Clients that Inspire: Designing with SD Events

From the ceremony to the champagne toast to the reception, each element of our latest collaboration with Boston-based boutique event planning agency SD Events was pure New England autumn magic. With the stunning scenery of The Gardens at Elm Bank as the backdrop, this fall-inspired wedding styled shoot featured rich jewel tones, tons of luxe texture, and unexpected details to elevate and delight. From Velveteen runners to hanging flowers, rustic charm met romantic elegance throughout the stunning shoot that’s guaranteed to inspire more than just weddings. We caught up with Lindsay Arenson from SD Events to hear about the inspiration behind the design and get the inside scoop on how they’ve been upgrading and transforming some of their latest designs. Check it out!

Could you describe the looks you created and the story behind them?
Fall is well underway! In New England that means the air is getting cool and crisp, the ground is covered in brown and orange leaves and everyone seems to be draped in plaid. We wanted to bring out the warmth in the season. We decided on a jewel-tone Gatsby-glam inspired shoot; it’s a very rich color palette that also is very clean and can work in virtually any space. You’ll find outdoor soirees in New England through mid-November so we wanted to show the color and depth you can use during this season. We staged this both inside and out to show the range and the effect it can have everywhere! The Gardens at Elm Bank was the perfect location.

Ceremony

The beauty of the venue speaks for itself so we simply wanted to enhance it. To provide some depth, we partnered with DesignLight to drape gorgeous champagne fabric up at the Manor House. The florist, B Darling Floral, had a copper arbor that worked perfectly with the deep purple and reds. Pampas grass is becoming more popular so wanted to show it in a different way. Instead of associating it with tropical or rattan furniture vibes, we had it at the base of the arbor to provide a romantic and billowy effect. The narrow rows of chairs provided intimacy but also drama. Again since we wanted to let the space really speak for itself, we kept to the structure of the pathways. The bride made her entrance from the side before turning for her walk up the steps – a unique element instead of the standard middle aisle.

Get this look! Party Rental Ltd. products featured in the ceremony:
President Chair Gold with Wine Velveteen Cushion

Table

Who wouldn’t want to eat a cozy fall or winter meal with warm candlelight and draped velvet?! The vibe of this table fits perfectly between the masculine and feminine. We wanted to represent every jewel-tone color possible here. We picked matte black china as neutral piece and layered it with rich velvet and sapphire pillar candles. The deep purple menu also had a pop of that velvet on the back.

Get this look! Party Rental Ltd. products featured in this look:
Country Dining Table 60″ Square, Teal Velveteen 156″x102″ used as a table runner, Xavier Chair Gold Wood with Black Velveteen Cushion, Noma Green and Ivory Ombre Glass Charger 13″, Aster Matte Black Dinner Plate 10.75″, Pandora Smoke 12oz, Sapphire Sussex Goblet 12oz, Regency Sapphire Tinted Flute 4oz, Vanderbilt Stainless flatware with Vanderbilt Gold Teaspoon, Steel Grey Cotton Dinner Napkin, Hearst Votive Smoke

Bar Cart

Big bar displays are a huge decor element at weddings. To keep the intimate theme going, we wanted to use a new bar cart from your collection. Adorned with more velvet and vintage style glassware, this could be placed near the sweetheart table for quick access for the bride and groom. This could also be a great piece to showcase the wedding cake!

Get this look! Party Rental Ltd. products featured:
Zachary Bar Cart || Top Shelf: Wine Velveteen 120″ Round draped, All Purpose Champagne Coupe Glass 8.5oz, Silver Champagne Bucket, Brooks Votive, Dolores Votive || Bottom Shelf: Champagne Glass Coupe 8.5oz, Pandora Smoke 12oz, Stockholm Red Wine Glass 15oz

Escort Board

Escort displays are much more than just getting guest to their seat. They are a “welcome” decor element. We wanted to do something that incorporated the rich jewel tones and soft velvet in a unique design. Each tile was hand painted and working with Earnest B Calligraphy, each tile then had the names etched in gold. It shined in the sunlight and looked beautiful at dusk with the chandelier, provided by DesignLight, as well. The tiles were adhered in a way that guests were able to remove and take these home as a keepsake.

Dress

The DRESS! We were lucky enough to partner with Lyra Vega Bridal on this project. We explained the look we were going for and the Thea gown was a perfect choice. Dramatic but sleek and very easy to move around in. And all of her gowns are under $1000!

Party Rental Ltd. - Clients that Inspire: Designing with SD Events at The Gardens at Elm Bank

Are there any colors, styles, patterns, or textures that you or your clients have been gravitating toward lately?
We find the items that are upgraded the most lately have been the napkins and the chairs. It’s amazing what a textured or colored napkin can do to the table! It provides depth and can easily tie in a color scheme. Also keep in mind how the napkin is displayed on the table. In the shoot, an off-centered napkin tie provided some drama and would work beautifully with a plate or charger or just directly on the table. The chairs also can completely transform a room. Adding a colored cushion like we did for ceremony and for dining here is a simple way to make a space look more full.

What is your design philosophy?
The SD Events style and brand is very clean and fresh. While we LOVE our soft and romantic weddings that are heavily in the blush and ivory family, we always want to show our range and how it’s not the design or color scheme that defines our brand but how we stay true to the client’s aesthetic while pushing ourselves to try new things. We like to put a twist on tradition, add an modern element to classic affair – an element of surprise – and make sure the true reflection of our couple is felt by every guests throughout the evening. We love to create escort displays that go well beyond the table with cards or an interactive element incorporate into cocktail hour or the reception.

We also caught up with Kayleigh Tosches from The Gardens at Elm Bank to learn more about the locations that provided the scenery for the styled shoot, and why they were the perfect location for the occasion. Check it out!

The scenery for this styled shoot was so unique! Could you describe the spaces featured in this shoot?
The Italianate Garden is one of twelve display gardens here at The Gardens at Elm Bank and serves as our most formal outdoor space. Surrounded by copper beech hedges, seasonal annuals, and the property’s original estate, The Manor House, this garden is home to countless wedding ceremonies. This is also a one-of-a-kind location for cocktail style receptions accommodating up to 600 guests.
The Hunnewell Building is our restored Carriage House and serves as our largest indoor reception space. Seasonally there is an attached tent which allows us to accommodate seated receptions up to 230 and cocktail receptions up to 400.

What makes The Gardens so special as an event venue?

We like to the think that The Gardens at Elm Bank is a world of its own. We have over 36 acres of property and multiple gardens offering different seasonal blooms. We encourage each client to think of the property of as a blank slate and interpret it in their own way. This allows them to customize the spaces to best suit their vision for the event, and of course their style. There are so many unique features from the historic buildings and seasonal color, to the charming greenhouses and structures; it’s a perfect venue for someone looking to get away from the norm.

Every person that walks through the gates of property has a different interpretation of the gardens and how they want to use it. The beauty of the outdoor spaces is that they begin with a gorgeous backdrop and from there, working with a company like Party Rental Ltd., they can bring in rental pieces that speak to their design! From rustic bar carts and modern pewter cocktail tables to illuminated bars to and leather couches, it’s amazing to see how a client can create a completely new feel. It’s an amazing place to let your creative side go wild!

We were so thrilled to be part of this incredible styled shoot with the talented teams at SD Events, The Gardens at Elm Bank, and so many fantastic vendor partners.