Library Galleria - Venue Shoot

I met with Bonnie at the Library Galleria to discuss The Memory Journalists doing a shoot for her to showcase the expansiveness of the venue. Bonnie was prepared to hire individual companies to accomplish her goal of showcasing their venue. A brain storm was hatched - to invite Dynamite florists, invitationeires, and coordinators (of Dynamite Weddings) to participate if their time permitted. Many of my colleagues stepped up and the result - a beautiful dream inspired wedding.

The Inspiration: At the planning meeting, Martha of Blooms took the lead as principle designer, was inspired by the beautiful circular artwork of the ceiling and the circle patterns on the floor throughout the galleria. Martha chose a color palette of gold, red and touches of chocolate to enhance the colors found throughout the galleria. Rich red floral balls sprinkled with rhinestones were created to place on all the guest tables, down the kings table and hanging in the cocktail area. She envisioned large floral spheres hanging from the 3rd or 4th floor banisters down to the 2nd floor to show off the expansiveness of the galleria. Kathy from Visual Impact suggested using reindeer moss on these spheres and made the medium moss balls to hang. Each red moss ball hung from gold and brown ribbon. Sara from Lilygrass was able to order all 3000 carnations used and help Martha make several of the balls, while Martha and her staff handled ordering the rest of the materials needed and did most of the floral design. Martha also created a bridal bouquet to mimic the hanging flower balls and capture the artwork that hangs from the ceiling, using gold circles to suspend each ball. The ceremony site was set on the second story of this massive space and overlooked the tree line of a near by park. Catriona from Arcularius Events took the inspiration and ran with it, working hard to secure beautifully matching linens from CMC Designs, and table settings from Classic Party Rentals using rich gold and red china and luxurious flatware. Beneath billowing gold fabric sat a head table for King and a cake for a Queen. CMC Designs has an amazing selection of draping and fabrics and their staff hung the head table and cake table draping. The unique chandelier was also provided by CMC. Enhancing the theme, Catriona was inspired by the richness of the pieces coming together and added a jewel and gem feel. This played out in naming the tables and the detail jewel accents throughout the design. Each table was adorned with a scalloped edge gold satin linen with matching gold napkins tightly wrapped in a jeweled beaded ring. Each place setting was layered with a hammered glass charger with a gold rim, a red rimmed dinner plate, a gold rimmed detailed dinner and salad plate. Each place setting was flanked by red flatware details. The glassware created a red ring around the massive red carnation floral ball. Gold candles glowed beneath the rhinestone detailed centerpieces. The Library Galleria's own chairs add the modern touch to complete each table setting.

Catriona contacted Patrick with Village Cake Shoppe Bakery to create a jewel encrusted cake topped with a cluster of carnations and surrounded by carnation balls. The cake sat below a red, gold and crystal chandelier and had its own crystal accents and red details.Wanting no detail left out, Catriona commissioned Stephanie of Stephanie J designs to create an invitation, place cards and table name cards. Stephanie took up the spirit of the design using complimentary red and gold, even putting rhinestones on the place cards that were propped up by the dinner fork. Corresponding detailed place cards directing guests to their seats sat atop a bed of crystals and bordered by red carnation petals.The lounge area was highlighted by red lighting and gold fabrics with hanging red carnation balls in varying heights. Black leather ottomans and white tables (from Arcularius Events) surrounded the dance floor with cocktail tables each topped with their own red lights adding to the overall lounge feel. I brought in the beautiful Elly to be our bride and Nick and Alex to act the part of Groom(s) - yes we couldn't decide which gorgeous guy to use...so we used them both. :-) Bella Donna supplied the gown - an elegant and jeweled Jenny Packham 2008 Spring collection dress, a perfect fit for the shoot. We even had a quick treat of Anne modeling a Lea Ann Belter Dress for us.

Finally it was time for us to work our magic!I brought along Teresa and Anne. We started midafternoon and wrapped up shooting by 9 in the evening. At sunset, the light was perfect - showcasing the galleria's lower floor with its romantic lighting and capturing the red in the hanging spheres above, with the glowing light of sunset in the massive galleria windows, making the Library Galleria a most appealing place to get married.Watch the whole slideshow!

Blooms by Martha Andrews

The Memory Journalists

Arcularius Events

Classic Party Rentals

Bella Donna Bridal Salon

Sharri Black from CMC Designs

BP Lighting

Village Cake Shoppe

Stephanie J Designs

Visual Impact Design
Lilygrass Fresh Flower Design