It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost eight months since we hosted our six annual Bridal Open House - on Sunday, May 26th, 2019 - and the whole show was so incredibly beautiful that it honestly still feels like a dream. Even with thousands of events under our belt, it never ceases to amaze us the moment everything comes together perfectly - when all the details are set, all the vendors and staff are ready to go, and when we open our doors to hundreds of excited attendees.
This year we wanted to pull from specific wedding trends that inspired us, but at the same time design looks that were completely fresh, unique, and trendsetting, and that would leave our followers inspired. Of course, it came naturally that we would again collaborate with our vendor partners and event sponsors Above & Beyond Event Design (our preferred decorator) and Lyric Flowers (our preferred florist), who are always a complete dream to work with, and who always deliver quality event design at the highest possible level.
With a unique romantically-draped backdrop curated from various panels, a king’s head table display on custom white-wash wood harvest tables, and a multitude of glass globes suspended from the ceiling by stands of Italian ruscus, our French country garden theme came to life.
Beginning with the Ballroom, we ran with a French country garden theme, which so perfectly complemented the space that it felt as if the room was originally designed with that exact style in mind. Using a soft and romantic palette of dusty blue, cream and champagne, we created visual impact through using the same colour in varying shades and layering textures like chiffon, satin and velvet. Let’s pause for a moment on velvet. The rich, plush, luxurious texture has been an emerging trend in the wedding industry over the last few years, but had a big moment in 2019. Velvet was everywhere, and our hearts were singing.
The lavish tablescape design on the king’s table was created from layers of details such as steel blue taper candles, stone blue glass goblets, gold-beaded glass charger plates, ornate gold-plated flatware, and fresh floral arrangements that varied in height and fullness.
At the center of the room design was a custom white-washed wood king’s table, with intricate turned legs and exposed grain, where the bride, groom and wedding party would sit intimately amongst their guests for a reception. Details such as steel blue taper candles and stone blue glass goblets provided a subtle ombre effect against the clean-lined storm blue velvet runner that sat down the middle of the table. Using gold-beaded glass charger plates, ornate gold-plated flatware, champagne matte satin napkins, and fresh floral arrangements in mercury vases that varied in height and fullness, Above & Beyond and Lyric Flowers styled a lavish tablescape that was rich in layers. For added place setting character and personalization, we worked with Primarly Paper to create beautiful circular menu cards, that combined our ombre colour story, signature gold calligraphy font, and also sat perfectly at the centre of the charger plates. Always preferring for the head table to make a big statement, we completed the design with rented white-washed, oval-back Pheonix chairs that provided a unique seating option for the wedding party, while also complimenting our champagne-toned Ballroom Chiavari chairs that guests would use for dinner seating.
Place settings were completed with custom circular menu cards that combined our ombre colour story, signature gold calligraphy font, and also sat perfectly at the centre of the charger plates.
Always huge fans of an eclectic floor plan, we used round guest tables dressed in storm blue velvet linen to frame the long white-washed wood king’s table, which was set at the centre of the space.
Now for that gorgeous backdrop behind the head table! While we absolutely love a good floor-to-ceiling, symmetrically-draped design, we also love the idea of bringing to life looks that haven’t been done before. Our vision was to build individual panels at various heights and widths that were dressed with fluid, sheer draping in the same tone as the table linen, and that were accented with asymmetrical trailing greenery. And Above & Beyond and Lyric Flowers absolutely nailed the final look. Since unveiling our one-of-a-kind design, we’ve noticed it as a source of inspiration for not only our followers, but also for other decorators and venues in the area.
Adding to the garden theme of the event, and also grounding the beautiful wood ceiling feature at the centre of the Ballroom, Lyric Flowers installed a variety of rose blooms in glass globes that were suspended from strands of Italian ruscus. The rods of permanent pendant lights were also wrapped with the trailing greenery, which added to the overgrown and whimsical feel throughout the room, and made the light fixtures appear as if they were seemingly floating above. Additionally, hosting a gold-dipped, five-layer wedding cake designed by Cakes by Julie, Above & Beyond custom-built a unique floating round wood shelf, with cables also wrapped in the same foilage.
