Using all table and chair linens from Waterford Event Rentals at the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront, these wedding designers started with a blank slate, selected the linens that best went with their themes, and then infused their own personalities and stories into their special design creations. Inspiration comes from everywhere (especially when sourced locally!), but we'll let the designers themselves share their personal words with these gorgeous photos.
COLOR-INSPIRED
"My inspiration was drawn from a wedding that I did a few years ago. The bride's family was from southern Italy and the groom's from the southernmost part of Mexico. The couple wanted to incorporate both of their cultures in their ceremony and design, and so we created our Ethnic Fusion wedding table using elements that represented various cultures." - Memorable Events by Apryl
VENDOR CREDITS
Photography: Tiltawhirl Imagery*** // Design and Florals: Memorable Events by Apryl // Stationery: Zazzle // Chandelier: Blue Steel Lighting // Wedding Gown: House of Maya***
Photography: Tiltawhirl Imagery*** // Design and Florals: Memorable Events by Apryl // Stationery: Zazzle // Chandelier: Blue Steel Lighting // Wedding Gown: House of Maya***
"This was my first year participating in the Crystal Clear Event so I wanted my table to be a reflection of my business and of me. I felt like the purple design portrayed my personal and business' signature color, but I wanted brides and other guests to see not only is it about the centerpiece and the flowers for your reception table, but the small little details can also help make your table." - Soirees by Lauren
VENDOR CREDITS
Photography: Memories by Mere Photography*** // Design and Coordination: Soirees by Lauren // Florals: Fluttering Flowers // Cookie Favors: Holbrook House of Cookies // Paper Crafts: Skylar Scott
Photography: Memories by Mere Photography*** // Design and Coordination: Soirees by Lauren // Florals: Fluttering Flowers // Cookie Favors: Holbrook House of Cookies // Paper Crafts: Skylar Scott
"My inspiration was drawn from the title of this event: The Crystal Clear Event! Every girl dreams, and the goal was to show how a dream can become a reality. We had the reception table serve as a candy buffet alongside a beautiful dress that compliments the theme and ambiance of the event." - Dreams 2 Reality
VENDOR CREDITS
Photography: Memories by Mere Photography*** // Design and Concept: Dreams 2 Reality // Tableware: Isha Foss Events // Cake Pops and Sweets: Unique Sweets & Accessories // Stationery: RSVP Stationery // Lighting: Blue Steel Lighting
Photography: Memories by Mere Photography*** // Design and Concept: Dreams 2 Reality // Tableware: Isha Foss Events // Cake Pops and Sweets: Unique Sweets & Accessories // Stationery: RSVP Stationery // Lighting: Blue Steel Lighting
GARDEN-INSPIRED
"We wanted our table to look as though you had stumbled upon an abandoned dinner party in an overgrown garden. So Becky filled the gate with flowers and greenery, and it was hung upside down above the table. We made sure to fill our plates and glasses with edibles and drinkable delights since a dinner party isn't complete without things to eat and drink. When viewing the table, we thought it was important to be able to smell the wine in the glasses and the chocolate cake on the plates and the abundantly sweet smell of the flowers everywhere. We wanted our vision to be experienced not only visually, but by smell as well. This was such a fun concept to design and create and we are so thankful and appreciative to everyone involved that helped bring it to fruition." - As You Wish Events and Roost Flowers
VENDOR CREDITS
Photography: Andrew and Tianna*** // Design and Coordination: As You Wish Events // Design and Florals: Roost Flowers*** // Sweets: Sweet Temptations Dessert Cafe // Placecards: The Girl Tyler*** // Antiques: Second Sale Consignments, Table Seven, DJH Fine Home Furnishings // Lighting: Blue Steel Lighting
Photography: Andrew and Tianna*** // Design and Coordination: As You Wish Events // Design and Florals: Roost Flowers*** // Sweets: Sweet Temptations Dessert Cafe // Placecards: The Girl Tyler*** // Antiques: Second Sale Consignments, Table Seven, DJH Fine Home Furnishings // Lighting: Blue Steel Lighting
