Atlanta is a city packed with vibrant venues – especially when it comes to tying the knot. I love when my couples are excited to get outside the box and plan the details of their big day in a space that’s unique and inspiring, and I love when that venue lets me stretch my creative wings to the max. That was the case with Carmen and Mick’s spring wedding at The Stave Room. This 10,500-square-foot event space inside American Spirit Works sits adjacent to a fully functioning whiskey distillery, covered courtyard and bottle garden while boasting gorgeous 18-foot ceilings and urban-chic polished concrete floors.
The sprawling space was the perfect spot for Carmen and Mick’s art-inspired wedding. We designed the event using a wide color palette of red, green, yellow, blue and purple – bright, artful hues for something modern, romantic and whimsical. We incorporated springy carnations, roses, hydrangeas and more for something that could double as a gallery opening on any other night.
What made this design even more unique is that the wedding party wore black and each had a signature color flower, offering unity and surprise with each moving part. The ceremony took place in the venue’s indoor courtyard where bright green AstroTurf set the stage for plenty of airy sunlight without the weather worries. We installed a dramatic 12×12 custom backdrop made of hand dyed fabric in various sizes, and traded paper programs for a large-scale guide on display for guests to view as they entered the space.
Once Carmen and Mick said, “I do,” the cocktail hour showcased the couples’ personalities by infusing art into several elements. The bar backdrop featured custom chalkboard artwork of the signature cocktails for the night and another showed off a rendering of the couples’ pet pooch. Perhaps most unique was the couple’s choice for a guest book. Instead of the traditional signing exercise, a local artist created a sketch of all the things the couple loves, and guests got to add in color in between sipping cocktails. The artist placed the finishing touches, and sent the new couple home with a brand new custom piece of art for their home.
The party part of this big day was the most important element, according to Carmen and Mick, so we made sure the dance floor was the centerpiece of the reception. 30 geometric shapes hung over the dance floor, hand dyed in the same fabric as the ceremony backdrop. We repurposed that ceremony backdrop as a piece of art to hang behind the sweetheart table and wedding cake. The whole room dazzled with an array of deep color hues from the lighting. But overall, the aesthetic remained modern and clean through details like light gray table linens and stark white chairs. The end result was a room grounded in modern sophistication with vibrant details that could really pop.
This definitely was one of the most unique and fun weddings I’ve had the honor of designing and planning. It’s a beautiful testament to how fusing personalities into design allows room for something unique and unforgettable to emerge. That, in my opinion, is a work of art in itself. Congrats to the bride and groom!