Extending the overall feel of the Ballroom space outdoors to its corresponding ceremony grounds, our pergola was accented with the same floral varieties and Infinity chair design that was used inside, as well as a single draped panel that danced with the breeze.
Not being the types to hold back on details, we brought the inside out, by extending the overall feel of the Ballroom space outdoors to its corresponding ceremony grounds. Our existing wood pergola was accented with trailing greenery and a large asymmetrical floral arrangement, created with a mixture of the same delicate varieties used throughout the indoor setting - roses, gardenia, astilbe, and dendrobium, to name a few. Completing the design, Above & Beyond styled the base of the pergola with vintage gold candlesticks that held blue taper candles, and uniquely suspended a single panel of sheer on one side of the pergola that romantically danced with the breeze. To mirror the indoor furniture, we continued the same rented oval-back Pheonix chair for ceremony seating, which paired perfectly with the white-washed wood signing table that (along with the matching reception tables) Above & Beyond so graciously custom-built for our show.
Pulling together our moody romance theme in the Hideaway, an enchanting tablescape came to life on the king’s table with a multitude of colourful floral arrangements in vintage gold vessels, black taper candles on vintage gold candlesticks, and black velvet napkins set on gold-beaded glass charger plates.
Over in the Hideaway, our theme of moody romance was created from bringing together a sunset palette of rich jewel tones like deep red, burgundy and coral, contrasting with striking accents in black, metal and wood. Although a completely different vibe than in the Ballroom, we married the two designs by carrying over certain elements into each separate space. Of most significance was the unique backdrop design at the center of the room, which was also created from panels at varying heights, except that in the Hideaway we had the panels suspended from above. Alternating between a solid and a crushed black velvet dressing, these panel installations brought to life the adventurous, dark and edgy feel we were after. Below the paneled backdrop stood a warm wood harvest king’s table, where the couple and their wedding party would sit for the reception, flanked by two long wood harvest tables for immediate family. Above the couple, a gleaming crystal chandelier was hung, which Lyric Flowers accented with greenery and dark red roses. For seating, our wood cross-back vineyard chairs were placed at the head table, and all other guest seating consisted of our dark-framed metal Chiavari chairs. Instead of going the traditional route of dressing guest rounds with a beautiful linen, we opted for exposed wood round tables to match the long family tables - an exciting new option offered by Above & Beyond.
For mock family tables, we created cohesion by using the same wood harvest tables and vintage gold accessories as the head table, but then uniquely accented with large raised floral arrangements on metal casbah stands, and completed with a flowing single-layer black chiffon runner that puddled at the floor.
Down the center of the head table, an enchanting tablescape came to life with a multitude of colourful floral arrangements in vintage gold vessels and on stone blocks, thoughtfully styled over the double-layered runner of charcoal grey chiffon on black velvet that romantically puddled at the floor. Unexpected floral varieties such as poppies and leucadendron were intermixed with the more traditional rose and waxflower for an edgy appeal. Gold-beaded glass charger plates were topped with loosely-knotted black velvet napkins, and vintage gold candlesticks were completed with black taper candles - dramatic black details that perfectly complemented the black metal cross of our vineyard chairs (and the black metal frames of our garage doors). Our in-house flatware, stemware and glassware completed the table settings and added the finishing touch to the reception space.
Down at the Hideaway ceremony pergola, we continued with wood vineyard chairs as seating for wedding guests, which also framed the setting. The pergola was accented with sheer black draping, a loose greenery runner, a cocktail style signing table dressed in charcoal-colored linen, and a large floral arrangement suspended with Edison drop lighting - all of which were styled in the asymmetrical format that ran through the overall design of the show.
In the Hideaway, our theme of moody romance was created from bringing together a sunset palette of rich jewel tones like deep red, burgundy and coral, contrasting with striking accents in black, metal and wood.
For Hideaway ceremony guest seating, we carried the design elements of the indoor space outdoors by using the same wood cross-back vineyard chairs that were used for the head table display, which is an upgraded rental ceremony option for our couples.
