Nashville weddings

We Love: Vintage + Retro Wedding Ideas from Swizzle Events + Crew at Houston Station

Friday, June 18, 2010

I simply could not wait to feature this art-nouveau photo shoot created by some of Nashville's best wedding vendors.

First - I love working with Swizzle Events, the planner/event designer who was the mastermind behind shoot.  Second, the bridal shoot took place at Houston Station, one of Nashville's newest, up-and-coming wedding venues that offers a clean slate for creative brides.  I've heard nothing but amazing things about the venue.

It's always fun to see what happens when a group of creative minded wedding professionals get together on a project.   I had the chance to have a quick chat with Amy a while ago and she said that everything came together after she and all the vendors discussed the details and they came up with an art nouveau inspired shoot. "A little more art deco but quite floral" as she explained.

The coolest part about this wedding design concept is that you can easily get this look without busting your budget!  Amy says, "What people may not realize is, it looks really luxe and glamorous with the crystal and glass elements but there's really a lot of D.I.Y. elements involved in the details!" She went on to tell me that her intent was to do something contemporary, but not so outrageous and edgy that the everyday bride wouldn't be able to wrap her mind around it.  So as you're looking at the pictures, bear in mind that, while everything looks exquisite and out of reach, they're all details that an experienced event planner such as Swizzle Events can help you attain without breaking the bank!

Can't argue with that!

Guest Blogger, Amy Thomas, Swizzle Events: Art Nouveau Conceptual Photo Shoot at Houston Station

When I began this design, I wanted to do something a little vintage, a little retro and a little edgy. What I came up with is Art Nouveau meets the modern bride. Art Nouveau as a style has been around since the late 1800”s. Filled with lovely floral patterns and free-form lines, it was a predecessor to the very popular Art Deco age. But, I couldn’t just leave it there. I wanted to take a lovely retro style and combine it with modern touches. Reach out to those brides who enjoy a little frill, a girly touch of romance but are also strong, confident women.

The beautiful linen is a perfect example of our modern Art Nouveau style. The strong, vibrant colors of fuschia, purple and sterling grey speak to the modern bride. The floral pattern was right out of the pages of Art Nouveau history. Eureka! I found the perfect combination of old and new!

The tablescape was designed around the bold pattern of the linen. Layers of clear glassware add sparkle and a touch of glam. Carnations were the perfect choice for echoing the ruffled floral look of the Art Nouveau style. Clean lines and repetition of pattern is also a very intentional element to give a strong, clean look. You can see this in the circular pattern of the floral balls, glass pedestals and candleholders. It shows up again in the beautiful lines of the chameleon chairs and the sweeping precision of the drape and chandelier.

Each little detail is delicious. The sparkle of the brooches, and the clean lines of the ribbon used on the placecards. The tiny jewels on the mini cake pedestals echo the design of the brooches. And, let’s just enjoy those little cake stands for a moment. Something so simple, yet so stunning. A touch of glam added to bring it all together. And, the pink lemonade cakes filled and iced with fluffy perfection. Scrumptious!

Speaking of details, I want to point out the exquisite use of lighting. The beautiful chandeliers add another dimension of glamour to the style. It was very important to have a vertical element above the table and the chandeliers gave a beautiful patina to the overall look. With a hint of vintage glam, they are perfect! We were also very intentional about utilizing color wash on the walls to add dimension and spotlighting to make each detail sparkle.

And, oh the dessert table! We filled it with a combination of decadent desserts and old favorites. Featuring cake truffles, chocolate berry cups and sparkling jars of candy, the crowning glory of the table is definitely the ruffled wedding cake. Another example of combining the vintage Art Nouveau with a modern flair, the cake has a decadent ruffled feature with a touch of glam in the sparkly buttons.

That flower detail carries over into the bridal fashion, as well. The lovely bride is breathtaking in a soft white gown with appliquéd silk rose buds and flowers. Bold accessories were chosen to add a unique touch – a black silk peony for her hair, a chunky necklace of white and silver. The groom is striking in a Calvin Klein sterling grey tuxedo with a pop of fuschia found in a perfect peony boutinniere.

Photo shoot credit:

Jonathon Campbell Photography - photography/pictures
Swizzle Events - event design & styling
Rhonda Patton Design - event styling & floral
Houston Station - venue
Nashville Event Lighting - lighting
Blue Nova Design - draping
Romantic Creations - bridal gown (RomanticCreationsBridal.com)
Street Tuxedo - tuxedo
Sherita Leslie - hair & make-up (SheritaLeslie.com)
4th Leaf Studio - paper design (4thleafstudio.wordpress.com/)
Crumb de la Crumb - wedding cake & desserts
BBJ Linens - linens (bbjlinens.com)
Classic Party Rental - rentals (ClassicPartyRentals.com)
TruLu Couture - bridal accessories
Stella & Dot, Krystal Mann - jewelry (StellaDot.com)

About the Author:

Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide

Hey - I'm Ashley! I started AshleysBrideGuide.com to give Nashville brides, or folks planning a Nashville wedding, a local resource for inspiration and resources. Hope to see you at a bridal show soon! Happy Planning.

See more posts by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide »

send   Posted on June 18, 2010 | Filed under: Details, Design & Florals, Inspiration & Trends, Luxury Wed Finds, Wedding Planners & Coordinators, Wedding Resources