Art History for Brides: Greco Roman Periwinkle, Blue and White Wedding

Blue and White wedding

When it comes to great design and great style, one can’t help but to look back at the floor plans of design laid out before us by the great genres of our times for inspiration. But too often then not, people, brides in particular, confuse their style references when trying to explain their dream wedding. This was the theory behind the Art History for Brides series we’re featuring exclusively on Style Unveiled, an amazing and stylish resource for brides and grooms nationwide. Not only to educate on the art history of our past but to inspire brides to bring classical designs into the modern day worlds with a few twists and tweaks! Last month we brought you the first installment with our Egyptian series. Now onto the 2nd installment captured by the ever amazing Jill Thomas…

When in Rome, do as the Romans do…. Especially when it comes to a Periwinkle, Cobalt Blue and White Wedding.

As the world was evolving so did the scholarly aspects of the Greeks and the Romans during ancient times. The Greeks founded the Olympics, democracy and a form of mathematics. The Romans invented paved roads, in-house plumbing and arches. Fantastic architectural styles were born including the fluted columns, ornate capitals and monumental erections to worship the gods from.

Mythology also played a huge part in the lives of both the Greeks and the Romans, as this was not only their religion but basis of law as well. Most everything evolved around their love, respect and worship of the Gods above, including not angering Aphrodite, the goddess of love.

With the ancient Greeks and Romans in mind we wanted to design a setting that was reminiscent of an ancient wedding complete with their love of philosophy, architecture, beauty, the Gods, the sea, and of course, love itself.

Greek mathematics served as inspiration for an abacus inspired seating chart with gold beads and natural semi-precious stones such as turquoise, blue lapis and purple amethyst.

Geometric textured linens of cream and white served as the palette for this Greco Roman tablescape featuring bold gold and cobalt blue china and stemware. Periwinkle and gold leaf tea cups and saucers were stacked upon white linen covered books as the mythological lions stood guard on the table and on the plates.

The lush centerpiece arrangements by Isari Flower Studio consist of romantic trailing smilax vine, blush spray roses, white anemones, creamy Caramel Antique Garden roses, camellias, veronicas, viburnum berries, blue muscari and tweedia to name a few.

For a different take on the classic table numbers we used golden Roman numerals to display the table number.

The Greek Key pattern (also known as a meander or Greek fret) is representative of the Büyük Menderes River, which is a twisting river mentioned in Homer’s The Iliad. The meandering pattern, along with spiral scrolls and circle patterns, is common in ancient Grecian fashion and architecture. Typically these patterns are seen in gold to represent royalty and honor to the Gods. We featured a greek key trim on top of the place settings and also on a vintage tea pot for bold bursts of gold.

Periwinkle striped pillows were stacked onto the ornate white chairs and golden satin tassels crowned the bride’s and groom’s thrown.

Erica O’Brien blew us away yet again with her three tiered cake designed with a Greek key, columns, gold acanthus leaves and sugar sea glass.

We wanted to create the feeling of long lost treasures and relics that have been hiding in an overgrown and forgotten ancient city.

For a delicate take on a dessert bar we featured pastel pastries and confections by Opera Patisserie atop a setting of marble, china, books and green glassware for a feeling of being set amongst ancient relics of the past.

As for the wedding itself, the ancient Greek wedding ceremony usually lasted three days and consisted of preparing the bride at her fathers house for her move into her new home. The bride and groom would then feast along with their families and make offerings to the Gods, usually childhood toys and clothing, representing the end of adolescence. Sacrifices to Artemis, goddess of virginity, would include locks of hair in hopes of an easy passage from virginity. The couple would both make offerings to Aphrodite for a fruitful life full of lots of children. On the actual wedding day the bride would be tended to by women and young children and treated to a fresh spring water bath and then adorned with fragrant oils, flowers and most importantly the veil. The feasts would begin again and last well into the evening when upon waited anticipation, the veil would be removed and the procession to their new home would begin.

Blue and White wedding Whether you are inspired to create an mythological worthy fete or even just take some romantic inspiration from the offerings made to Aphrodite, we hope that our Greco Roman inspired gold, blue and white wedding will help to inspire romance for your wedding day in epic proportions.