A PROFESSIONAL INTERIOR DESIGNER & BRIDE’S DÉCOR PERSPECTIVES ON BLENDING TWO CULTURES
Our wedding reception was to incorporate traditions and customs of both our cultures and religions – Sikhism and Judaism. The approach to this hybrid of two cultures into one event was guided with contemporary expressions, while blending traditional elements to the overall look to acknowledge our diverse backgrounds.
The venue set the stage for our celebration. It was an old historic government building showcasing classic architecture. The ballroom included a grand oak staircase to an upper mezzanine overlooking both the courtyard and the main dining area. Elegant, traditional French doors open the main ballroom onto the picturesque courtyard with a magnificent view of the building’s duomo. This set the scene for an elegant and classic affair.
One big design dilemma from the start was the decision of whether to leave the window coverings in the room open or closed. The room had fabulous floor to ceiling windows running the length of the room looking into the courtyard, one option was to highlight this and let the view from the ballroom be the main focus. Otherwise we could allow the room to feel very dramatic and give guests a ‘jaw-dropping’ experience upon entering the room which could only be achieved by having the blinds closed, darkening the room and allowing the dimmed accent lighting and candle light to highlight the set-up of the room itself. This is what we ended up going with and it worked out beautifully. Guests had already enjoyed cocktails and appetizers in the courtyard before entering the ballroom for the reception so it was fantastic that they were able to experience both equally stunning but completely different atmospheres.
The colour theme running throughout the space was a mix of fuchsia, purple and lime green with gold accents. Originally I wanted to go very neutral and have all white flowers thinking the guest’s outfits (sari’s particularly) would add a ton of colour to the party, but then I had a change of heart and thought with such an important celebration I wanted the flowers and decor to reflect the happiness and joy of this occasion. I learned in the Sikh religion that white was the colour of mourning, so it was probably a better choice to not have white flowers everywhere! Everything from the invitations, menu cards and table name cards to the centerpieces and even the groom’s tie were designed with the colour and theme in mind. The floral centerpieces were a mix of seasonal flowers including peonies, spray roses and orchids. The tall glass vases were specifically chosen to emphasis the grandness of the room while also allowing guests to talk and socialize with ease from across the table without obstruction. I was aware how large the ballroom was and that some tables would be far from the head table and wanted as little obstruction as possible for guests when seated. The cupcakes were also a mix of the chosen colours with small gold details. In addition, we chose to highlight the architecture of the room by up-lighting columns throughout the room in both purple and fuchsia lights. The effect was dramatic, very modern and fun! My sari was an off-white colour to honour the westernized tradition of a ‘white wedding dress’ while still keeping within the Indian theme. White Eastern influenced style lanterns in the courtyard added a mysterious and beautiful ambiance to the space with the candlelight they emitted. Overall the effect of the reception came across as a modern and elegant affair that represented both our styles while also acknowledging and making reference to our different backgrounds and melded all of these elements making it a unique event specific to just the two of us.
Author:
Stephani Turner is an accredited Interior Designer with over 7 years experience in the design industry. After completing her education at the University of Western Ontario and graduating from the Interior Design program at the International Academy of Design and Technology, Stephani went on to work as an assistant designer at a prestigious design firm in Toronto. In 1998 Stephani established her own design firm, Stephani Turner Interiors, where she now works independently on a vast array of residential and commercial projects throughout the city. She is known for her design style and sensibility which is reflected in the interiors she’s designed which can be described as classic and timeless – creating & combining functionality and practicality in interiors that are beautiful and fresh and will stand the test of time.
Images:
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