Romantic Spanish & Moorish Styled Wedding Inspiration

“My Beloved,

This is only a note to tell you how much I love you. I am just happy and purring like an old jungle beast because I love you and you love me. I hope you were quite serious Pickle because I am as committed as an armoured column in a narrow defile where no vehicle can turn and without parallel roads. I am committed horse, foot, guns – so take good care of you for me, and for us and we will fight the best one we, or anyone, could ever fight – for what we spoke about – and against loneliness, chickenshit, death, injustice, un-understanding sloth (our old enemy), substitutions, all fear, and many other worthless things – and in favour of you sitting up straight in bed lovelier than any figure head on the finest, tallest ship that ever drew on canvas or heeled over to a wind; and in favour of kindness, permanence, loving each other and fine loveing nights, and days, in bed. Pickle I love you very much and am your partner, friend, and true love.”

– Ernest Hemingway

For the design of the shoot, I wanted to keep a moody color pallet that still had feminine influence. I envisioned a celebratory feast of a table full of movement and variety, for your eyes to carry you across the table in a dance. I scattered varieties of fruit throughout the table such as plums, pears, grapes, and figs not only to tie in our color scheme but through inspiration in Spanish and Italian spreads.

Jessica Yee Calligraphy, did a wonderful job creating a simple, romantic, elegant, look in the stationery suite, with worn pieces of parchment, rough edges and a splash of watercolor to tie in with our color pallet. As a shoutout to characters of Hemingway’s ‘A Farewell to Arms’ I addressed the bride and groom as Catherine Barkley and Fredric Henry.

Sarah Siegel with The Flower Method designed a beautifully diverse and eclectic arrangement that fit perfectly with my dreams of a floral piece that was fit for a feast. The type of arrangement you would find in an old framed oil painting: timeless and romantic. The smaller motif florals scattered throughout the table makes each guest feel as though they have their own mini arrangement.

Working with Lovely Bride meant picking a single dress to showcase quite a challenge. With so many beautiful gowns to showcase, we had to pick two looks.

One is set for a classic elegant Catherine Barkley (Farewell to Arms) with flattering silk cuts that make a simple gown memorable. The other gown is inspired by the seductive Lady Brett Ashley (The Sun Also Rises) for a flirty bride who still loves the timeless lace and cascading train.

We also loved having Mama’s Medicine with us to curate cocktails set to Hemingway’s taste. A man who loved Havana styled Daiquiri’s, Gin and Whiskey. A nod to the tropical choice drinks with garnishes that totally beat the mini umbrella.

Scott Sikora captured the day with exactly what we set out for: timelessness and clarity. So when the day passes by right before your eyes and you find yourself wanting to re-live it, a handful of his photographs will recall all of the splendid intricacies and feeling you had in the moment.

Sophie Leonard with Sophie Athena Makeup set forth on the exceptionally stunning canvas, Kelly Russo. Sophie is the makeup artist you can forever trust to bring forth your own unique beauty without stepping close to looking overdone. For each dress, she represented two different looks that gave us both playful and classic with effortless mastery.

The Book Cookie defiantly breaks past her name alone. Megan Iwanowski’s baked goods included individual vegan cheesecakes garnished with thyme and berries, mini cakes dusted with powdered sugar, topped with roasted pear and dried figs, and a beautiful naked cake crowned in floral and herbs set in a bed of fruits. None of it was “by the book” wedding deserts, instead, they each stood apart as independent works of art.

Single Stone provided the perfect pair of rings for our couple. For our bride: a vintage octagonal stone guarded in four walls of elaborately cut diamonds is a show-stopping ring that will last for generations. For our groom: a silver band with intricate etchings around the heads and tails of the ring.

One of the manliest and well-known novelists of all time can be turned into a hopeless romantic with the right woman by his side. Ernest had his Mary, and while the two of them may no longer be writing love letters that inspire any heart that come across them, a modern era of artists and adventures will also join the celebration and tradition of marriage. “Isn’t it pretty to think so?”

– All in Love Design by Anna Lisa