One of the many perks of attending the Twin Cities Bridal Show is seeing the talents of many of the vendors first-hand, as they partake in the event’s signature feature the Inspiration Station™. This is where The Wedding Guys® enlist the help of the region’s most talented designers to create store-window-style displays incorporating fashion, decor, floral elements, cakes, stationery and design all tied together into the 6 hottest wedding themes. One year the theme was Downton Abbey, and here we show you what the talented vendors did when participating. Anne Chertoff of Beaumont Etiquette, an official partner of Downton Abbey: The Exhibition, explains the elements necessary to pull off a Downton Abby-themed affair, and as you’ll see, our experts hit the nail on the proverbial head when pulling elements for this theme.
When it comes to attire, Chertoff says fashions from the series reflect the Edwardian and Deco Eras, “In season one and two the upstairs ladies at Downton wore Edwardian Era clothes with long hemlines and modest necklines.” You can see this with the lace gown displayed at the Inspiration Station. “A couple can dress in period-inspired looks for their wedding and have their wedding party follow the theme with their looks too. They can also ask guests to dress to the theme but it may be hard on some guests to find the right look so you can encourage guests to dress up but don’t make it mandatory. One less expensive way to get guests into the fashion-theme, ask the ladies to wear hats with their attire!” advises Chertoff.
For food, Chertoff says one could play up the theme with an Afternoon Tea Reception, and as you’ll see from the elements in our Inspiration Station, we were accurate with our display, with vintage-looking china, teacups and saucers, which were ready for serving a menu of tea sandwiches, scones, and bite-sized pastries along with tea and champagne. According to Chertoff, “There were several weddings that took place over the course of the series. The cake on display [at the inspiration station] was spot on, as the tiered wedding cake with floral piped decoration is just like those you would have seen at weddings on the show.”
Like what you’ve seen here? If this doesn’t get your creative juices flowing, consider the themes for the September 2019 show, which include Classic, Living Coral, Woodsy, Whimsical, Gilded, and Modern Minimalist. We can’t wait to see what the creatives come up with for those themes!
Remember, the Inspiration Station™ is like Pinterest, but only live! So come see for yourself how this year’s themes come alive at the Twin Cities Bridal Show, and how they can inspire you to create the wedding you’ve always wanted.