Monet's Canvas: Stunning Indianapolis Wedding Inspired by Monet’s Water Lilies

“Nothing says summer like a glass of cool lemonade and a June wedding, we’re serving up both!” Jennifer and Bob’s 186 guests for their June 5th nuptials were firsts tempted with this sentiment engraved on their hand couriered invitation – a bottle of pink lemonade packaged in a wooden crate. The set, created by KB Design was completed with etched glasses declaring “Happiness Shared.” Hosted in Jennifer’s childhood backyard, Jennifer wanted her family and friends to be immersed in an intimate “living room” setting. 

 

 

 

 

 

Jennifer requested that her guesthouse’s veranda extended infinitely into the backyard and serve as the setting for the cocktail hour. The request served Detail+Design’s inspiration for not only the cocktail hour, but the ceremony and dinner. Her childhood home’s warmth and chic sense of style was used to create cozy, comfortable and quaint seating groupings for the entire celebration. The event was all inspired by the bride’s home and Gene Huddleson, her designer’s vision of Monet’s Water Lilies.  

 

 

 

 

 

Family and friends certainly were served up the promised cool glass of lemonade, along with other fine culinary delights by Hoaglin Fine Catering, all while enjoying the comforts of a unique textural experience. Guests arrived to the estate greeted by the valet attendants and the first butler service staff offering lemonade, fruit infused waters and champagne. Hors d’oeuvres were displayed throughout the guesthouse’s veranda in unique stations using repurposed architectural items including doors, molding and windows. The cocktail hour allowed guests to be greeted by the bridal couple while enjoying the gardens of the home. It also served as time to find comfort in the seating groupings set up for the ceremony situated at one end of the chiffon lined tent provided by A Classic Party Rental. Intimate clusters of seating in varying furniture styles created warm vignettes throughout the tent. 

 

 

 

 

 

Each unique grouping had its own collection of pillows, throws, and floral accents. Whether the guest saw silver cups filled with hot pink garden roses or stunning bowls of fragrant peonies or ceramic urns with dancing crisp snowy orchids – the entire space was a sensory experience. Seating options included slip-covered couches with tall backed chairs or brown leather chairs with tufted ottomans or large daybeds with long toile pillows, all helping to create the shabby chic, living room look. The family’s English Bulldog, Tank, felt so at home in his own backyard “living room” that he too was found curled up near one of the couches most of the evening. Additional sit down and stand up cocktail tables with a copper textural linen and small floral accent allowed additional seating for the twilight cocktail hour and ceremony. 

 

 

 

 

 

The same tent for the cocktail hour was to be used for the ceremony, so the space needed to have a clear ceremony area – therefore, the chuppah hung from the tent at one end. A large ring structure was created, laden with small ferns, succulents, mosses, flowering plants and other foliage to create an overstuffed, rich, textural element to the space. Chiffon and large ivory roses added airiness to this centerpiece for the ceremony. A circular Oriental rug surrounded by potted flowering plants and herbs under the round chuppah created the perfect location for Jennifer and Bob to exchange their vows. The palette for the evening was inspired by Monet’s Water Lilies. The soft pastels, pink, moss, and blush all with the backdrop of neutral tones in vanilla, taupe, camel, caramel and crème created a wonderful palette for  Huddleson to use texture, light, and scent to make Monet’s canvas come to life.

 

 

 

 

 

Following the intimate and emotional ceremony, complete with the Bob’s entrance to Neil Young’s “Good to See You” and the Jenni’s entrance to the Rolling Stone’s “Wild Horses,” guests were guided to the dining tent. This clearspan tent captivated guests from the moment they entered its French Doors. Six modern crystal chandeliers sparkled in the chiffon lined ceiling as pin spotting accented each of the unique dining experiences. No two tables were identical, each setting had different shaped tables and styles of chairs. Some included traditional dining room chairs, while other offered rattan settees laden with pillows. Variegated French inspired floral containers and candelabras coordinated with the entire space. This eclectic environment invited the guests to meander from table to table to see the variance between each grouping. The table numbers were hung from pink lemonade bottles and guests, excited to see this sparkling beverage again, were heard popping them immediately upon entering the tent. It was a delightful and unexpected surprise!

 

 

 

 

 

Hardwood floor in the tent brought an additional level of texture to the space and was reminiscent of the original crate carrying the lemonade invitation couriered eight weeks prior. The English cutwork napkins highlighted the wooden menu cards and popped on the damask linens with fringed edges which were layered over burlap. The rattan settees spilling with opulent pillows allowed guests to indulge themselves in comfort as they settled into the evening’s exquisite dinner served on scalloped patterned china with soft pink glassware. The entire space centered around the dancefloor - a hand detailed, oversized reproduction of Monet’s Water Lilies. Specialty lighting highlighted the texture of the paint allowing guests to feel as though they were literally dancing on floating lily pads. The twelve piece band, the Chicago Catz, was amazing, but certainly the highlight of the evening was when Bob surprised his bride by playing “867-5309” to his bride “Jenni” naturally stealing the show! Following dancing, guests enjoyed childhood favorite desserts including whimsical towers of donuts, candies, ho-ho’s, cotton candy wands and a made-to-order truffle roller. Others enjoyed the cigar roller as cigarette girls offered these along with cognacs late into the evening. Finally, as guests returned to their cars, breakfast was waiting for them in a burlap tote – miniature biscuits and strawberry lemonade preserves – one final taste of lemonade and “happiness shared.”