Shabby Chic Weddings in Calgary Alberta
Shabby Chic Weddings in Calgary Alberta, often the trends in fashion and decorating make their way in to wedding trends, one such trend is “Shabby Chic”. As a photographer I am excited to capture many amazing moments influenced by Shabby Chic. The juxtaposed elements create interest in the photos, especially in the details. Shabby Chic may just be the perfect metaphor for Calgary. Our beautiful city is just that Shabby and Chic. This look fits . . . well everywhere, grand halls and pavilions but feels just as home in community halls and old barns. Photographically speaking vintage settings, old automobiles etc always make for great elements within wedding portraits and Shabby Chic only strengthens this visual relationship.
So what is Shabby Chic anyways? I have compiled some info below that you can use as a starting point to design your perfect Shabby Chic wedding.
shab·by (shăbē)
adj. shab·bi·er, shab·bi·est.
- Showing signs of wear and tear; threadbare or worn-out: shabby furniture.
- Dilapidated or deteriorated in condition, especially through neglect; seedy: a shabby little park.
- Of mediocre or substandard quality: a shabby performance.
chic (shēk)
adj. chic·er, chic·est.
1. Conforming to the current fashion; stylish: chic clothes; a chic boutique.
1. The quality or state of being stylish; fashionableness.
2. Sophistication in dress and manner; elegance
Embracing the shabby chic aesthetic means embracing casual and dress in the same theme. Beware though don’t equate casual with sloppy! It couldn’t be further from the truth, tailoring is very important. You’re creating a look that mixes high and low new and old but not sloppy or dirty. Faded blues, charcoals, blacks and browns are the staples of a great shabby chic look. Avoid bright colours and always opt for the best tailoring you can afford.
This trend favours suits over tuxes and loose soft unstructured dresses over more fitted styles. Details are mixed and layered but always complimentary. This is true of table decor and wedding favours also. When designing your Shabby Chic Wedding consider; slip covered furniture, old Furniture painted White (freshly painted or old and chipped), distressed, pastel colours with floral prints or faded stripes, vintage or vintage inspired linens architectural elements, painted metals worn out Looking and sophisticated, casual and fashionably deteriorated while still being stylish. A large part of Shabby Chic’s allure is rooted in nostalgia. Lighter hues and softer colours are the name of the day.
Shabby Chic is greener, softer, rougher, more layered, textured, natural but above all stylish. Combine beautifully natural elements and vintage with touches of glamour and high fashion. Shabby chic is a little bohemian and definitely D.I.Y. But don’t mistake this for “cheap” or “poor” as with any good trend there is no shortage of store bought items and designers waiting to help you plan the perfect Shabby Chic Wedding.
As usual it’s your day lets have some fun with it, do what you want!
Jeffrey Wilkins ConceptPhotos Calgary Alberta Wedding Photographer
P.S. A great source for some hand painted glassware Perfect for a Shabby Chic wedding.
It’s a piece of “Wedding” cake!
This week I thought I would share a few thoughts on wedding cake but before we get to the ideas of themes colours etc I thought I could share some advice.
It’s a piece of cake right? This is one time this statement however literal isn’t true. Wedding cake is much more than a piece of cake. There are many considerations beyond flavours and ingredients BUT . . . none so important. Not that it matters if your cake is chocolate, carrot or any other flavour, more importantly that you and your guests can stomach it.
One of great moments of your wedding will be the cake cutting ceremony. Cutting the cake and sharing the first piece as husband and wife is a symbol of your commitment and unity as a new couple. As a photographer I love the emotions as well as the shenanigans that ensue in these moments. However when seen through the lens, there is almost no way to hide the look of disgust when a foul tasting cake is shoved in the mouth of a bride!
Make sure you taste a sample of the cake your ordering DON’T assume that because you like that flavour it will be okay. Be clear that this cake or part of the cake is for eating! This is one place I can speak from experience. Four our wedding our cake was a simple carrot cake. Yet something had gone wrong it ended up tasting more like stale rotten sawdust than anything resembling carrot cake! A foul tasting cake can and did adversely affect this crucial moment. Both my wife and I immediately spit out the cake we had just had thrust into our mouths. We can laugh at it now but the pictures tell the true story. Not to mention your guests will likely feel uncomfortable and possibly guilty for not eating the cake they were served. Had we only tasted a sample, and made clear our intention was to serve this cake and not to build housing for third world countries this would have been avoided.
Style of the cake:
There are many popular styles that couple can choose from such as but not limited to: contemporary, dramatic, simple, classic, unique, traditional and regal. There are no hard and fast rules and it is entirely your decision have fun with it.
Budget:
The sky is the limit here and you have to decide what works for you, more money doesn’t always mean a better cake.
Size of the cake:
There are a few considerations here: which style are you going with, how many guests are you trying to feed, and of course what is your budget. Extra sheet cakes can simplify the guests, buy cutting the main cake and serving from the sheet cakes.
