Happy Thanksgiving LoveWell-ers!! We are so thankful for you and the opportunity to serve such amazing and loving couples. Our 2018 was a monumental year for us, and we couldn’t be more grateful for all the support and successes we’ve experienced this season. As a nod to the Thanksgiving feast table, we though we’d share one of our favorite photoshoots. We wish this was our Thanksgiving table this year, but, well, with the record low temps we’re having, we’re staying inside!

We had the privilege of working with some fine vendors for an inspiring shoot at The Inns of Aurora. It was recently published on The Bridal Link who gave us a beautiful feature and perfectly-penned words:

The inspiration behind this styled shoot was to not only create a look that blends the trends of now, but to also celebrate a timeless elegance that is as imperfect and wild as the surrounding stones. The flowers were inspired by the textures and depth of colors that you would find in an old European painting. The pops of reds, ivories, and greens against the neutral walls make for a gorgeous array of color. This stunning bouquet arrangement was the perfect compliment to the bride’s gown!

Featuring the talents of some of our favorite vendors in the area, let us take you on the ride of how we styled this design and how you can translate that into your wedding’s design!

Planning, Design & Styling + Photography: LoveWell Weddings | Venue: The Inns of Aurora | Floral Design: Fleur de Lis Florist | Specialty Rentals: Hank Parker’s Rentals | Stationery & Calligraphy: Kindly Letter Co. | Hair & Makeup: Crazy Beautiful Co. | Gown: Mirror Mirror Bridal Inc. | Cake: Sugar & Slice NY

I, Kate, was inspired to make an edgy, yet, romantic look, mixing both the sensibilities of the modern couple with an aged-elegance you can only find in the midst of rich history. We were so lucky that day to have dramatic clouds and slices of slanting sunshine peek through, like the kind I remember uniquely from my travels in Scotland. Right on the edge of the lake, the silver waves made for a sparkling backdrop next to the rugged stone, perfectly framing the textured florals, flickering candlelight and detailed place settings. Made us feel like we were as much in the Finger Lakes of New York as we were on a mysterious Isle across seas.

How does this translate into a wedding though? That is the point of a Style Shoot: to give you new ideas, color combos or products you can directly apply to your wedding. I think this theme would do exceptionally well in a (authentically) rustic/historic setting: think old (built prior to 1900’s) like an Inn, factory/warehouse, boutique hotel, stone barn, castle. We played off of the stone in both the background and the design element. Location really sets the tone. It’s the place you get the most bang for your buck! Start there. Then….

Add the style. I’ll tell you a little bit about how I brought the elements together, but this may all sound like hogwash to you. (If so, that might be an indication that you could use a wedding designer!) Choosing a metallic linen, or textured linen with some sheen to it, brings in a luxurious texture needed to balance the rustic surroundings. I used a mix of colored hurricanes, wrought iron candlestick holders and metallic votives to give a “candlescape” and the vessels in the floral design had both polished silver, as well as, vintage-looking mercury glass. Mixing your mediums (glass, stone, metal in this design) gives interest and texture. The place settings are no exception, mixing a stone-like charger, glass, and silver flatware. The linen Louis Chairs in aged ivory and a soft napkin color, puts a little “white” into the balance to keep us from getting too dim with all our moody colors and mixed textures.

Our couple’s style features enough formality for the occasion with a touch of vintage casual. Hair & makeup design brings us back to that modern edge. Things like bowties, pocket squares, pinstripes, gives a nod to the vintage for the gent’s look. The lace and detailed bead work, inaddition to the buttons down the back, give us a vintage throw-back for the bride, while her accessories and beauty pull in a touch of modern glamour. And that train!

I hope this has given you some perspective on how to achieve a unique look mixing classic, textured and modern elements for an artistic and detailed wedding design. We loved this shoot and this collection of wedding pros so much we would be happy to translate this into a full blown wedding for you! Thanks for stopping by and seeing what we’re up to, and most of all, Happy Thanksgiving!