"I drew my inspiration from a garden bridge's arch, and I envisioned my table arch as the bridge that brings two families together. A garden has many variations just like a blended family; you have the hardness of stone and yet the beauty, softness, and elegance of flowers. And for more creative purposes, there are arches that people stand under, normally at their ceremonies, well why not have one for the reception table? Exactly my thought, so I had to make it happen!" - Ellasin's Events
VENDOR CREDITS
Photography: Chelsea Anderson Photography*** // Design and Florals: Ellasin's Events // Stationery: RSVP Stationery
Photography: Chelsea Anderson Photography*** // Design and Florals: Ellasin's Events // Stationery: RSVP Stationery
COASTAL-INSPIRED
"I know that a lot of people think that I love everything nautical and anchors just because or that my fiance is in the Navy. And while that is partly true, the anchor in my business logo has much more meaning. It is the symbol for Faith, Hope, and Love. I lost my dad at 19, and my mom was my anchor during that time-- she still is. My dad was also in the Navy and growing up, both of my parents kept me grounded, straight, and constant. I got the anchor with a heart tattooed a couple years back when I was in the process of rebranding with April from PaperDolls Design. We were trying to think of something to represent my business, and she suggested we use my anchor tattoo because it has so much meaning behind it. From there it stuck! Now it not only represents my parents, but my company and my future hubs! Because at the end of it all, Faith, Hope, and Love is all we have." - Jamie Leigh Events
VENDOR CREDITS
Photography: Caitlin Gerres Photography*** // Design and Coordination: Jamie Leigh Events // Wedding Gown: Maya Couture on Main*** // Florals: Roost Flowers*** // Chandelier and Lighting: Blue Steel Lighting // Stationery: PaperDolls Design
Photography: Caitlin Gerres Photography*** // Design and Coordination: Jamie Leigh Events // Wedding Gown: Maya Couture on Main*** // Florals: Roost Flowers*** // Chandelier and Lighting: Blue Steel Lighting // Stationery: PaperDolls Design
"I have a love for anything and everything beach-related! There is just something about the sand under your feet, the calming sounds of the waves breaking, and the reflections off the water. I really wanted to use items that reflected objects around the beach, as well as silver, peach and bring in some driftwood. I ended up using real shells and spray painted them silver. This idea came from a few silver shell decor pieces I had in my living room. I love light and its reflection as well, so the stainless steel lanterns and crystal votives also reflected other objects and light too, as well as adding some additional elegance to the table. I just had to put a small shell next to each place setting, with a cake ball, to represent a pearl from the sea!" - A Signature Event
VENDOR CREDITS
Photography: Tiltawhirl Imagery*** // Design and Coordination: A Signature Event // Florals: Lasting Impressions Florist & Gifts // Rentals: Coastal Virginia Event Rentals // Stationery: Aurora Graphics // Lighting: Blue Steel Lighting
Photography: Tiltawhirl Imagery*** // Design and Coordination: A Signature Event // Florals: Lasting Impressions Florist & Gifts // Rentals: Coastal Virginia Event Rentals // Stationery: Aurora Graphics // Lighting: Blue Steel Lighting
RUSTIC-INSPIRED
"I really love the 'little details' as I feel like they can be the most impactful. There were a few key elements I wanted to include, and they honestly turned out to be some of my favorite parts of the entire table. By embellishing our glass plates with glittery monograms, we wanted to share the idea that while clients aren't typically able to bring home details from their weddings with them, this detail could be a completely feasible and memorable way to take home a memory. I also am a huge history buff (I wanted to be a history teacher in my younger years), so I thought including some "frontiersmen" and "female gunslingers" would be a fun way to tie our stationery in with our rustic chic theme-- like with our stationery pieces as Martha "Calamity" Jane Canary marries David "Davy" Stern Crockett for our table!" - Antonia Christianson Events