To further complement and personalize the room designs, we added lounge areas to each space that were both charming and multi-functional - a conversation and photo area idea for couples to use for their own wedding, and on the day of our bridal show, the setting for our ‘Read Bride’ panels. Following an overwhelmingly positive response from adding the panel feature to our 2018 Bridal Open House, we just had to have another round of our past brides share their first-hand wedding experience with future couples. Four of our 2018 brides - two Ballroom brides and two Hideaway brides - were available for couples to chat with about their experience working with SMGCC and our preferred vendors.
Our beautiful Ballroom brides - Samantha and Erica - hung out on the Ballroom private patio, where Above & Beyond and Lyric Flowers had created a cozy corner with an upholstered blue-grey velvet couch, candlescaping and loads of greenery. Next door, Hayley and Julie - our lovely Hideaway brides - spent the afternoon at a lounge setup just inside one of the Hideaway garage doors, which was outfitted with a vintage red velvet settee and a draped backrop to compliment the pergola design.
Of course, a large reason why many couples join us year over year for our Bridal Open House is to be inspired by the stunningly unique show designs, and to get a feel of the SMGCC wedding experience. However, we know that their goal is also to check off many of the boxes on their wedding planning list. As such, our in-house Special Events Team was on-hand to provide tours and answer questions, and a curated selection of our trusted vendors – decorator, florist, photographers, entertainment, officiants, bakeries, stationery, makeup artists, bridal registry, photo booth services, transportation, and graphic design – were available for couples to personally connect with. Wine samples of all the varieties couples would be able to choose from for their own wedding were provided by Pelee Island Winery, and the bar selection was rounded out with beer samples provided by Cowbell Brewing Co. Onto the culinary scene, guests of the show were offered a selection of our finest in-house passed hors d’oeuvres, in addition to a sample of one of the hottest food station options of the moment – donuts! Parked on the Hideaway patio, this year we excitedly welcomed the Boho Photo Bus Booth, which showcased a unique and fun way to offer photo favours to wedding guests, and also proved to act as the perfect statement piece to stare at during cocktail period. See the full list of participating vendors at the end of this post.
Cowbell Brewing Co. was onsite at the Open House to provide complimentary beer samples of our three most popular local craft varieties.
Attendees of the show were treated to a sample of one of the hottest food station options of the moment, and one of our most popular Late Night table selections - donuts!
This year we excitedly welcomed the Boho Photo Bus Booth, who specializes in offering unique and fun photo favours to wedding guests, and also acts as a statement piece when parked on our Hideaway patio.
We can’t quite put into words how much gratitude we feel for every single person who made this another hugely successful show - our partners Above & Beyond and Lyric Flowers for collaborating with us for months and bringing our design dreams to life (and then some), VanDaele & Russell for being so insanely talented and capturing the day in photos so perfectly, our preferred vendor family who are an integral part of the overall experience of our show, our panel of past brides for keeping it real with current and future couples (and for being a part of our SMGCC family!), our unbelievable in-house Special Events Team for caring about our couples in a way that is completely unmatched in the industry, and last but certainly not least, ALL THE COUPLES who hung out with us at our show! We thank you.
Our preferred vendor family, four of our past brides, and our in-house Special Events Team were all on-hand at the Open House to connect with couples and answer any preliminary questions they had.
Looking forward to all of the beautiful weddings we will host this season, as well as announcing the date for our 2020 Bridal Open House! We have some exciting plans for the show this year, and you won’t want to miss it!
Photography by VanDaele & Russell Photography
Participating Vendors:
Above & Beyond Event Design: Décor + Styling | Lyric Flowers: Floral Design | VanDaele & Russell Photography: Photographer | Team Dias, Tina Dias and Mike Dias: Officiant Services | Primarily Paper: Custom Stationery | Cakes by Julie: Baker | Makeup Artistry by Heather: Makeup Artist | Bradshaws: Bridal Registry | Music Central Entertainment: DJ Services | Pelee Island Winery: Wine | DJ Alpha Productions: DJ Services | KM Imaging: Custom Graphics | Michael Steingard Photography: Photographer | All Dolled Up: Makeup Artistry | Amotion Films: Videography | Enduring Promises: Officiant Services | Cherrey Bus Lines: Transportation | Cowbell Brewing Co.: Craft Beer | Boho Photo Bus: Photobooth Services
