Inspired by the Ralph Lauren Home Collection (how fabulous is that!) this drop-dead gorgeous (and incredibly sweet) bride pictured a wedding where chandeliers and leather joined design forces together in perfect harmony. With the help of Darryl & Co., her vision became a reality, and to top it all off – she got to marry the man on her dreams. It all seems pretty perfect to me, and when you add all the images from Brittany Dawson Photography, well folks – you get a full gallery of lovely.
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From the Bride…I would say that I decided and then changed my mind on wedding inspiration and color at least 10 times in the first few months. My problem was not finding a style I liked, as much as choosing JUST one style. I felt like a different bride everyday, wanting Hollywood Regency one day, preppy/traditional the next, and rustic/shabby chic after that! How could I possibly settle on just one when all three make up my style and personality? I found my solution in the Ralph Lauren Home collections. It was here that I saw how beautiful satin, crystal, and chandeliers could sit perfectly next to rustic plaids and leather, while being accented with just the right amount of leopard print.
I knew that I wanted to incorporate a great deal of lounge seating and furniture rentals, so choosing Darryl & Co. to handle my decor was an easy choice. Not only did they have an outstanding selection of furniture, (including those amazing dome chairs, rugs, and fireplace) their company also handles linen rentals and floral design as well. (It’s basically wedding decor one-stop shopping.) I met with Scott from Darryl & Co. and knew instantly that I was in good hands. I explained my inspiration and told him I wanted the reception to look more like a furniture showroom or comfortable living room than a typical reception and Scott not only understood what I was going for, he also got excited about doing something a little different. I told Scott I didn’t want assigned seating, or a room full of identical round tables because I wanted our guests to be relaxed and comfortable, but I did not specify colors, or flowers, but instead decided to give Scott creative freedom and see what he could come up with. This ended up being the best wedding decision I made! (Besides the groom that is…) The Courtyard on St. James was the perfect venue for the “living room feel” and I really loved that they offered both indoor and outdoor space.
Picking just one theme was hard enough, but trying to settle on just one dress was impossible. I have experience buying and selling gowns at both the retail and wholesale level and felt like I had seen just about everything which was making it hard to find something that stood out. Rather than going with the latest trend, I decided to look to the past for classic and timeless inspiration and Grace Kelly seemed the obvious choice. (I just have to add that this was before a certain princess chose a similar inspiration.) My Novia d’Art gown was everything I wanted in a ceremony gown, but I was having a hard time picturing myself boogieing on the dance floor in my classy, Grace Kelly dress so I ended up purchasing a Sottero and Midgley at the last minute to serve as my reception dress.
Wedding Photography: Brittany Dawson Photography / Floral Design, Event Design + Planning: Darryl & Co. / Ceremony Location: Memorial Drive Methodist Church / Reception Location: The Courtyard on St. James Place / Bride’s Shoes: Valentino + Christian Louboutin / Wedding Dresses: Novia d’Art + Sottero and Midgley / Wedding Cake: Susie’s Cakes and Confections / Bride’s Make-up: The Perfect Face / Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Sung / Bagpiper: Lars Sloan of American Bagpipes