A Dramatic Styled Shoot at the Four Seasons St. Louis
When it comes to weddings the only type of drama you want is in your décor, and today’s styled shoot feature has plenty of moody drama to inspire bold couples to think out of the box! We worked with Tiffany of Events Luxe and the team at Décorum to create this modern take on a fall wedding with a bold palette of black, fuchsia and shades of purple. To highlight how a color palette can take on different looks depending on how the colors are used, the team styled two spaces using different allocations of the same colors. The first has a bold yet airy feel, while the second is dark and moody. Neither are what you traditionally think of for a fall wedding, but we hope these unique designs and stunning images by Rochelle Maples Photography inspire you to take chances with your wedding day decor!
To highlight unique spaces within the Four Seasons, Tiffany selected the 6th floor ballroom pre-function area and 8th floor Mississippi Room as the locations for our two tablescapes. At the time we had no idea what 2020 would have in store, but as it turns out the shoot actually shows off two perfect micro-wedding locations within the hotel! (We’ve actually had clients host weddings in both spaces in the past few months!)
The design for the shoot really came together when Tiffany found the amazing velvet floral linen from Nuage Design’s Ceci New York Collection. The linen choice set the tone for the rich colors and textures of the shoot, and everything else fell into place around it. Tiffany wanted to create a design without the use of metallic accents, which created a fun challenge! Most wedding designs incorporate at least some gold, silver, mercury glass or bronze details, but she chose to not rely on these wedding staples and instead utilized black in places where you’d typically find metallics. A bold choice that definitely paid off!
The goal for the first table design was to create a light and airy feel despite the bold palette. Fuchsia tones dominate this table, with black used more as an accent. A suspended floral centerpiece of fuchsia orchids create a dreamy halo over the table, and varying heights of candles and low flower arrangements fill the space between the orchids and tabletop. The beautiful floral velvet linen, dark place settings and black-on-black menu cards by Courtney Winet Design round out the dramatic yet airy look.
Keep scrolling to see how the team utilized the exact same color palette in a totally different way!
When designing your wedding (or any event), remember that texture is just as important to your overall design scheme as color or motif! The velvet linen provides a rich warmth, while the place settings contrast with their sleek finishes, making for a tactual guest experience. The orchids, roses and peonies add yet another visual layer with their unique textures, adding to the depth of the design.
When it came to designing the bridal bouquet, Sandra took the reigns and created a sleek, ultra-modern cascading arm spray of deep purple calla lilies with accents of fuchsia orchids and trailing bear grass. The bold look is complimented by an equally bold bridesmaid bouquet!
And of course it wouldn’t be a styled shoot without an adorable flower dog, who also happens to be my bestest boy and occasional Belli Fiori flower model, Harper!
Another goal of the shoot was to highlight unique personal touches that can be added to any wedding. I don’t think it gets much more personal than having Florelle Studio capture your day through a live watercolor painting! (As a former art major, I am endlessly impressed at the talent it takes to paint with guests watching over your shoulder!!)
To highlight the way a color palette can change depending on your use of color ratios, allocations and different lighting techniques, the team styled a second, even moodier space! Decorum transformed the 8th floor Mississippi Room with the most amazing balloon installation. The canopy stretched over a king’s table and cascaded to the floor, making an intimate dining space and photo backdrop! I really hope someone does this for a micro-wedding soon - what a cool guest experience!
By utilizing a black velvet linen and black chairs set against the dark tones of the balloons and an ultra-modern centerpiece design, this second table takes on a far moodier look than the first. The same bold taper candles, flatware, glassware and menu cards tie the tables together while still providing distinct looks, and the floral charger adds something unexpected to the tabletop.
The two designs created for this shoot are a perfect example of how color allocations can drastically change the look of an event! Clients often present their vendors with a color palette, but don’t put much thought into how much of each color they want to see throughout the design. No matter what colors you’ve selected for your event, keep in mind that the way you use them can totally change the look and feel of your day!
If you’re looking for a unique take on a guest book, Bax Illustration did this awesome caricature of our bride and groom that guests can sign! We’ve all seen a guestbook situation gone wrong (think spilled wine, drunken doodles or pens that don’t work), but with this digital guestbook any “oopsies” can be removed before the couple prints it to frame. Bax can also have traditional or digital caricature artists draw your guests!
What would any Four Seasons wedding be without photos on the terrace with that amazing view of the Arch?!
This was such a fun shoot with an amazing team of vendors! Thanks for asking us to be a part of it, Tiffany! <3
VENDOR LOVE
Planning & Design: Events Luxe | Photos: Rochelle Maples Photography | Venue: The Four Seasons St. Louis | Décor: Décorum Events | Floral: Belli Fiori | Dresses: Juno Bridal | HAMU: LALO Salon | Tux: The Black Tux | Live Painter: Florelle Studio | Stationery: Courtney Winet Design | Linens: Nuage Designs, Ceci New York Collection | Caricature Guestbook: Bax Illustration | Videographer: Emily Chowning | Models: Emily Helling (bride), Mike Lawler (groom), Kayophe Hamblin (bridesmaid)
By Kimberly Wallner