Our Southern Elegance-Inspired Styled Shoot with Playful Summer Details Featured in Inside Weddings!

Press Features

Southern Elegance-Inspired Styled Shoot with Playful Summer Details

Blue & White Southern Charm

Chicago, IL

Photographed by: Collin Pierson Photography

When setting out to conceptualize a dinner for some wedding professionals in Chicago, one can easily be daunted by the task – but Michelle Durpetti had a definitive idea in mind. “We knew that we had to do something unique and different, not only for everyone’s collective creative fulfillment, but ultimately to appeal to the top planners of the area for an intimate, inspired evening of fabulous design,” says Michelle of the event. When the idea of a “Southern Charm”-inspired fête was brought to the table, Michelle jumped at the opportunity, along with fellow planner Ali Phillips and designer Erin McDonald. Michelle recalls, “We thought of warm summer nights, seersucker suits, beautiful details, and layers on the tables.”

For the photo shoot aspect of the day, the creative team needed to select a focal point that would draw in all of the captivating elements of the décor. “For over a year, I have been absolutely obsessing over a [certain wedding] dress,” reveals Michelle. “[It’s] a gorgeous ball gown [by Romona Keveža] with handpainted hydrangea in shades of blue and pops of green.” With the addition of the dramatic frock, which was provided by Dimitra’s Bridal Couture, the day seemed to be coming to life piece by piece. Upon exploring their options for furniture, the creative team picked out elegant, neutral-colored pieces to emphasis the Southern summer vibe, as well as vibrant pillow accents in blue and white.

The creation of the paper goods for the event saw the addition of a pineapple, meant to symbolize hospitality – a staple of the Southern host. “Erin loved it so much, he handpainted pineapples in a gorgeous gold color and built them into the tablescape, which was a beautiful low cascade of vessels and small floral candles… he took the larger, more voluminous greens and introduced them just behind where guests sat at the long feasting tables [inside],” Michelle explains. “There was something to look at from every angle, and those layers and thoughtful details are what gave it such wow factor.”… continue reading on InsideWeddings.Com (click here)!