A styled shoot set amidst the driftwood covered shoreline of Lake Champlain in Chittenden County Vermont.

While most Vermont weddings feature the famed mountainous backdrops, lush with the greens of summer or warm with the golden hues of autumn, there is also great beauty to be found in the often forgotten lake region of Chittenden County Vermont. With that in mind, Gabe Aceves of Gabe Aceves Photography and Lindsey Leichthammer of Farmhouse Group Events were inspired to create a styled shoot highlighting the coastal charm of Lake Champlain. “After meeting with Gabe to review his mood board that was filled with airy blue and pink ombré fabrics and seaside elements like water and oyster shells, I knew the lake would help to pull in the Piscean elements he had envisioned for this shoot,” Lindsey recalled. The wooden farm table was set amidst the driftwood covered shoreline and draped with a watery blue, linen runner that flowed off the table, creating an ethereal setting. Jayson Munn of Jayson Munn Design incorporated a wildly lush arrangement filled with cascading greenery and pink blooms to add a little drama to the table. Watery gray marble place settings and cerulean geode serving platters completed the look.

A warm summer color palette of petal pink and leafy greens created a dreamy ambiance within the gilded ballroom at The Lenox Hotel in Boston. 

“Petal pink and gold are colors that to me, represent elegance, vintage glamour, and romance. I wanted my wedding to reflect this as much as possible,” Elizabeth explained. The ballroom, with its gold architectural details and vintage-inspired hanging pendant lights made The Lenox Hotel the perfect place to bring her dream wedding to life. A band of greenery with clusters of coral-hued amaryllis anchored a wall of white chiffon draping, creating a blank canvas for peach and pink carnation buds that looked as though they were floating. After the ceremony this dreamy wall served as the backdrop for the sweetheart table and the harpist to serenade the newlyweds and the rest of the guests as they enjoyed a decadent meal crafted by the talented culinary team at The Lenox Hotel.

SD Events || 44 Washington Street Suite 220 || Wellesley Hills MA 02481 || 781.416.9500

Creative visionaries with an unbridled passion for event design,  the team at SD Events will bring your weddings dreams to life! We caught up with owner and principal event producer, Tasha Bracken to learn more about SD Events and what is trending in wedding event design…

How did SD Events come to be? 

For as long as I can remember, I always loved a fun party – whether just an intimate dinner with close friends or a large family gathering. When I was young, my Dad entertained often and I would always help prepare the food, set the table and make sure everything was in place when guests arrived. Our specialty was a great red sauce and Caesar salad dressing – which I still make today! These memories fuel my love of events which continues to grow and has become my passion.

What is currently trending in weddings event design? 

There are so many things happening in the industry right now and one of the main facilitators is Instagram! As crazy as that sounds, Instagram as a platform, continuously changes the industry – at lightning speed. What was “in” yesterday is “out” today – literally almost that fast. As a result, we have developed the “SD Style Look Book,” which helps us forecast the trends – think Fashion Week – on a smaller scale, of course. It’s all about taking what we’re used to seeing in weddings and putting a new twist on it.

Here are some trends to keep an eye on:

• Cascading Floral Wristlet

Over-sized, dramatic bouquets are in, but we took it to the next level and partnered with an amazing florist to create what’s next in wedding florals – the Cascading Floral Wristlet: an over-the-top free-flowing bouquet that’s both versatile and showstopping.

Another floral trend that we’ll start seeing more of is the use of starflowers in bouquets. I personally love starflowers because they’re textural and come in a beautiful blush hue so it’s elegant, but has organic appeal.

• Textured Decor 

The emergence of bold textures and metal décor is so exciting! Metal chargers and menus create a crisp, edgy look. Pair that with soft elegant elements that play off the candlelight – and it creates a beautiful juxtaposition. We’re also seeing the use of cool fabrics like velvet and vinyl – perfect for a glam cocktail reception.

• Escort Card Statement Displays

We’ve evolved beyond just escort cards on a table and are now looking to utilize this wedding staple as a design element to create a statement that welcomes guests into the reception to create one of those “wow” moments.

Image: Emily Tebbetts Photography

 For example, we’re currently working with one of our clients to create a map of the United States, highlighting the national parks which will be their table names.  We’ll then pin each table assignment to correspond to the location of the national parks. The map will hang from a large wooden backdrop which will be a focal point as guests enter the cocktail reception.

The couple has spent a good deal of time visiting national parks and it has been a significant part of their relationship, which is why they wanted to incorporate into their wedding. All the parks they have visited will be represented in the display.

What are the services you offer? 

Simply put, we envision, design and execute the most memorable events for our clients. And we have fun doing it! Soup to nuts – we can (and do!) do it all.

We pride ourselves on designing and executing events that are representative of our clients. We know what’s trendy, but that doesn’t dictate the design or vibe of the events. We work to ensure that everything reflects our client’s taste and style.

An “SD staple” is some kind of interactive element – a fun photo booth, create-your-own bloody mary bar, glam-your-glass, etc. For example – one client loved Lilly Pulitzer, so we created a themed Lilly Pulitzer Cosmo Bar with our own “Cosmo Girl” serving delicious cocktails all weekend – at the welcome dinner, reception and brunch.

All the glitz and glam aside, to us, it’s most important to create and celebrate special occasions that will be remembered long after the last guest has left.

How far are you willing to travel to provide your services? 

While we primarily plan weddings and events in the New England area and NYC, we head South during the Northeast’s “off season” and plan events down in South Florida. That said, we’ll travel where there’s a need. So far, we’ve gone as far as Costa Rica!

A love for earthy neutral hues led to a clean, seaside chic wedding on the breathtaking coast of Cape Cod.

When it came time for Olivia to meet with her Event Planner Tasha of SD Events and Floral Designer Karen of Lilacs, she expressed her affinity for a clean, neutral wedding. She envisioned white and green floral accents mixed with earthy textures like wood and burlap and the two seasoned event professionals created magic under a twinkling white tent.

1. The table made guests feel as though they were dining in a magical garden.

2. A sea of crisp white bouquets popped against silvery-gray gowns.

3. Weathered shutters and a rustic flower box created a cottage-like setting for the escort card table.

4. A textural bouquet of white blooms is enhanced by lush green amaranth.

5. Translucent place settings created the illusion of floating menu cards.

6. Dressed to impress, their furry friend was a favorite among guests.

7. Tall crystal vases juxtaposed with vintage wooden boxes held each floral arrangement, blurring the lines between rustic and modern style.