Let your special day be as intriguing as a day in the life of Jay Gatsby himself,
with these 5 must-haves!
Nothing succeeds like excess and nothing is as extravagant as a Gatsby Wedding.
One ~ Coupe Glasses and Champagne
Two ~ Feathers
Three ~ Gold and Sequins
Four ~ Extravagant Headdresses
Five ~ Vintage Getaway Car
As we prepare to enter the peak of wedding season, the creative team at Intrigue Design and Decor loves to reflect on some of our favorite weddings and our most special brides. We absolutely love when a bride comes in to meet with us with a little inspiration and trusts us to surprise her on her wedding day. Owner and lead wedding designer, Sarah Campbell, is just bursting with ideas to make you wedding one of a kind, so when Stephanie Powell walked into our studio, she let her ideas take wind.
Stephanie was planning her June wedding at the beautiful Annapolis Yacht Club and wanted a theme that would not only match the incredible venue, but also reflect on her and her future husband’s adventurous side. Using the red, navy and yellow colors from the sailing flags that lined the walls of the waterfront dining rooms as inspiration, the Intrigue team fashioned a nautical wedding that any sailor would jump over board for.
Navy Linens decorated the outdoor ceremony space and guests sat on fun red chiavari chairs that were a true pop of color. The aisle chairs were decorated with a simply yellow garden lantern that was stringed with striped navy ribbon. Stephanie’s bridesmaids wore navy strapless dresses and held bouquets of Juliet David Austen roses, yellow Billy balls, white peonies, and yellow calla lilies. When she made it down the aisle, her groom and his groomsmen were sporting true nautical fashion in boat shoes, khakis, navy sport jackets and red striped ties. All the groomsmen wore a simple boutonniere of a small white peony paired with a yellow Billy ball and wrapped in the same navy striped ribbon from the ceremony.
During the cocktail hour, guests gathered around tables draped in navy linens and topped with steel garden lanterns. The lanterns held a red candle, a yellow cymbidium orchid and were tied with navy striped ribbon. Additional tables were decorated with the bride and grooms red and navy wedding invitation, done by Paper in the Park. Cocktail hour also gave guests time to marvel at the beautifully simple white monogrammed wedding cake wrapped in navy striped ribbon made by Fiona’s Cakes.
Once guests made their way into the waterfront dining room, they found their seats at tables decked out with true nautical style. The dining tables were lined with burlap and navy linens. Each table setting was decorated with a simple menu tucked inside a navy linen and a stunning yellow spidermum placed on top for a pop of color. Centerpieces of white hydrangeas and yellow freesias in wooden boxes wrapped with stripped ribbon covered the tables alongside whimsical white nautical rope balls.
Overall, Stephanie’s wedding was nautical at its best and her trust to let us design a spectacular wedding is why she is one of our most special brides and this was our favorite wedding. Thank you Stephanie for letting the amazing teams at Intrigue Design and Decor, Hamilton Photography, Paper in the Park, Fiona Cakes, and the Annapolis Yacht Club for throwing you a night to remember!
Intrigue Design and Decor | Hamilton Photography | Paper in the Park | Fiona Cakes | Annapolis Yacht Club
A beautiful spring day and a gorgeous young couple was the perfect match to start off Intrigue Design and Decor’s spring wedding season! The Governor Calvert House, a stunning historic inn in Annapolis, Md., was where Katie and Scott shared their love for each other with their family and friends this past March 23, 2013.
The bride put great thought into every detail of her wedding from the color of her shoes to the whimsical touches of her ceremony. Katie wore an elegant half up-do with soft curls that held her fingertip-length lace veil. Her dress was a fitted mermaid gown, which was covered with crafted lace. Katie’s three bridesmaids wore A-line navy dresses with nude heels and Katie wore navy heals to match. They all held rounded bouquets of peonies, Juliet David Austen roses and carnations in soft cream and peach colors.
