Ariana & Taylor :: Combining Classic and Rustic
Seeing how we're almost to the end of 2014, I figured it's about time to show you what I've been up to all year! Let's start at the beginning... a very good place to start (raise your hand if you just started to sing "Doe Ray Me")
This year started off quite beautifully with Ariana and Taylor's wedding in Visalia, California. The beginning of March is magical here in the central valley when hundreds of thousands of acres of orchards turn into clouds of sweet smelling, snowy blossoms. This area of California isn't always known for it's beautiful landscape, but for those two fleeting weeks, the views (and the allergies) are unparalleled; so much so that for a second year in a row, Style Me Pretty featured local work from enchanting early March. Click here to take a trip down memory lane and review the first time Emily and I were spotted on Style Me Pretty amongst the blossoms.
Dreamy right???? Photo by Anna Delores Photography
Back to Ari & Taylor... Every wedding I plan/design/coordinate is special to me in some way. Yes, every single one. But Ari & Taylor's was especially special (that's a lot of special) to me from a design perspective. The reception venue was a beautiful ranch, but was exactly that... a ranch. We're talking on the outskirts of town, surrounded by fields, longhorns in a nearby pasture, and a barn/pavilion for dinner and dancing. I love a good ranch-style wedding, don't get me wrong, but Ari said, "I don't want burlap or lace anywhere and forget about mason jars. I want classic, elegant and slightly modern."
I had a design challenge on my hands: mix classic/clean/modern with rustic/vintage/country and do it seamlessly. Challenge accepted!
The color palette went a long way to achieve the crisp and classic style Ari wanted. You really can't go wrong with black, white, and gold with lush greenery. I focused a lot on clean lines as well... think sharp angles rather than swirly, girly, soft edges. Confused? For example, the mirrors that I used to create the escort card display... no vintage mirror shapes here; just right angles on stark black and white stripes. Those stripes were carried through to dinner in the classic La Tavola napkins and we mixed round and square tables for extra architectural interest.
When it comes to creating a modern style, you really can't go wrong with monochromatic white. I used textured linens to layer throughout cocktail hour and the lounge area, where we featured a cigar bar! So much fun.
To create some drama and romance, we added draping throughout the pavilion, with a whimsical garland that highlighted Ariana and Taylor's farm tables during the reception.
While we kept the colors and design elements classic, we still embraced the rustic elements of the venue and it's surroundings. Gorgeous bride and groom portraits at a nearby barn and bridal party photos in the orchards are just a few ways they remained true to the venue and their Ariana's "farmer's daughter" roots. And the way Ari & Taylor traveled from their church ceremony to the reception could not have been any sweeter! They rode in on the same horse and buggy that Ariana's parents used on their wedding day!
Look above and below to see some seriously gorgeous work by Sweet Memories Flowers. Aren't those florals just sweet, romantic, spring-y perfection?!
For even more eye candy, head to Style Me Pretty to swoon over the entire feature of images by Anna Delores Photography!