongst the brush.  The result was an eclectic mix of finishes and textures.

A huge thank you again to the team!  Daniel, Dorian and Brandee brought this vision to life with me and I am forever grateful!

Inspired Creations Contest – The flowers

Dorian and Eloise of Central Park Flowers in Olyphant, PA consistently wow me with their artistry.  If I am planning a shoot in PA they are one of the first calls I make.  It is entirely refreshing to work with a fellow artists who just gets you.  A few simple words like “edgy, moody, pops of color” plus a simple sketch are all Dorian and Eloise needed to start creating.  My recent obsession with Scabiosa guided much of the floral and stationery directions as I love the textural yet graceful nature of the bloom.

I am sure you have noticed the sheer volume of wedding shoots being orchestrated recently and there has been some debate as to their approachable content for real brides.  I have taken this debate into serious consideration because let’s face it, who can or would want to afford a centerpiece that costs $500.00 or linens that run hundreds of dollars per table?  These tabletop shoots, at least for myself and the teams I work with are meant to be creative exercises with real inspiration value for our clients and readers, not outlandish overall fantastical concepts that translate difficultly into a real wedding scenario.  With that being said I had a chat with Dorian and he shared the real costs of the pieces designed for this shoot.  I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

The Bouquet:

Approx cost $100.00  due to a lot of Japanese imported flowers.  Can be more budget friendly when Scabiosa is in season domestically.

Blooms included are Succulents, Ranunculus (Japanese), Lisianthus, Scabiosa (Japanese) and Crisp Leaf.

The Centerpiece:

Approx cost $125.00 to $150.00  due to a lot of Japanese imported flowers.  Can be more budget friendly when Scabiosa is in season domestically.

Blooms included are Dutch White Hydrangea, Jasmine, White Lisianthus, Scabiosa (Japanese), Eucalyptus, Lotus Pods, Succulents, Fritillaria and Garden Snow Spray Roses.

Fiddlehead Fern:

Approx cost $50.00 per oversize stem but imagine the possibilities.  These creatures have such a lovely sculptural quality and really fill a table space well with just one!

Lotus Pods:

Approx cost $7.00 per stem

Fritillaria:

Approx cost $15.00 per stem but I love this bloom as I feel you get more wow for your dollar!  I can imagine a centerpiece consisting of a taller vase with just one Fritillaria bloom perched inside – beautiful!

A huge thank you to Dorain for sharing some information on the reality of our Alchemy at the Barn shoot and check back later this week for more on the stationery!

Erica T.

Love the new paper colors!

I created a bouquet illustration in shades of red and agree the pearl detail suits this look just perfectly!

Inspired Creations Contest – The concept

You may remember my entry for the Inspired Creations competition that I shared last month.  Ami from Elizabeth Anne Designs and Cyd from The Sweetest Occasion visioned the contest as a way to draw out some creative love from talent throughout the wedding industry and boy did they ever….The winners were recently announced and although my team didn’t make the cut I am honored just the same to have been part and challenged to create my Alchemy at the Barn tablescape.

So this week I will be diving deeper into the experience of visioning this shoot from concept to stationery and execution.  There is nothing quite like the feeling of making pretty from old, worn and seemingly useless items and this idea was at the heart of the Alchemy at the Barn tabletop concept.  I decided to raid our family barn nestled amongst 100 acres of land that is shared between several families on my husband’s side.  The 10,000 square foot barn has amassed a collection of junk that rivals most flea markets and is literally bursting at the seams.  I was curious to dive into the space and uncover items but my first goal was to determine a color palette for the team.  Let’s just say uncovering several several patina/dirty items didn’t take very long.

From left:  An abandoned truck whose weather worn paint job and rusting parts inspired our aqua and grey palette, a scuffed and dirty door was to become our dining table, a vintage 7-up cooler was just too fun and seemed perfect for a seating card display and lastly an old oil can was cut open and acted as an edgy vase for our centerpiece.

Next was the task of assembling a team.  I immediately thought of Daniel Lanton, to capture the moody look I was envisioning along with Central Park Flowers, who always dive in and create literal sculptures with flowers.  I then called on my friends at La Tavola Linen and a new find right in my back yard; Brandee from Metro Gypsy for some feathery details.  Brandee was also kind enough to assist with setup that day and I couldn’t have done it without her!

Below are two of my favorite shots.  I enlisted the help of my hubby and his Father to create the extra wide tree swing.  I keep telling myself I need to reset this table and actually invite my family for an early evening meal in this setting.

The look was meant to be somewhat creepy, I must admit but with a romantic and beautiful edge.  An early comment on Daniel’s blog said the tablescape had a “sweet True Blood opening scene feel” – love that…

This shot was taken from the bucket of my Father in Law’s tractor.

…and speaking of my Father in Law, how about these adorable shots Daniel grabbed during the flurry of events at the shoot.  I almost cried when I saw these in my inbox the next day.  What a photogenic guy!

So that is all for now but stop by later this week for a look at the flowers, feathers and stationery!

Louise D.

The color palette you chose here is divine and the silver beads add  the perfect touch!

The whole studio is abuzz because of your new design!

We limited the amount of leaf seen but left just enough to make the flower still read as a hydrangea.  The new color palette is stunning!

Inspirations – A Wedding Day Pillowfight

Last week I was introduced to the work of Mike Larson Inc. I have been drooling ever since.  Next week I will be sharing a Real Momental Wedding featuring his work but until then this shot will have to do!  Whether artfully staged by the photographer or impromptu this is a shot to treasure and one that should make the mantel for sure!   Want to see more from this wedding?

Photographers, have a fun shot to share;one that captures a hidden moment or a stunning moment of color?  Get in touch kristyrice@momentaldesigns.com