When Katie made her way to the alter, she and her bridesmaids walked down an aisle lined with ivory garden lanterns tied with ribbon in shades of cream and pink. Down at the alter in front of a ribbon wall of matching cream, pink and peach tones, Scott eagerly awaited his bride. The groom and his groomsmen wore boutonnieres of peach flower buds wrapped in twine and black tuxes with matching navy vests and ties.
Overall the night was a combination of love and excitement as Katie and Scott began their life together as husband and wife. Intrigue Design and Decor is so happy that we got to help this perfect match create their perfect night.
Intrigue Design and Decor | Katie Fine Art | Governor Calvert House
From birthday parties to wedding whimsies…balloons are really on the up and up!
Our own Historic Events used these gigantic balloons as the focal point of their sweets table at this year’s Chesapeake Bay Beach Club Bridal Show.
Drawing the eye up, these balloons add dimension and height to the design. Both sophisticated and fun, hope these inspiring pictures are the pick-me-up that you need for the new week!
Happy Spring Annapolitans! It is time to go green and incorporate wheat grass into your wedding. Are you cringing at the words “grass” and “wedding” in the same sentence? Do not fear…it is easy to see that adding wheat grass to your food presentation or your centerpiece design can create a modern and fresh look for your big day.
Intrigue Design and Decor is thrilled to have had the opportunity to contribute to Indian Creek School’s largest fundraising event of the year, “A Night in Havana” Spring Auction. Every year the spring auction brings parents and alumni together, and aims to raise money to enhance the school’s academic, art and athletic programs.
As part of Intrigue Design and Decor’s $50,000 donation towards local charity galas and fundraisers, owner Sarah Campbell matched the school’s decor budget and helped bring a fun theme and stylish design aspects to the event. The school hosted a Cuban themed casino night that featured tropical floral pieces, exotic decor elements and romantic lighting.
Guests enjoyed salsa dancing and live music by Grupo Warachando, as well as delicious food and drinks, and a live action. Tickets also included $20,000 in “funny money” to spend on the roulette, blackjack, craps, and Texas Hold ‘Em tables.
Overall, the night was a huge success and the school well surpassed its fundraising goal. Intrigue Design and Decor is very grateful to be recognized as one of the Indian Creek School’s Ace of Clubs Sponsors.
Even though the sporadic climate change, which is Maryland weather, might be making you think otherwise, spring is finally here! Intrigue Design and Decor is nothing but ecstatic to jump into peak wedding season and help brides transform their wedding with chic floral and decor designs. However, for the budget conscious bride looking to make the most out of her special day, it is important to know what flowers are in season this spring. While certain flowers can be available year round, there can also be a dramatic difference in the price based on the month a bride needs her flowers. Here is a just a couple of popular bridal flowers that in season this spring…
Intrigue Design and Decor | Liz and Ryan | Hamilton Photography | Natalie Lane Photography
Our lead floral designer Melissa Huston, at Intrigue Design and Decor, just got back from her week-long trip in Philly for the Philadelphia Flower Shower! In addition to accompanying the Schaffer design team for another year to complete a major exhibit piece, Melissa created her own Designer Pod for the show.
The Philadelphia Flower Show, which is the world’s largest and longest-running indoor flower show, was held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center and ran from March 2 to 10, 2013. Premier landscape designers and floral artists spotlighted popular British and urban designs into their work and guests had the opportunity to marvel at world-renowned horticulture and artistic floral arrangement competitions, gardening presentations, and a city-wide Flower Show week celebration.
In line with Intrigue Design and Decor‘s signature style, Melissa’s Designer Pod highlighted the classic style of London but with a chic modern-day twist. Melissa incorporated antique heirloom trends with black and charcoal colors, and then blended it with soft cosmetic tones. Guests and judges saw a piece that was inspired by modern-day London and embraced with the soft side of vintage romance.
With Melissa’s artistic hand, she helped the Schaffer design team put together their major exhibit “Jack”, which was inspired by the factory-driven back-alleys where Jack the Ripper roamed. The Schaffer Design team was led by Bill Schaffer and Kristine Kraft, and they embraced the East end era of late eighteenth century London in hopes to continue their streak of ‘Best Of’ Awards at the show.
