In July of 2024, we participated in a styled shoot challenge facilitated by Southern Bride Magazine. For the challenge, Southern Bride reached out to four wedding planners and those planners were assigned a specific venue. The venues showcased in the competition were Latrobe's on Royal, Windsor Court Hotel, Brennan's Restaurant and The Four Seasons Hotel. Those chosen planners then selected the vendors to complete the vision of the shoot.
We collaborated with the talented Amanda Price Events at The Four Seasons to win best Design and best Florist of the whole competition!
The inspiration was kick started by Annmarie and Amanda's desire to focus on purple, a color not commonly seen in modern wedding design. With plum hues in mind, Amanda then discovered a new pattern from BBJ Linens that became our jumping off point, adding tropical blooms and foliage to our theme.
For the ceremony portion of the shoot, Amanda decided to stay outside the box and orient the layout sideways, across the courtyard. This created a more intimate space for a ceremony and provided an alternative to the typical orientation of the venue using the full length of the courtyard.
With the combination of new furniture from Distressed Rentals and the chosen linen, Amanda wanted to expose the magic and creativity of Marais Paper's gorgeous giant fabric flowers.
We contributed cut flower gardens underneath each large flower cluster for the ceremony space and matching aisle markers. In keeping with the tropical theme of the linens, we used a variety of Calathea Foliage, Anthurium Greens and Asparagus fern as bulk of the design. Giant Allium gave us the the purple hue and also provided height paired with Foxtail Lilies, visually bringing the design together with the tall fabric flowers. Smoke Bush, green moss and large Veggie Roses gave us interesting textures to break up the solidity of the tropical foliage.
The bridal bouquet was certainly a stunning and innovative design from Annmarie. Petite in size but full of life and movement, the unique bouquet perfectly complimented the sculptural and simple bridal gown provided by AMSALE.
The ceremony design included some of Distressed Rental's new inventory including sun umbrellas. Placed at the end of each aisle, we added florals to the umbrella poles to create an of entrance into the space as well as break up any hard lines that would visually disrupt the photographs.
And then we move on to the interior ballroom for the reception design.
Butterflies in cloches and jeweled insects were among the flat lay flowers, framing the invitations and adding playfulness and whimsy.
The table layout in the receptions space included one 6 foot table and a few round bistro tables. For the smaller bistro tables, we added petite Ikebana inspired centerpieces with carefully selected blooms meticulously arranged on a bed of green moss. A few of those blooms included purple Ranunculus, Miyabi Roses, purple Anemones, lavender Butterfly Ranunculus, lavender Clematis, Peach Ranunculus, blue Tweedia, blue dyed Tulips, Helleborus, Carnations, purple Scabiosa and dark purple Calla Lillies.
For the larger banquet table we created a meadow runner down the center of the table, adding the tropical and plums touches of Anthirium stems.
Distressed Rentals' new blue bookshelf inventory was showcased behind the banquet table. Here we added my personal favorite piece of the shoot, an adorned female bust with blooms found in the table centerpieces. Throughout the bookshelves and the bar area, we incorporated large and small lady head planters and bookends, all designed with lots of movement and texture. The head planters and decor allowed us to blend classic garden style with the modern color palette.
The bar sign was ornamented with another lady head bookend and wild, whimsical blooms.
Our final installation was the cake display. The large fabric flowers and our clusters underneath were flipped to frame the cake and cake stand. We chose this specific stand so we can create the illusion that is was placed in a garden; as well as for the arch openings, coordinating with the blue arched bookshelves in the reception space.
This was an amazing and fun opportunity to stretch our creative muscles and are so grateful for the recognition!
PHOTOGRAPHERS: Annie Cooper @anniecooper.photography and Amy Beckley Photography @amybeckleyphotography- VENUE: @fshotelneworleans - DESIGNER: @amandapriceevents - EVENT HOST: @thestyledchallenge - ORGANZA + PAPER FLORALS: @MaraisPaper - SPECIALTY FURNITURE: @distressedrentals - LINENS: @bbjlatavola - GLASSWARE, TABLES: @truevaluerental - STATIONERY + INVITATIONS: @lionheartweddings - BAR & TABLE SIGNAGE: @creoleamourlaserstudio - CAKE: Four Seasons Hotel - New Orleans - BRIDAL GOWN STORE: @idobridalcouturecovington - BRIDAL GOWN DESIGNER: @amsale - JEWELRY: @rothschilddiamond - GROOM SUIT: @johnstuxedos - HAIR: @drybarshops_uptownnola - MAKE-UP: @MelissaVaccaro - MODEL AGENCY: @anitamodelmanagement - MODELS: @kylarsmith_ @darrinanderson_
@southernbridemagazine
@styledshootsbysouthernbride
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