Dessert Meets Design: Southern Weddings Feature

I shared the Southern Weddings spread with you earlier today, and I'm back with some pretty close-ups. We had a subtle Kentucky Derby theme to our shoot, so it's only a given that we shoot on a farm with real horses, include some pony details, and have a fabulous large-brimmed hat for the bride.

As for desserts, I made a rick rack cake with a silver horse topper, sugared pecan-topped cupcakes, mini peach cobblers, and chocolate cake pops. We didn't want this "wedding" to seem too polished and slick. We were aiming more for Southern charm and to represent a slower pace of life. So, you'll notice that I didn't use linens and instead used a distressed, painted table. No macraons and fancy truffles here.

Here are some of the phenomenal details the rest of the team came up with to bring this Southern-inspired shoot to life. One of our big goals was to make sure the Kentucky Derby theme wasn't "in your face" and too literal, so the horse motif is subtle, don't you agree?

Photography: Paper Antler // Styling: Maddy Hague of The Inspired Bride // Floral Design: Studio Fleurette // Dessert Table: Shauna Younge Dessert Tables // Paper Goods: Amy Hardy // Model: Joy Phillips of Wehmann Models // Hair: Brittany Moreland // Makeup: Jody Olson for Makeup Savvy // Wardrobe: BHLDN // Swing Top Favor Bottles: Specialty Bottle // Paper Rosettes: Pom Flair // Program Fan Handles: Perfect Stix // Rentals: Lime Canary Vintage Rentals // Washi Tape: Cute Tape

Dessert Meets Design: Southern Weddings Sneak Peek

I teamed up with the creative team that I collaborated with for the Graphic + Glitz (Part I and Part II) shoot again, and we created an inspirational wedding for Southern Weddings Magazine. The issue landed in mailboxes last week, and is probably on newsstands across the country by now, so I figured I'd share a few pics of the spread.

I'll be back in a hot second to share some lovely, detailed close ups of our shoot. See you soon!

images: paper antler.

Dessert Table: Succulent Sweets

I've got two great posts for you today, so let's kick things off with a beautiful dessert table. This Cinco de Mayo inspired butter was featured on Green Wedding Shoes and is full of succulent plants and luscious flowers. Soft hues and subtle cultural elements make it feel more like an intimate Mexican party rather than a loud, late-night fiesta. The cake is strung with a traditional papel picado banner, while margarita cupcakes, candy favor bags, and churros sit amongst glass covered succulents and rock beds.

Just look at how well the dessert table coordinates with the event's other decor. In all dessert table planning, this type of cohesive design is my ultimate goal. I want the buffet to be a seamless addition to the look, rather than just a random assortment of sweets. That doesn't mean everything has to match or be mirror images of each other, but the dessert table should feel like it belongs in its surroundings rather than being just a colorful afterthought. I also thought this dessert table was fabulously cohesive.

I really like how the entire design reflects a Mexican theme without seeming cliched or gimmicky. It's subtly is it's beauty. You can tell from its styling that it's a planned design, but it doesn't feel too structured. It's much more organic than that, and it's lovely. What's your favorite element of the design?

Don't forget to come back later today for the second post! See you soon.