#botanical 3/4

Dramatic & Moody Vintage-Inspired Wedding

People ask me all of the time what my favorite era for design is... Is it Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Victorian? I love those in-between periods; the era just "before" Art Deco reached it's zenith, or just after the Victorians were at their most elaborate. I like the fluidity of one style merging into another. It's a subtle blends of styles that gets us out of the cliche and into the creative! When Rebecca and Ryan asked me to inject a little Art Deco style into my Art Nouveau Honeysuckle invitation design, I said, "let's give it a try!"

The Mütter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia served as the perfect backdrop for their wedding day. They based their wedding theme around a vintage and macabre style, with the decor inspired by the 2015 film, Crimson Peak. The over-flowing florals were gushing out of book shelves, card catalogues and over the fireplace mantel. The details are moody, elegant and lovely. Check out the gallery to see a few of the details.

art nouveae wedding, same sex wedding, gay wedding, vintage wedding invitations, edwardian wedding, vintage wedding — Dark and moody wedding details by Rebecca Renner via Darpino Photo

#vintagewedding #weddingstyle #artdeco #vintageweddinginvitations #botanical #vintageweddings #goth #gatsbywedding #gothicwedding #artnouveau #artnouveauwedding #vintageweddinginvitations #gothwedding #vintageweddingstationery #vintageweddings

Sunflowers in Southern California

According to FTD, the sunflower’s name comes from its tendency to reposition itself to face the sun. The ancient Greek myth of Apollo and Clytie is one explanation of why these flowers routinely turn towards the sun. In the story, Clytie was a nymph who adored Apollo. At first, he loved her back, but soon he fell in love with Leucothoe. Because of her jealousy, Clytie told Leucothoe’s father of the relationship and he punished her by burying her alive. Out of anger, Apollo turned her into a flower, but even in her new flower form, she still loved him and would spend her days watching him as he moved the sun across the sky.

We just love sunflowers! No matter where their name comes from, they are a symbol of warmth, happiness and vitality. I was lucky enough to be a part of this styled bridal shoot that took place at The Stonehurst in Los Angeles which featured gorgeous sunflowers and a myriad of other happy, yellow flowers! Event Planner Holly Gray @anythingbutgrayevents took the helm and planned a stunning wedding shoot which featured a diverse group of wedding professionals. She literally is the Queen of Diversity and all things Color! The wedding bridal photographer was Aurelia D’Amore @damorewedo Her phenomenal and oh-so creative eye captured that bold and dramatic color! What I love most about this shoot, is the strong color story it conveys!

I designed this wedding invitation suite using a vintage botanical sunflower illustration. The typography and flourish details evoke a late 1800's aesthetic which really lends itself to the wonderful boho and cottage core trend happening right now. The cottage core vibe reminds of us a simpler, more agrarian and sustainable time... just what we need right now!

And what about horses? As a long-time equestrian, I can't say enough of how much horses can bring to a shoot. The horse featured here was a Palomino Quarter Horse. Did you know that long ago, Queen Isabella of Spain owned over 100 Palomino horses and forbade any commoners from owning them?Luckily, she withdrew her monopoly on these lovely golden horses and sent them all over the world to populate other areas, like here in North America.

Venue: @thestonehurst / Photographer: @damorewedo / Planner: @anythingbutgrayevents

Paper Goods: @gildedswanpaperie / Gown: @lorienbridal / Veil: @julieharrisdesigns

Florals: @flowersbyladybuggs / Rentals: @papillonrentals / Beauty: @beautybybonbon

Models: @trishesmusic / Horses: @darkhorseranchsunvalley

#vintagewedding #weddingstyle #horsewedding #vintageweddinginvitations #botanical #weddingvowbook #yellowwedding #llamawedding #gatsbywedding #sunflower #artnouveau #artnouveauwedding #vintageweddinginvitations #greenerywedding #vintageweddingstationery #vintageweddings

Celestial Wedding Mood Board

Updated: Oct 22, 2022

I always think that the stars and moon above are what unites us all together. It's such a perfect theme for a wedding. A celestial celebration brings smiles, love and shimmery hope on our wedding day.

So just what do you need to start your celestial-themed wedding besides a little stardust and glittering moon? Your Save the Date is the very first inkling to your guests that your theme will be stellar! Your Save the Date invitations must be in the mail between 8 and 12 months ahead of your wedding date. My biggest sellers this year are my self-mailable postcards accented in gold, silver or rose gold metallic printing. Traditional colors may be navy and gold, or navy and silver, but you could even do a little black and rose gold for a twist. And of course, you can carry that theme on to your wedding suite too.

One could go wild adding sparkles, glitter, stars and moons to the ceremony. I don't think there is such a thing as too much sparkle! If you are looking for a jaw-dropping center piece at your wedding, look up my favorite vendor, Paper Moon Shoppe. They meticulously transform your space into a spectacular celestial showpiece! They off a fast printing station, unlimited souvenir prints, online albums and vintage props. They even offer old-fashioned souvenir flipbooks that you can order for your guests. Although based in Southern California, they can ship their moons out of state.

So glitter it up and go wild! Throw on some Frank Sinatra records and fly to the moon!