Have you ever considered renewing your vows? Lora Horst, owner of the event design company Laurel and Elm, has given it a lot of thought. “I really like the idea of designing vow renewals because they’re a little less stressful and a lot more romantic,” she says. “At that point, it’s all about the emotions.” In fact, Horst wanted to show how special a vow renewal could be, so she teamed up with a group of local wedding pros to turn her ideas into colorful images for your inspiration. Horst says many of these can translate to a wedding day, so brides should take notes, too.
1. An industrial venue like The Bond, situated in the Royal Square neighborhood of downtown York, provides the ideal backdrop for a more contemporary celebration. “A place like this is great because it’s a blank space,” Horst says. “You can add your own personality.”
2. When it comes to attire, expand your color palette outside the norm of white and cream, suggests Horst. Here, the model is clothed in a romantic, peachy shade of nude, which is less formal but still incredibly flattering. The groom, too, goes non-traditional with a gray suit.
3. Are you a bride on a budget? “Dress separates are a great way to be both budget-friendly and on-trend,” says Horst. A tulle skirt paired with an inexpensive lace top makes for a look that’s bridal but also cuts costs.
4. Don’t feel obligated to overcomplicate your hair and makeup. A loose up-do and simple headpiece paired with neutral makeup can be the perfect look to highlight natural beauty.
5. This photo shoot is all about contrast—a great way to provide visual interest, according to Horst. Bold geometric patterns combine with natural, flowing florals, and pale walls and floors are highlighted by bright pops of color. If you’re using an industrial space, try hanging a more organic element, like this floral garland, on something notably rougher, like an exposed brick wall.
6. Why confine yourself to one color or one type of flower? The talented florists at Foster’s Flower Shop created bouquets and arrangements exploding with color for this wedding. Here, plum, coral, salmon, pale pink, fuchsia and chartreuse blooms work together to create an arrangement that makes a statement.
7. “Talk to your florist about groupings of florals, rather than one big arrangement,” suggests Horst. “If they have multiple smaller arrangements, they can really design for the table and the room, adding more or taking away as they see fit.” Tip: keep the vessels in a similar color and finish to provide continuity.
8. For the table setting, Horst opted for an angular table and iconic ghost chairs, which is a notable departure from the vintage influence we’ve been seeing in weddings over the past several years. “I wanted something new and exciting,” she says. “This is bright, fun, and most of all modern.”
9. Get clever with your place cards. “I like to do anything but a place card for a place card,” Horst jokes. For a unique way to guide guests, Horst used personalized window clings on the backs of the clear plastic ghost chairs.
10. Contrast can follow through to your cake, too. Inspired by the geometric pattern of the invitations, Jasmine Clouser of the Couture Cakery created a tiered beauty featuring geometric fondant, realistic flowers and hand-painted silver brushstrokes.
11. For an inexpensive prop that makes a fun and memorable photo, bring along an oversized balloon tied with tissue paper tassels. Little ones will love it, too.
12. If you’re having children at your event, don’t forget to plan for them too,” reminds Horst. “Kid-friendly food, activities or even allowing a plus-one for a babysitter are all things to keep in mind.”
13. The key to great portraits? “Find a photographer who makes you feel comfortable,” says Horst. “That’s just as important as how much you like their photography style. Remember, you’ll be spending eight to 10 hours with this person on the most important day of your life.”
Vendors:
Photography: Tina Jay Photography / tinajayphotography.com
Event design, coordination and stationery: Laurel & Elm / laurelandelm.com
Floral design: Foster’s Flower Shop / fostersflowershop.com
Venue: The Bond / thebondevents.com
Bride’s outfit: Shirt: Forever 21 / forever21.com; Tulle skirt: Welcome to Royalty / etsy.com/shop/welcometoroyalty; Headpiece: Kristin Perry Accessories / kristinperry.com
Hair: Leeann Foust, Mood Swings Salon / facebook.com/MoodSwingsPA
Makeup: Veronique’s Creative Artistry / veroniquesca.com
Flower girl dress: Light in the Box / lightinthebox.com
Wedding cake: The Couture Cakery / couturecakery.net
Rentals: Party Rental Ltd. / partyrentalltd.com
