Inspiration Board #12: A Royal, Purple Wedding

Who doesn't want to feel like royalty on their wedding day! And the best hue to accentuate royalty is a purple.

Here's a little history on the color purple, and why it's simply known as the symbol for "nobility." Back in the medieval times, blue dyes (red + blue pigments when mixed, produced purple) were so expensive that only the wealthy, or the aristocracy could afford it. Naturally over time, the deep-bluish purple became the wardrobe color of Kings, and is often known as "royal purple". Not only is the purple hue associated with royalty, but damask and brocade silk prints were common, too, in the aristocratic wardrobe due to its high production costs.

So for today's wedding inspiration board, I had to pair the royal purple shade with the ornate, but sophisticated print. Inspired by the damask pillow design with its varying shades of purple, I knew the event colors had to be black, royal purple, and the secondary accent colors to be lavender and a light silver grey. I could definitely see the damask pillow in a modern, white seated lounge area for the cocktail hour and post-dinner celebration. For the tablescape, it will be a combination of pewter-like drinking vessels, crystals, white silver-rimmed plates, silver chargers & candelabras, black/white damask votives, bunches of purple hydrangeas & irises, and all set on white runners and black linens.

And other great embellishments to make yourselves feel like true royalty: how about a customized monogrammed aisle runner, empty oval baroque frames to get your cameo portraits shot by the photographer, and invest in good lighting to set off the whole environment.