An intimate wedding

There are some weddings that get to you. The large ones are very impressive, but it is difficult to create the atmosphere that each guest is very special and that, without their presence, it wouldn't be the same. When the wedding takes place at your home, with only your very best friends and family in attendance, each guest is treasured and pampered. Such was the case with the wedding we had the pleasure of working on this week.

The home was built at the end of the last century on a tree lined street bordering Lake Erie. Just beyond the trellis in the back of the property, where the ceremony was to have taken place, is a view of the Rocky River emptying into the lake. I say was to have taken place because the (welcomed) rain prevented that from happening 30 minutes before the guests arrived. Much scurrying about by the catering and decor staffs enabled the ceremony to take place on the front veranda. The guests' chairs were a tight squeeze, but the setting was just as beautiful and very cozy. To respect the client's privacy, I did not take photos of the ceremony or guests. The setting was "created" at the last moment, preventing any opportunity to record it without guests present.

Cocktails were served in the foyer, living room and dining room. Guests were invited to the third floor for the dinner and dance portion of the evening. The Ballroom has always been a part of the home, with many parties held there over the years.The next three photos were taken 2 weeks before the wedding.

Wonderful transience Art Nouveau windows!

Aren't these delightfully elegant little fixtures?

This was the guests' first glimpse as they ascended the staircase.

This ceiling floral sculpture was created with a frame of sycamore maple branches and a new mini chandelier that matched the other light fixtures perfectly (lucky find). The flowers included three varieties of hydrangea, fresh bittersweet vines, garden roses, astilbe, date palms and my favorite, deep purple clematis.

The lighting in the room was actually like this- more ambient for a dinner party.

 Some closeups...

The date palms are the green pods on ochre stems.

Here are two room views. The tables were rectangular with a bronze undercloth and a hand-embroidered silk overlay. Cream linen napkins were folded on the gold beaded glass chargers.

The centerpieces were a variety of silver containers, silver candlesticks and silver leaf flecked votives placed "randomly" down the center. 

Some of the flowers featured were astrantia (the little purple and cream star-like flowers below), rose colored lisianthus (upper right) and echeveria succulents.

You can also see below the green lotus pods, berzillia (to the left of the lotus pods), dahlias, bittersweet and garden roses.

We really liked the caterer's food presentation in the tablescape.

Below you can see the delicate purple clematis. It is a ground clematis that does not vine and only has 4 petals in the flower instead of six.

I hope this gives you a few ideas for the next party that you host. How have you decorated your home for that special event? I would love to hear your ideas!

Don't forget- you have until midnight Monday night, August 23rd (I extended the deadline by one day), to enter my 100th post celebration giveaway for the hydrangea wreath. For further details, see here. I will announce the winner on Tuesday, August 24th. Comment often!

Special events decorator: Pieter Bouterse Studio