1920s: More hats, more streamers - please!

Over this past weekend I was in Chicago for a funeral of a woman who led an amazing life. While we were in her home I happened upon this photo of her mother, getting married in the 1920s. I started to look around and found many pics like this. I noticed that the bouquets were huge, the streamers long, and the head-gear - glam.

I know the photo didn't take well through the glass, but I thought I'd share this photo anyway. I've dug up a few other pics online to share for inspiration.

If you really want to go traditional - but not traditional, then think about dialing up the scale, dialing up the fresh fern, and adding some sheer ribbon knots with trinkets... perhaps crystals or little milagros?

Daisy, Rose, Mint

Pics from a 40th birthday at the Belmont Hotel earlier this June. Their new chef is amazing. If you are thinking about having an intimate gathering - call Mason and get the hook-up!

A Wedding in Progress 06.20

Congratulations Molly & Stanton White!

Here are a few shots from the work room for Molly and Stanton's navy, white, yellow rose wedding. A very modern take on a classic Texas motif!

Pro pics to follow... in July.

Parisian + Scandinavian

minimalist. minimalist. minimalist...

Are you as tired of this adjective as I am? Although I believe that good design uses a minimum amount of materials to achieve maximum impact... sometimes in order to be impactful or different or original you have to step outside the box that, here in Dallas, is referred to as "Zen-like"...

According to the philospher/Buddhist teacher Chogyum Trungpa Rinpoche, Americans really missed the boat on zen. In his book, Meditation in Action, he especially notes that Zen philosophy developed as a way to take you down to your base senses. In order to do this all sense of stimuli is removed so that you can get down to your basic, boring existence. From pure boredom you reach a stepping-off point for true inner development. Zen was never meant to be a microchasm of fascinating design techniques and lifestyle advice.

Now... does pure boredom sound like the tone you want to set for your next event? Do you want your guests to be unimpressed, unengaged and uninterested? I think not.

This is why I am pushing a new design trend that calls for color, form, and sensible taste. I haven't coined a term for this type of design yet, but it draws heavily from the inspiration of Scandinavian lighting design, traditional Parisian floral design, and Asian micro-trends.

Here are a few inspirational pics... that I think could be translated into an event schema or floral installation.

Tell me a captivating, powerful idea lies within this photo collage!

Back on Board

We just moved from the Bishop Arts District to 4028 Lemmon Ave., Ste. 102. We enjoy it. It's not quite the same as having a shop on premise. There is no handy cooler to run to when I want to do an ad-hoc client demo. That is a little frustrating.

However, I am sure that as we get used to the space (find our second lamp shade, etc.) then I will find new tricks. Gotta get some photos up on the wall and finish printing our catalogue from 2008. Then I will feel good about the place. I feel like there is a lot of time available to do that in July as events slow down.

In the meantime, enjoy this photo from pro wedding photographer Heather Waraksa. Couldn't have said it better myself!

Vintage Bride

This post was inspired by Rebecca Hackl who recently told me she has several vintage inspired weddings this season.

There are many ways to do "vintage." According to dictionary.com the word vintage means thus: 2. Characterized by excellence, maturity, and enduring appeal; classic. It was originally a reference to the character of good wine and was recently taken over by fashionistas, style gurus, interior designers, and people on EBay who want to sell the junk from their garage and charge a lot for it.

If you want to have a vintage inspired wedding then I propose the following three guidelines:

1. Choose your colors first
2. Don't even think about changing your colors because you found the perfect little something. If it can't be painted, covered, or dyed then it's not for you.
3. Just because it's old, doesn't make it fashionable.

Next, start browsing magazines and books from the time period that inspires you. If you like the Hollywood Glam look then I recommend watching some movies on TCM such as "From Here to Eternity," "Casablanca", "Sunset Boulevard," or "They All Kissed the Bride."

If you want to go for a 1920s look then start looking for pictures of Clara Bow.

If you are one of those people that thinks that the 1960s was a decade for the fashion forward (and although I might disagree with you - rock on you little flower child) - then the sky is the limit. You have no shortage of material to draw on, but Twiggy is my favorite.

After you have some notes, make yourself a personal style board in a scrapbook or on a piece of poster board. Now, you can start to take it to dress shops, floral/event designers, wedding coordinators and even your lighting people and start to put your event together. As the saying goes... a picture is worth a thousand words.

Also of note: congratulations to Rebecca Hackl for launching the new version of her website. You can see it here. http://rebeccahacklevents.com/ Rebecca, Julian, and Nathan make a great team and if you are planning an event in the near future you should give them a call!

Damask: Take That!

I know that you know that damask inspired prints have been all the rage for the last 9 months. Like a woman about to give birth, it is time for the old form to fade away and give rise to something new - but similar to the original.

Unfortunately, I found this dress on ProjectWedding.com and the designer was not credited. If anyone knows - send me an e-mail! umi@installationfloral.com

I love black and white as much as the next gal, but I'm excited to see a bold floral print in use that is a departure from it's fleur de lis be-speckled cousin.