Over the past couple years one of the biggest wedding trends has been VIBRANT COLOR. And lots of it! As event designers and wedding planners who have worked with every shade on the color wheel, well, let’s just say, it’s been quite fun to power up the pantone chart! One of our late summer weddings embraced color in a BIG way. The bride knew she wanted to incorporate color into every aspect of her wedding design and encouraged us to use every seasonal shade Mother Nature could provide. And boy-oh-boy, did we ever take her up on the challenge!  {Photos: Mel Barlow, Mel & Co.} ***Warning, mega-dose of fabulous photos is contained herein. Just couldn’t be helped!

As we shared in a previous post, the bride and groom celebrated their wedding over two days. Rather than a traditional ceremony rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, the happy couple decided to actually get married on Friday night at their family home. Then, the next day, the bride and groom shared their nuptials with 165 of their friends and families at a outdoor tented celebration at the historic Andalusia on the Delaware. First, guests were invited to enjoy the extensive 18th century gardens around the estate. No matter where they ventured, from the White Garden, to the Rose Garden, Peony Garden, Pool Terrace or the Walled Grapery, guests found stylish hors d’oeuvres and tasty cocktails from Peter Callahan Catering. A sexy, young “Sinatra-style” crooner, Doug Acosta from Elan Artists, filled the air with popular standards. Table linens, food stations, cocktail trays and lounge furniture were all dressed in the bright colors and modern, whimsical patterns of the event design. As a surprise for the guests, a civil wedding ceremony officiated by former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell took place at the end of cocktails in the middle of the Walled Garden. From there, guests were invited to follow the bride and groom down to the water for a dinner dance under a beautiful sailcloth tent.

During cocktails, guests were encouraged to take photographs in front of colorful backdrops and seating vignettes with Instant cameras. Photos were there pinned to wires as a playful guest book keepsake.

Just some of the fabulously styled and delicious tasting “shots + bites” hors d’oeuvres from Peter Callahan. Above, Tuna Tartare and Red Wine and below, Fried Oysters and Bloody Marys.

The concept of COLOR for the wedding was intense, in every way. Right down to how the guests dressed for the wedding. To encourage guests to dress in bold, festive colors for the wedding, the couple created a lookbook of “what to wear” for each group attending the wedding: their bridal party, family members and wedding guests. All the information was shared in a stylish wedding website you can check out for inspiration. On the website, you can also peruse their fabulous engagement photos from Jose Villa styled by the equally sensational Joy Thigpen. But, we have to admit, our favorite colorful fashion element was the groom’s dapper bespoke suiting from Lord Willy’s.

Once the fabulously-attired wedding group arrived at the celebration tent, they were greeted by layer after layer of playful, stylish and approachable design. Although an evening event, it wasn’t formal in tone or uptight in attitude. Every aspect of the look of this party setting was about modernity, whimsy and warmth. Of course, the entire space was beautifully positioned along the Delaware River in incredible sailcloth tents from EventQuip. Just look at that custom-built wood plank floor! In the first tent, guests found colorful hand calligraphed place cards on tables designated for “friends,” “bridal party,” “Sam’s family,” and “Michelle’s family.”  The place cards were just one of many clever pieces in the wedding stationery designed by Leigh Wells and printed by Milkfed Press, both of San Francisco.

From the save the date to the wedding day itself, one strong design element that repeated over and over was the use of modern, mid-century inspired patterns. In paper linings, to photo backdrops, table linens, pillows, signage and placemats.  A wide brush stroke of rich, weathered wood was used as a grounding foundation to the event design, from the floor to the tables to the chairs, stage, bars and food stations. Then, we added color including tangerine, cerise, turquoise, ruby, gold, chartreuse, yellow, hot pink, lavender, purple, magenta and goodness, so many more! All centerpieces were loosely gathered in low modern glass, chrome or wood vessels. Glass hurricanes and votives mixed with brushed bronze candle holders and stemware from Peter Callahan was low and whisper-thin.

Each of the long “farm-style” wooden tables had personal place settings denoted with colorfully-patterned paper place mats, napkins and letterpressed menus.

Mother Nature really gave us her all for this September wedding. Just look at the hot pink hydrangea, orange gerbera, yellow marigolds, lime green coxcomb, purple zinnias and crimson dahlias! Not to mention the tulips, orchids, marigolds, mums, protea, nerine and who knows what else we managed to find in all the saturated colors we needed for the wedding flowers!

Just outside of the tent and placed along the river, was an open-air lounge where guests could pop out for breeze or a private moment. Later in the night, the seating area became the ideal location to watch the firework show over the river!

Throughout the night guests were plied with seasonal food and drink from Peter Callahan. Rather than a seated dinner with plated courses, the couple chose tasting plates offered on multiple food stations placed around the tent. The “courses” on the stations changed four times during the night and alternated with passed small plates and rolling carts of additional savories. The food flights included a Sangria Salad Station paired with a delicious rioja wine and a Wild Mushroom Tart. On all of the food stations Evantine’s Creative Director, Brian Kappra, added huge glass vases of flowering forsythia! Something you don’t usually see in September.

Throughout the night, guests could grab a camera and snap a mini “polaroid” photo for the bride and groom’s collection. Or, as you can see below, they could enjoy cocktails and chatter in the comfortable lounge area.

The talented artists at The Papery created multiple bar menus on large antique chalkboards that shared the clients’ witty commentary on their favorite beverages. As with any Evantine Design event, no detail falls under the radar! We brought in our custom-built mahogany bars and added some colorful patterns to the back bar shelving displays of candles.

Although the abundant display of mini desserts, like these mini s’mores, was incredible, the grand finale of fireworks was truly spectacular!

{Photos: Mel Barlow}