VENDOR CREDITS
Photography: Caitlin Gerres Photography*** // Conceptualization and Design: Antonia Christianson Events*** // Custom Lighting: Blue Steel Lighting // Flowers: Isha Foss Events Stationery: RSVP Stationery // Gown: House of Maya*** // Plate Decals: KPL Decals
Photography: Caitlin Gerres Photography*** // Conceptualization and Design: Antonia Christianson Events*** // Custom Lighting: Blue Steel Lighting // Flowers: Isha Foss Events Stationery: RSVP Stationery // Gown: House of Maya*** // Plate Decals: KPL Decals
"This was the maiden voyage of our custom-built Tuscan pergola, which was an idea we'd been wanting to make a reality for the past year. The Crystal Clear event gave us the perfect excuse to get it out of our brains and into fruition. It's handcrafted, hand-painted, and massive (12’ x 9’ x 9’!). We wanted a pergola that made a statement and created a feeling of space. Tyler Dalton, our in-house wizard, did all the engineering, cutting, joining, and woodworking. Drawing from warm Tuscan-inspired colors, we chose earthy linen and sash colors, rustic candelabras, and arranged florals in an ombré composition. We hung 20 assorted black and copper lanterns from the pergola's canopy. Vintage glassware, copper votives, and china completed the feeling of another place and time. Curly branches and huge clumps of ivy vine were the finishing touches of texture. We love creating a comprehensive composition that evokes a mood and feeling of its own. There is power in warm, rich color." - Palette of Petals
VENDOR CREDITS
Photography: Chelsea Anderson Photography*** // Concept, Design, and Florals: Palette of Petals // Lighting: Blue Steel Lighting // Gown: Maya Couture***
Photography: Chelsea Anderson Photography*** // Concept, Design, and Florals: Palette of Petals // Lighting: Blue Steel Lighting // Gown: Maya Couture***
MODERN-INSPIRED
"I lived in New York City for quite some time, and our office is now in downtown Norfolk since that's as close to NYC as I can get. The whole idea behind the simplicity of the design was to give the feeling of being in a city loft. The darker colors and mixed materials were just some of my faves. Of course we had to have a nod to the LGBT community in there, and we did that by highlighting two brides' names on the stationery, and the two "mrs." mirrored plates on the back of the chairs. The hardest part of doing this event was staying true to myself. I'm not a designer by nature, and I really wanted to involve some quirky elements without losing any sense of professionalism. I added in the glitter-filled salt and pepper shakers at the last minute, opted to pass out emergency confetti just for fun, and had our mannequin wear a t-rex necklace." - Cherry Blossom Weddings
VENDOR CREDITS
Photography: Andrew and Tianna*** // Design and Coordination: Cherry Blossom Weddings*** // Florals: The New Leaf // Stationery: The Girl Tyler*** // Lighting: Blue Steel Lighting // Flatware and Glassware: Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront
Photography: Andrew and Tianna*** // Design and Coordination: Cherry Blossom Weddings*** // Florals: The New Leaf // Stationery: The Girl Tyler*** // Lighting: Blue Steel Lighting // Flatware and Glassware: Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront
"We LOVED decoupaging images onto stained wood -- like our logo sign. The wood used on our table was cut down to the perfect sizes at our local hardware store for just a few dollars and after that, we used stain in a tube (yes, it's a real thing!) to give an industrial-aged look. It's such a great DIY and a great bang for your buck, but also such a beautiful statement piece for your event." - Emily Weddings
VENDOR CREDITS
Photography: Caitlin Gerres Photography*** // Design and Coordination: Emily Weddings // Lighting and Custom Gobo: Blue Steel Lighting // Florals: Palette of Petals // Wedding Gown: House of Maya*** // Flatware, Stemware, and Geometric Accessories: West Elm Virginia Beach
Photography: Caitlin Gerres Photography*** // Design and Coordination: Emily Weddings // Lighting and Custom Gobo: Blue Steel Lighting // Florals: Palette of Petals // Wedding Gown: House of Maya*** // Flatware, Stemware, and Geometric Accessories: West Elm Virginia Beach
