Recently featured in the spring 2021 print issue of The Knot, this styled shoot was an exciting creative collaboration with several vendors who we’ve been admiring, but with whom we hadn’t previously had a chance to work. The mastermind behind the concept was Allison Davis of Davis Row, an exceptional wedding planner who recently relocated from NY to NC. From our initial phone call with Allison, we were energized by her positivity and vision, and grateful for the perfect balance she struck between directing that vision and encouraging the creative freedom of the artists and makers she was convening.
Allison shared with us her vision for creating a modern, chic, European vibe with clean lines and a rich, textural palette ranging from neutrals to deep mauves. She was incredibly supportive of our commitment to sourcing locally and sustainably as much as possible, and was open to our interpretation of her color palette based on the loveliest offerings of our region and season. Locally grown materials included Lisianthus, Tuberose, Hydrangea, Sedum, Celosia, Jewels of Opar, Scabiosa, Eucalyptus, Zinnia, Tweedia, Heuchera and Ornamental Grasses. We also sourced Cafe Latte roses, Cotinus foliage and Carnations from our wholesaler. We loved the ultimate color palette which included an ombre from white and champagne to peach and mauve to deep burgundy and black, with pops of light blue. The local flowers were purchased from Parker Farm and Vineyard and Happy as a Coneflower Farm.
Inspired by the mood of an airy and elevated European cafe, we incorporated farmers market fruits into the table settings, featuring local grapes, figs, blackberries and Asian pears. Late summer is an indulgent moment for fruit in North Carolina, and we were thrilled with the way these juicy elements added depth to the color palette and tabletop vibe. We’d love for more weddings to incorporate fruit into their designs–there is something so welcoming about sitting down to a thoughtful composition of fruits and flowers. It represents abundance and grounds us in remembering where flowers come from.
Along with tabletop and personal florals, we had a lot of fun creating a layered, ethereal ceremony backdrop growing up from the floor using foam-free floral techniques. We have eliminated floral foam from our practice, and this installation gave us a helpful opportunity to practice with new methods. We utilized groupings of vases at varied heights, potted plants, and trays with flower frogs and chicken wire to create this garden-like design. Tall branches helped create structure, while lower elements like potted heuchera, plectranthus, sedum, eucalyptus and hydrangea helped ground the shape. The whimsical stems of tuberose, lisianthus, jewels of opar, and ornamental grasses lent an airy lightness, and the touch of blue tweedia created joyful, unexpected moments to brighten the moody palette. We clustered darker materials and lighter materials to create a natural sense of movement throughout each design. Foam free floristry takes advance planning, but with a nice mix of vessels, chicken wire, and flower frogs there is little you can’t accomplish!
The vision for this shoot perfectly suited the charming new NC venue, The Graham Mill, which marries a modern industrial vibe with warm hospitality and thoughtful details. The space came alive with furniture from Cottage Luxe, linens from La Tavola Linen, tabletop pieces from CE Rental, and an exquisite cake by Sugar Euphoria. Photographer John Branch IV captured the details with a keen eye and was a pleasure to work alongside.
The full linked vendor list is below. We’re so grateful to have worked with each company on this list, and offer our heartfelt thanks to Davis Row for bringing us together. We’re honored that this creative collaboration found a home in The Knot magazine, and hope you’ll gain inspiration for small gatherings of your own, whether or not you are planning a wedding.
See the article in The Knot Spring 2021 issue here