The Design Concept
Fashioned for a prominent watercolourist and visionary, the design for this wedding aesthetic was approached as if one were to orchestrate the creation of a priceless work of art. Heavily inspired by nature, colour, the psychology of colour, and the myriad of emotions colours elicit, a “plein air” creative concept seemed idealistic for this outdoor celebration. The French term “plein air” is defined as “open air”, and refers to the act of painting outdoors, capturing the spirit and essence of a landscape or subject by incorporating natural light into the piece. The narrative that accompanied the creative process for this piece was precise and articulate. As if an artist stood before their easel, poised to delicately apply colourful pigments to the paper, each carefully curated colour was meticulously scrutinized, each individual brush stroke expounded, each breathtaking transparent fusion echoing a purpose for the beautiful composition that would be unveiled.
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The Event Palette
A vibrant and lively palette, in the tradition of French Impressionists, the event colour palette literally derived from the artist’s watercolour palette of choice, “Sennelier Artists’ Watercolors”. The brand is industry renowned, the pigments enhanced with honey to provide incomparable brilliance and luminosity. This was a lesson in artistry. The colours, bold and vivid, appeared in abundance throughout the event: “Aureoline” (yellow/deep yellow), “IndianYellow” (deep yellow/muted peach), “Red Orange” (peach tones), “SennelierOrange” (orange/poppy-like), “French Vermilion” (bright red orange), “Scarlet Lacquer” (pink/red), “Green Earth” (muted sage), “Sap Green” (pale moss),and “Olive Green” (muted moss/hunter green). Mother-of-pearl pastel hues of honey, powder pink, peach, rose quartz, bird’s-egg blue, and lilac, each born of the “washes” or semi-transparent layer of colours featured in watercolour paintings, showcased an ombre-like fusion between the vivid colors and those that made an appearance in more muted fashions.The philosophy adopted by watercolorists that “the natural luminosity of the white paper, unobstructed by paint, is indicative of sunlight” was poignantly represented by the bride adorned in a wealth of white tulle.
The Setting
Several inviting custom “nature preserves”, as they were dubbed, were staged to serve as exterior “ethereal lounges”, their vignettes adorned with generous layers of tulle and gauze draped from tree branches. Monumental age-old oaks and beech trees were stylized with an endless collection of ornamental lanterns and votives suspended from their extended branches. Vintage burlap and linen settees, and an eclectic mix of reclaimed wood tables and chairs, all spoke to the natural ambiance of the setting. Amidst the fields resplendent with flowers, and the plethora of floral tablescapes touting peonies, poppies, hydrangea, roses, ranunculus, and spider mums, all grown on site, a mélange of locally sourced fresh fruit also debuted in the decorative adornments. Cascades of colourful grapes, blackberries, raspberries, and kumquats, all spoke to the colour palette, which was further punctuated by a culinary masterpiece, the “blossoming cake”!
Accoutrements
Among the emblematic elements that brought the “plein air” watercolour concept to life, were artist’s stations arranged randomly nearby flowering garden beds, featuring eclectic tables, artisanal “tools-of-the-trade” for watercolourists: easels, sketchbooks, pencils, “Hahnemuhle” watercolour paper, pigment palettes, assorted watercolour brushes, sea sponges, and masking tape. These artist’s stations beckoned guests, whether novice or advanced artist, to indulge in this fine art form. Nearby the ceremony site, beneath the canopy of trees displaying their embellished limbs, sat a small group of local artists commissioned to engage in plein-air painting throughout the celebration, thereby capturing treasured moments in an exquisite collection of watercolours that were displayed in a “garden gallery” for viewing during the cake service. Each watercolour was then offered as a departing gift to guests in attendance.
