Where to find wedding inspiration
Wedding inspiration can truly come from everywhere. Sometimes I can be inspired by the storyline in the book I’m reading. Other days it's from a stroll in downtown Savannah and the way the moss hangs from the trees. But to be honest, it is hard to remember to slow down and let the world and nature around us truly inspire on the day-to-day. For me, I am easily inspired when travelling or learning about something new. That is when we are giving ourselves time to be inspired by a color we are seeing, a texture we are feeling or a sound we are hearing.
Of course I wish I could fill my days travelling the world and being inspired by new cultures first hand, but that is not my current reality. So I have to look to books, social media platforms and blogs to still be inspired. Here are some of my favorite places to look around the world and be able to bring those ideas home to all of my clients, from my couch or computer.
fashion
As a Fashion Merchandising and Retail Marketing major, this seems like a given that this would be one of my first sources of inspiration. I love keeping an eye on the major designer trends and seeing how items on the runways translate into all areas of life. One of my favorite dress designers is Monique Lhuillier. I truly love how she thinks about showcasing the confidence that a woman can feel wearing her clothes. The fabrics are always thoughtfully draped, cut and sewn in a way that not only highlights the woman but also the fabric. I turn to her designs for inspiration on colors and texture as well as overall romantic emotion. Some of my favorite pieces of late come from her Spring 2022 Bridal collection, with so much romance along with elegant details as you get closer to each piece and her Runway 2022 Fall collection that just brings so much glamour and boldness, I can’t get enough.
gardens
With floral being a large part of celebrations these days, I pull inspiration from some beautiful gardens around the world. It is not only the florals themselves that inspire me, but also the textures that the gardeners put together, the colors that bloom in the natural world and the shapes that are created in the floral beds. There are endless combinations a gardener has to create beauty and that is exactly how I like to think of events as well - a blank space to create magic. Just a handful of some of the gorgeous gardens and grounds I would love the opportunity to explore one day are the Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands, the Singapore Botanic Gardens in Singapore, Villa d’Este in Tivoli, Italy and the Wisteria Tunnels in Kawachi Fuji Gardens in Kitakyushu, Japan.
interior design
We are after all creating or transforming a space when it comes to designing your event. I love to use the same fundamentals of interior design when thinking about the event space. As a true believer that the event should feel like those it is being hosted for, an interior designer has the same goal of a space or home - feeling as though it belongs to the family living inside of it. Two of my favorite interior designers to watch are: Charlotte Lucas, from North Carolina, with a wonderful touch of bold colors and playful patterns. Charlotte also started with her sister, House of Harris, a high-end fabric and wallpaper company all based in the United States and a highlight on those same vibrant colors and whimsical patterns is seen throughout their designs. Kathryn Ireland is another interior designer I love to keep an eye on. From London and Scotland, Kathryn has an effortless approach to designing spaces that again ensures the home feels like it belongs to the family that lives in it. A perfect reminder as I design for couples.
food
A necessity of living, but if you take the opportunity to eat a truly wonderful meal and let it surround all of your senses, then you are truly living. A meal is always best enjoyed by family and friends, over frantic conversations and the sharing of stories or laughter. Food to me is a glue that can bring everyone together in the most wonderful of ways. Food can inspire so many things other than your appetite. Some works of art in the food and beverage industry are: Grant Achatz of Alinea where dinner is more about having a life experience and his innovations have spanned into the scientific. Despite having lost his sense of taste for many years, Chef Grant was still able to create amazing works of art. Dan Barber of Blue Hill at Stone Barns is a major advocate of farm-to-table. The farm at Blue Hill is where they grow many of their own ingredients and anything they don’t is locally sourced and diners have the option to experience a tour of the grounds to fully enjoy the meal created for them.
What are some of your favorite places to find inspiration? Do you have a favorite place, a song that always inspires you or a dish that makes you feel complete and ready to take on anything? In the past, our couples have brought one color, or one photo for inspiration that we design their whole wedding around. We have also designed around a glass or a family heirloom. Truly, anything can inspire more than it seems, including your wedding day. Check out our gallery for some inspiration!