Colour of the cake:
Will your cake colour match or complement your theme? You should speak to your chosen cake baker for more in depth and more specific advice as colours can sometimes affect how eatable a cake is.
Flavour of the cake:
Some popular flavours include carrot, fruit, chocolate, vanilla, angel food and cream cakes. If you like avocado, kiwi, coffee bean cake this might be a good time to go with your second more common choice. Sawdust should also be avoided here!
Tier shape:
As a photographer I feel these all have unique visual qualities that can create drama in your images. Below are a few possibilities, once again have fun here.
• Round: the most traditional style
• Square: for a bold and elegant affair
• Multi- shape : unique style
• Cupcake wedding (a fun and easy way to distribute the cake)
Cake toppers:
This is an area where creativity can flourish. From elegant to humorous, from traditional to unique, from mass produced to one of a kind the possibilities are endless. It is your cake after all consider your desires and your personalities as a couple. Think of your theme and your colours. An often overlooked factor is the cake itself you don’t want to choose a large humorous cake topper for a small, elegant, fragile cake.
Cake baker:
Determine all factors above then find the bakers that fit your needs. Once you have a list narrowed down make appointments for a tasting and face to face visit. Not only can you taste the cakes but you can see the facilities and get a sense of their professionalism.
Cake delivery:
Make sure to get this well planned in advance. I recommend putting someone in charge of this for you. Be generous with the time allowed. Organize not only with the baker but the venue. There is nothing worse than having a cake delivered to a venue that isn’t expecting or ready for it.
AS with all thing relating to your wedding day remember it’s your day have fun with it.
Jeffrey
Just a little update to this post, I discovered some great hints at: Wedding cake (although I don’t like feeling like a “for Dummies” user)
Especially like these two:
Displaying and Cutting Your Wedding Cake
The wedding cake is usually displayed from the beginning of the reception, so choose a filling and icing that can hold up for the duration. If you’re adding special lighting to the room, add a spotlight for the cake table. Otherwise, park it somewhere well lit and in full sight of the guests, but off the dance floor, or it might wind up on the floor during the first fast dance. Keep in mind the time of year and the length of time the cake will be on display so it doesn’t begin collapsing by the time it’s cut.
Cake table secrets
The base of the cake determines the size of the table. A huge, round table makes even the stateliest cake look minuscule. Make sure that the table is sturdy and is either on wheels or light enough with the cake for two waiters to carry it. To elaborately embellish the table, wrap picture wire (as if tying a package) around the tabletop, as shown in Figure 1. After the tables are covered, you can attach swags, garlands, and sprays with safety pins to the wires in the appropriate places. Layer sheets and/or tulle to give the tablecloth fullness and make it look more elegant.
2011 Wedding colours thoughts and strategies
The colours this year are “bold” “bright” “fun” and “whimsical”! As a photographer I couldn’t be happier, your photos will look great this year and the creativity sparked by these fun colours will be endless. We have a fun year ahead of us . . . but first you have some choices to make. I have done some research and here are some of the thoughts I identified with.
Decide on your wedding theme. Are you planning a formal evening event or a playful daytime gathering? These two don’t mix so well . . . I know your saying but we are getting married in the daytime then a evening reception. Keep in mind where the colours are more prominent where the most impact will be. Are you getting married in a church or at a hall, outdoors or indoors? All these play a role in making smart decisions.
Consider the season when choosing colours. This is especially important when considering floral arrangements, as many popular wedding flowers are not available all year. Spring colours may look out of place against the subdued pallets of late fall.
Think about your personalities both together and individual. What are your inspirations within your lives together? Consider sports teams, favourite TV shows, favourite restaurants, favourite art pieces, nature etc. All these inspirations have colour schemes and some of them may be appropriate for inspiration.
Consider the bridal party first. While some colours may work well as accents, flowers and announcement cards, those same colours may not translate so smoothly onto a taffeta bridesmaid dress or a cummerbund.
Make sure you go beyond your wedding photographer, look in magazines, at wedding websites, fashion magazines and more. Even the most prolific photographer cannot show every trend especially new trends.
Think about your announcement and invitation cards. These are the first thing that people are going to see and you want it to set the tone for your wedding, not be off the mark.
As a photographer I love the idea of creating something “visual” to help you visualize your look.
Some colours just look terrible through the lens! You can use colour wheels or paint chips to help. Use images of flowers, cloth, ties, dresses etc to create a “vision board” of your wedding.
A great source for inspiration and information can be found at Michelle Mospens’ blog http://www.mypersonalartist.com/blog/
Make sure to view your colours in the real world not just on a computer screen. Take the colours outside, view them in the artificial light you’re going to be in. There are significant differences between fluorescent and tungsten or incandescent light not to mention natural light. If you can take some pictures inside and outdoors, focus on the details the colour combinations tighten up or zoom in on your subject.
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