When my client told me she wanted to incorporate details inspired by their home country of Ghana, you can bet my imagination started running wild. The colors, the culture and the spirit of this country manifested endless ideas to bring sophistication and glamour into the tradition ballroom atmosphere of the Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta. And once we nailed down the design, I couldn’t wait to see the final result.
We started with a myriad of breathtaking floral in ivory and airy yellow, blending classic tulips and hydrangea with a variety of roses and orchids for something nontraditional and avant-garde – various shapes and sizes united in a dramatic, monochromatic hue. Embracing that step toward elevated design helped us emphasize geometric details throughout the entire design – both a nod to and a celebration of Ann Marie and Will’s ideas.
Utilizing one space for both the ceremony and the reception, I wanted to create a design that allowed us to use the décor for both, but in unique ways. The pieces that stayed put were a giant, golden monogram on the aisle floor (and later, the dance floor) as well as a custom 16-foot-long tall candle installation along the back of the white-drenched stage (that later doubled as the spot for the sweetheart table). We transitioned statuesque crescent-shaped centerpieces from acrylic columns lining the aisle to the dinner tables at the reception.
During that transition time between the vows and the party, we used cocktail hour and a beautiful spring day to entertain guests outside on the 5th floor terrace of the hotel. Mimicking the design motif from inside, a lush yellow and white centerpiece invited guests to find their names on the escort card table.
Back inside, we made a big style statement in honor of the new Mr. and Mrs. with grand mirrored estate tables flanking the dance floor and sparkling under elegant bridges of lush white flowers and hanging candles. The sweetheart table was a gold mirrored table covered in white floral. It sat next to the incredible wedding cake made with artistic details of white and gold creating a shot worth framing. We softened the entire ballroom with ivory satin drape and let the room (quite literally) glow in romantic candlelight-hued up lighting.
As beautiful as this wedding was, it was even more fun. Guests who traveled all over the world ate delicious food, shared bites of decadent cake, danced with the couple until the very last minute of the wedding, snapped photos in the photo booth, did some star gazing against the Atlanta skyline and (let’s be honest) made memories to last a lifetime. I was honored to be a part of it, and loved pulling such an incredible design out of meaningful inspiration. Cheers to the new couple, Ann-Marie and Will!
