Destination Vegas!

Dec 29

After being featured on Jet Fete, I am thrilled that it's time to share this fun Destination Vegas collaboration here on the RMP blog!Andrea and I originally met the new fashion way: Instagram (of course) but then as luck would have it bumped into each other at the Breakers for the Engage! Luxury Wedding Business Summit this past Spring. I can confidently speak for both of us when I say, it's been vendor love ever since ;-) The stars again aligned when we were able to put together this lovely inspiration shoot while I was in Vegas photographing my dear friend, Tifany, of Gourmet Invitations speaking at Wedding MBA. The entire project really showcases what's possible when you thoughtfully curate a team of professionals for an event, but I'll let Andrea take it from here: vegas-destination-wedding-inspiration-rebecca-marie-photography_0010 "We should find a way to do something together. Let's connect when I come back from Paris," Rebecca said.When she returned, she did so with an engagement ring all her own, and the surprise proposal story she shared helped pull together the idea and theme of this beautifully styled shoot. What I loved most about this experience was the massive amount of collaboration that took place. Each and every element of this design was influenced by the others, creating a beautiful story, visually.Having not participated in a styled shoot for years, I loved the idea of working with Rebecca and a few more of my favorite creatives from around the country. With Paris fresh in our hearts and mind, we began to design a French blue hued wedding reception. My dear friends at Rivea, a French restaurant at the top of The Delano Hotel, offered us their private dining room, appropriately inspired by the French coastline. The team at By Dzign meditated on the two Panetone Colors of the Year, Serenity Blue and Rose Quartz. We took that base to the next level, adding deeper tones and richer hues for winter...A combination that was both classic and dreamy, leading us down a rabbit hole of gorgeousness for our florals. vegas-destination-wedding-inspiration-rebecca-marie-photography_0013 While By Dzign was influenced by color, our stationery partner Gourmet Invitations was inspired by the architecture of Rivea. This deeply unique space gave way to laser cut gatefold invitations. The navy colors of the space and sweeping views of Las Vegas were echoed in the open and intricate pattern that was laser cut into a metallic navy card stock. Our bride’s gorgeous Olvi lace dress, gifted to us by Couture Bride, played an equally important part of the design on the invitation, with the lace pattern peaking through the laser cutting. The invitations were build to be removed from the gatefold, revealing additional inserts along with a custom RSVP cards set with enough space for each guest to fill in their name and entree selection. Die cut navy menus completed the suite, having been printed with gold and placed on triple chargers which included a gold sunburst charger topped with white plates provided by Rivea, and finally by vintage blue glass plates from By Dzign. Owner Tifany shared that her favorite detail was the laser cut gold mirror place cards. Each guest’s name was laser cut and placed at the tip of the place setting; both a gorgeous addition to the table and a personalized keepsake. vegas-destination-wedding-inspiration-rebecca-marie-photography_0019 For Rebecca, the shoot was all about a balance of dichotomy. Traditional meets sexy with our bride's Olvi gown, and it's pairing of delicate lace with a deep V neckline and illusion back. To shake things up, we transitioned the look not by changing the dress or the beauty of the bride, but by transitioning from a classic all white bouquet to one filled with rich red hues that became a sneak peek to what guests would see in the reception.As a team, it was so important that each element of the wedding design served to highlight and enhance the others. The striking v-neck and illusion back lines of our bride's dress visually paired with the tall pillars of floral that set apart her ceremony site. These in turn paired with the dramatic windows of the Delano over looking the Las Vegas strip, creating the perfect backdrop for a destination wedding. Transitioning into the reception, the blue linens played off the natural blue decor of the room creating the a comforting, relaxing environment that felt "just right". The pops of color found in the centerpieces and bride's evening bouquet added just the right amount of contrast without distracting from the beauty of the bride! vegas-destination-wedding-inspiration-rebecca-marie-photography_0026 This shoot is completely different from anything I have done before in terms of color palette and the team we worked with. For me, the real joy in working on this project came from working with people that I adore and admire. Working with new teams can be a bit nerve wracking, but in this case we all came together so beautifully. I learned more about how we each approach work, creativity, and stress. Tifany, for example, if not only uber-creative, but she has a slick sense of humor and she isn't afraid to roll up her sleeves and help with set ups. She has a real vision of the big picture, and loves to be included in the design process. And Rebecca....Rebecca is just fun! So joyful and full of life, so easy to work with. She puts people at ease and creates a safe and playful environment that allows them to be their most beautiful, authentic, and - ultimately - photogenic space. And when something went wrong, which is always does at a real wedding, we pulled together and quickly found our footing; swapping out a male model who didn't fit for a Rivea manager who was more than willing to stand in for us. vegas-destination-wedding-inspiration-rebecca-marie-photography_0005 Thanks so much for putting together this rockstar team, Andrea. I can't wait to work together again in 2017!