Overall the Philadelphia Flower Show was extremely successful and it was a joy to see one of Intrigue’s own up there competing with some of the world’s most renowned floral artists.
For most traditional brides, her ceremony will begin by walking down the aisle with her father while wearing a stunning white gown and holding an elaborate bouquet of her favorite flowers. As she walks down the aisle, every single woman in the audience will be dazzled by how beautiful the bride looks and will be eyeing the bouquet until the bouquet toss. While so much thought and envy goes into the beautiful floral bridal bouquet, I wonder if as many women would be so eager to catch the bouquet if they knew only a few hundred years ago that the bridal bouquet was just a bundle of herbs and spices, and not the beautiful flower arrangements we see today.
Bridal bouquets have been a wedding tradition dating all the way back to ancient times. But instead of brides holding beautiful bouquets of flowers to complement their gown and match their decor, ancient time brides held bouquets of garlic, herbs and spices. Originally, it was believed that by carrying a herb bouquet the bride would help ward off evil spirits during her ceremony.
Traditional Celtic weddings had the same superstition. Bridal bouquets were traditionally made of ivy, thistle and heather, which released a pungent odor. It was believed that the strong aroma from the bouquet had mystical powers that would keep evil spirits away from the bride and groom.
Traditional Rome and Greece weddings had different beliefs, and the arrangements were more of a symbol of hope than protection. Instead of holding a bouquet, a garland necklace would be placed around the bride and the groom. The circle garland was a symbol of new life, hope and fertility for the new couple to take into their marriage.
It was not until 1840 when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert that the tradition of having flowers in a bridal bouquet was adopted. Queen Victoria’s bouquet was made of marigolds and the herb dill, which combined tradition and her favorite flower. The dill from her bouquet, which is the herb of lust, was eaten by the married couple at the reception and thought to help increase sexual desire.
Floral bouquets grew in popularity during Victorian times, and the bride’s bouquet portrayed a secret message to her groom on their wedding day. Florigraphy, which is the flower language, gave specific flowers a significant meaning and lovers would use flowers to exchange secret message. So on the bride’s wedding day, the bouquet flowers were chosen to carry a significant meaning and not so much for looks.
Overall, the bouquet has taken on many different forms, held many different meanings, and will most likely continue to change. However, as I watch the bride walk down the aisle, it is nice to know that the tradition of weddings, bouquets and marriage is something that will continue on forever.
Bridal Bouquets
Intrigue Design and Decor | Hamilton Photography | Wendy Hickok Photography |
Have you ever driven on the beltway and seen the Washington D.C. temple peaking up through the trees and glowing in the sun? Well when I was much younger, I was riding in the car with my mom when I saw the temple for the first time. I asked my mom what the big building was and instead of trying to explain a temple to a seven-year-old, she played along with my fairytale fantasies and told me that it was Cinderella’s castle. It took me a couple years to finally figure out that it was not Cinderella’s castle but I always thought that the Washington D.C. temple was fit for a princess.
On June 7, 2012, Beth Johnson, makeup artist for Up-Do’s for I Do’s, looked like a princess for her wedding at the Washington D.C. temple. With the ceremony set at 7:00 p.m., the bridesmaids in light pink and navy, and Beth in an elegant vintage lace gown, glowed as they walked down the aisle. Beth held a rounded bouquet that included a mix of pink wax flowers, Juliet garden roses, gardenias, mauve roses, and ranunculus. To complement her gown, Intrigue Design and Decor’s lead floral designer, Melissa Huston, incorporated vintage broaches, stands of pearls and pieces of lace into the bouquet.
At the reception, Beth and her guests were surrounded by ivory vintage garden lanterns that spilled out pink and grey floral sprays. When Beth was not sitting beside her groom in light pink chaivari chairs ornamented with strands of navy and pink ribbon, she was resting her bouquet on vintage music stand and she danced the night away.
Overall the night was a dream, and Beth and her groom enjoyed the evening together without misplacing any glass slippers.
Intrigue Design and Decor | Balance Photography
