For an urban industrial vibe that also appeals to lovers of all things vintage, Rock & Stone Weddings imagined a lavish velvet-inspired spread that says “modern” and “romance,” all in one. Inspired by the lush, opulent hues of fall, Amber Hayes, owner and lead designer of Rock & Stone Weddings, set to work creating a luxurious tabletop spread, rich with inspiration for celebrations any time of the year. Hayes chose to use one of the city's most popular venues, The Metropolist, as her setting because of its urban industrial vibe as well as its history (the building, located in Pioneer Square, was built in 1919.) A neutral color palette, including taupe, garden pink and dusty peach hues, sets the stage. "When you think of velvet, it's easy to think of rich, decadent colors; I often see velvet linens styled in a baroque and moody way," says Hayes. "We are always looking for creative ways to play with color and texture, and I loved the idea of giving velvet a modern edge."
Set the Scene
Give guests a taste of what’s to come with an invitation suite that’s flush with on-theme details, such as a hexagon-shaped invitation awash in pastel hues and accented with velvet. Custom invitation suite, including main invitation, detail card, RSVP enclosure, envelopes, calligraphy addressing and postage, starting at $11 per set, by The Fancy Cat Studio. Velvet ribbon from Honey Silks & Company.
Take Your Place
Starting with a soft, neutral palette, Rock & Stone Weddings combined the vintage look of velvet with more contemporary details, such as hexagon escort cards in their wire frame display and a floral installation by Colibrí Blooms, creating a luxurious look that’s anything but old-fashioned. Florals: Hanging installation of magnolia leaves, dusty miller, flowering acacia, craspedia, sweet peas, stock, butterfly ranunculus, pincushion protea, carnations and toffee roses, $750, by Colibrí Blooms; tabletop arrangement, $165, also by Colibrí Blooms. Rentals, decor and favors: Linens from BBJ Linen; glassware, flatware, dinnerware, candle sticks and candles from Rock & Stone Weddings; handmade, 5-inch embroidery hoops with velvet fabric, $40 per hoop, from Motherland Company. Signage: Velvet ribbon place cards, $2.75 each, and menus, $2.00 each, both by The Fancy Cat Studio.
Toast to Love
Using seasonal ingredients, fresh flavors and vibrant color, Sidecar Mobile Bar created two custom cocktails, named for love. The first, dubbed “Velvety Passion,” mixes passion fruit and black tea simple syrup, which balances the fruit’s bold, tart flavor. The second cocktail, “Irish at Heart,” is a modern take on an Irish whiskey cocktail. Mid-century bar cart, $50 to rent, from Yay! Parties & Co.; bouquet, $225, by Colibrí Blooms (see caption below for more details); glassware from Rock & Stone Weddings.
Velvety Passion
1.5 oz Botanical Gin
1 oz Black tea Simple Syrup
0.5 Lemon juice
1 Passion fruit
Egg White
Add all ingredients to mixer. Dry shake with no ice, add ice and shake for another 15-20 seconds.Double strain and serve up in a coupe glass. Garnish with passion fruit seeds and loose leaf tea.
Irish at Heart
1.5 oz Irish Whisky
1 oz Fresh-Squeezed Blood Orange
0.5 oz Simple Syrup
0.5 oz Fresh-Squeezed
Lemon Juice
Topped with Irish Death Ale (Iron Horse Brewing)
Mix all ingredients, besides ale, in a shaker and shake with ice. Pour in rocks glass with ice and top with Irish Death. Garnish with a blood orange slice.
Sweets for My Sweet
Looking to achieve a modernized version of the traditional red velvet cake flavor, Nancy Stuart, owner of Saltadena, created a terra-cotta velvet cake, with cream cheese Swiss buttercream. Flowers from Colibrí Blooms were arranged to give the extended tier cake even more height. Cake, $195, from Saltadena; florals from Colibrí Blooms; Mosser Glass cake stand from Saltadena; marble and gold hairpin-leg side table, $30 to rent, from Yay! Parties & Co.
Bridal Beauty
To give a new spin on a vintage posy, Lilly Bartmasser, owner of Colibrí Blooms, arranged dusty miller, flowering acacia, craspedia, sweet peas, stock, butterfly ranunculus, pincushion protea, carnations and toffee roses into a spray that looks fresh from the garden. Bouquet, $225, by Colibri Blooms; velvet ribbon from Honey Silks & Company; modern pink velvet chair, $40 each to rent, from Yay! Parties & Co.
Party People
"Velvet, although still very relevant, takes me back to one of my favorite eras, the '70s, when colors were bold," says Crystal Truong, owner of The Fancy Cat Studio, of her paper design for the collaboration. "I put a modern spin on the suite with a fresh shade of sage." Hexagon seating card, $25 each, for as many as 10 names, from The Fancy Cat Studio; white grid stand, $35 a day to rent, also from The Fancy Cat Studio.
