THE WEDDINGS ATELIER REPORT - via QuintessentiallyWeddings

VIA www.quintessentiallyweddings.com

THE WEDDINGS ATELIER REPORTOCTOBER 28, 2013

From clouds of lace on the Oscar de la Renta salon show runway to cakes almost too pretty to eat from Fiona Cairns, royal wedding cake maker of choice for the Cambridge’s, it is safe to say the debut of the Quintessentially Weddings Atelier was worth every iota of my excitement over the past few weeks as the final details dropped into place.

As the bittersweet opening bars of Lana Del Rey’s Born to Die wafted down the stairs kicking off the Saturday morning, causing goosebumps across the board, I gave into a broad smile. The first of many, thanks to the enthusiasm, originality and general brilliance of the exhibitors – a lovelier or more talented bunch I could not have imagined. Harrods eased things in gently with breakfast canapés of blueberry smoothie shots, mini muffins and brioche bacon toast to introduce their latest offering – catering; Paul Antonio charmed brides and fellow exhibitors alike with calligraphy masterclasses and the first brides and grooms arrived clutching their blush invites from Prantl’s collaboration with Paul, with one declaring hers “the most beautiful thing to ever land on my doormat”.  Philippa Craddock’s super-pretty flowers peeking from silver swan vases had us cooing, and the Michael Van Clarke team whipped into action with hair-styling sessions in their pop-up salon (and over in their Marylebone flagship, began work on the ‘relaxed glamour’ of the Oscar de la Renta models’ make-up and hair). Come midday, there was not a front row seat to be had for the first of the thrice-daily Oscar de la Renta catwalk shows, with iPhones and brides poised to catch a glimpse from any available spot. DIOR caused traffic jams (of the best possible kind) as brides sought advice and make-overs from the iconic brand’s glossy ambassadors; Cutture and Blenheim Palace worked together to produce a 3D scene unlike any other that brought the stately home’s enchantment to life. Over at Magnolia Images, trunks and cane furnishings alluded to safari style as Aaron and Mihail introduced their oft playful, but always ravishing wedding cinematrography. And the Connaught rolled into action with our very own bespoke Atelier cocktail blend, all Quintessentially Vodka, sugar and lavender infused bitters to really get the party going – this was always going to be a fun, exhilarating experience after all.

Temperley Bridal became a hotspot for lovers of lace, embellishment and the very English prettiness of Alice’s gowns; recreating the recently renewed Colville Mews boutique, the lovely Angie and her team presided over personalised consultations. The genius of all things cake and romantic elegance, Fiona Cairns, lead a high-tea talk replete with lashings of tea and delicious morsels of her Tamarind cake and rich chocolate sponge, whilst Caroline Burstein of Browns Bride hosted a seminar on the ‘Timeless Bride’ filled with sage advice in a gorgeous reification of Hinde Street. Showcasing newcomer Johanna Johnson and Leila Rose alongside wedding dress greats from Vera Wang to Monique Lhuillier, Reem Acra, Peter Langner, Elizabeth Filmore, Mira Zwillinger and personal favourite Marchesa, here the fashion and wedding worlds met. Fantastical florist Neill Strain showed vibrant flowers on a copper coloured theme upstairs, whilst legendary jeweller Tiffany & Co. not only adorned the Oscar de la Renta catwalk looks, but created an interpretation of the New York engagement suite including silver engravers, gemologists and even a glittering archive piece given to Elizabeth Taylor by Richard Burton, setting a benchmark for lovers everywhere.

Besides linking up with Michael Van Clarke to dress hair-dos and give brides a taste of their big day look, Jenny Packham’s twinkling array of headpieces sat beside a capsule collection of perhaps her most spectacular gowns, including Rapunzel, a crystal encrusted dress with a long sheer train created to celebrate the brand’s 25thanniversary. Alongside the as-close-as-it-gets to perfect pictures from photographer (and wit, it seems) Keith Appleby was The Filming Business’ version of the Apple Store, with watch-and -listen stations offering an immersive experience that I have it on authority elicited a few tears (happy ones, that is). Roland Mouret debuted his coolly glamorous new bridal dresses, (adding to a capsule collection from the Carlos Place store) in a contemporary exhibit that referenced behind the scenes at a photo shoot, with Roland himself making a surprise visit on the Sunday. Meanwhile, upstairs in the secret Agent Provocateur boudoir, the seductive but delicate underpinnings from the new bridal range were showcased with the opportunity to have silken dressing gowns customised with  your married name embroidered on the back (reason enough for me to want to get hitched again for alone). Finally, adorning the (newly golden) front entrance in a bower straight from a Shona Heath set, and tracing back via bursts of jewel coloured flowers – all grown on her flower farm in the deepest Shropshire countryside – was ex fashion designer and favourite new discovery Juliet Glaves of Thoughtful Flowers, as seen in October’s Vogue UK. The entire setting was graced with ravishing furnishings and decorative items from Farley – a must for any style conscious wedding. With a bristling and magical atmosphere, it was clear that the Atelier’s objective – to offer something different, extraordinary in the truest sense of the word, and most importantly, fabulously personal – had been achieved. Here’s to the next edition!

Elisa Mocci & Chiara Maestri per Elisa Mocci Events

Una full immersion nell'inaccessibile mondo di Quintessentially Weddings, un portone dorato che si apre davanti a noi, degustare un cocktail rosa (e di che colore, se no?) in prima fila mentre scorrono davanti ai miei occhi affascinati gli abiti della collezione wedding di Oscar de la Renta in anteprima mondiale.
Questo, e tanto altro ancora, è avvenuto durante l'evento dell'anno. Esplosione di colori nelle enormi composizioni floreali e nelle palette DIOR, incantevoli bagliori nel corner Tiffany.
Un abito unico di Vera Wang mi ha fatto fermare il cuore per un attimo. Lo potevo toccare, respirare, vivere. E no, non era un sogno!
L'eccitante esperienza vissuta durante l'evento porta grandi soddisfazioni e novità per il mondo di Elisa Mocci Events... per ora non posso dirvi di più... ma a brevissimo tutto sarà svelato!