Wedding inspiration

Marsala Wedding theme and hot chocolate table styled shoot

Marsala, was announced the Pantone colour of the year for 2015, and is the inspiration behind this Marsala Wedding theme and hot chocolate wedding table styled shoot. I never thought that this styled shoot would create so much of a hype. It was featured on Burnett’s Boards and the print version of the Wedding Inspirations magazine (Winter 2015) to name but a few publication features.

Winter wedding styled shoot

Marsala Wedding Theme

The name ‘Marsala’ is that of a wine, dry or sweet, produced in the region surrounding the Italian city of Marsala in Sicily with the distinct purple red colour. This colour is the perfect hue for an autumn or winter wedding and provides a richness to any palette. We opted to add some bright orange and other wintery feel colours to the shoot to create some warmth and excitement. Combining it with the on-trend rose-gold colour – this is the perfect colour palette for a 2015 wedding!

Whilst scouting for the perfect backdrop I initially turned my search to a grapevine of sorts, but when Heleen from Little Honeypot volunteered her house with stone walls, wooden flooring and more, my search was complete.

Winter wedding inspiration - stationary
Winter wedding shoes
Marsala wedding flowers and vase
Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot
Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot
Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot
Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot
Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot
Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot
Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot

DIY Hot chocolate bar

Heleen’s side-board provided the perfect spot for a DIY Hot Chocolate bar and items from her store we used included some heart bowls and teacup set with gold rims to compliment the decor. A huge thank-you to Edgars Home (previously Boardmans) who also allowed us use of products for the shoot that included a lovilee rose-gold tray and jewellery box that we re-purposed for the Hot Chocolate Wedding table.

I made each guest their own hot chocolate mix by adding hot chocolate powder, chocolate baubles (sprinkles) and mini marshmallows to test tubes. I then melted some baking chocolate in a pot, poured it into ice trays and added wooden spoons till it set. These can be used by guests to stir their hot chocolate with and add some more decadence.

DIY Hot chocolate bar
DIY Hot chocolate bar
DIY Hot chocolate bar
Hot chocolate powder in test tubes
DIY Hot chocolate bar
DIY Hot chocolate bar
Rose gold and glass Boardmans jewellery case with Red velvet cake
Wedding seating chart with Marsala wedding stationary on a gold shutter

Marsala wedding cake

Nadine from Pippa & Polly Cakery based in Pretoria supplied the naked red velvet cake and some other delicious treats. A red velvet cake is a Marsala wedding cake by default as it is already the right colour when iced ‘nakedly’. The ‘LOVE’ cake topper was purchased on-line from That Little Shop. I also created another topper for the cake that we paired with some flowers.

What a great idea to use a chalkboard pen to decorate your glass decor with a love poem?! The dome will also keep a cake moist before it is served to your guest and is easily washable afterwards.

Marsala Wedding cake - naked red velvet cake

Marsala wedding flowers and tablescape

Natja from Garniche Studio did a phenomenal job with the wedding flowers and styled the shoot with me. It was amazing working alongside this talented lady. Natja opted for a DIY floral table runner that she created using mesh from a building store and adding fresh flowers. It was draped off the one side of the table to create a magical tablescape.

Our Marsala wedding stationary was designed by Hello Dolly and matched the look and feel we aimed for to the T.

Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot
Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot
Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot
Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot
Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot
Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot
Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot
Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot
Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot

Winter wedding dress and wedding accessories

Natja brought along some geometric rose gold shapes from @Home to use outside with the model in front of the bare stone wall backdrop. I also brought one of my wing-back chairs along to soften the look. Gin & Tea, that specialises in custom jewellery, custom made some jewellery items for the shoot.

Marsala wedding shawl
Marsala wedding shawl
Marsala wedding shawl
Marsala wedding shawl
Marsala wedding shawl

My mom knitted a cowl for the day that we used for images outside. Local designer, Elli-Nicole spoilt us with some true eye-candy of her current wedding dress collection that is sure to take any groom’s breath away. The Gold glitter hanger is from my store an available for purchase. Hair & make-up was done by Valencia Mcleod, this lady was perfect for the job and we just loved the looks she created!

Elli-Nicole Lace wedding dress on a glitter gold sequin hanger from weddinghangers.co.za
Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot
Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot
Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot
Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot
Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot
Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot
Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot
Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot
Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot
Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot
Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot
Marsala Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot

Winter wedding favours

As wedding favours we used some small glass bottles with old keys that I sprayed gold. The jars were filled with bubble solution that you can blow through the top of the key (also a nice alternative idea for confetti). Also a brilliant idea for confetti. The eating utensils were plastic?! from In Good Company. A big thank you to Carike Ridout, who as usual, took the amazing images for us!

Marsala Wedding Theme - guest favours glass bottles and bubble keys
Marsala Wedding Stationary
Marsala Wedding Stationary

If you like this inspirational shoot you might also just LOVE our geometric wedding styled shoot that can be viewed in this link.

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Karen Kelly is the founder and editor of lovilee.co.za. She is a creative at heart and passionate about all things DIY. Learn more about her here and connect with her on social media on the links below.

19 Comments

  1. So much of the shoot is beautiful its hard to choose a favourite…..the gorgeous marsala colour, the stationary, the unique flowers…!! If I wasnt already getting married in a month’s time with my theme chosen and set I would certainly change it to Marsala theme.
    But if I must choose, my favourite is the silver branch looking bracelet that the model is wearing. xx

  2. I love the colour masala and the mix of the different coloured flowers with it gives a warm, unique picture. I also LOVE the different heart plate settings

  3. So hard to say, this whole shoot is absolutely beautiful!! But I must say that I really loved the food (especially those little test tubes! And obviously the cake, wow) as well as the stationary. So bold and so beautiful!

    • KaRi

      Congratulations Kim! You are the winner of the mystery box. Please could you send me a delivery address and a contact number to kari@lovilee.co.za

  4. Coral Mortier

    This is a beautiful shoot. My favourite is the photo of Kristen with the flowers held behind her. Stunning. Lovely colours as well

  5. What a beautiful styled shoot! Just amazing how everything

    • What a beautiful styled shoot! Just amazing how all the little details come together. I just love the stunning red velvet cake with gold cake topper!

  6. I have to choose the rose gold elements, and the knitted cowel as my favourites. The shoot was styled wonderfully. Well done!

  7. Oh wow, this is really one of my favorites, every aspect of the shoot is so beautiful and elegant. It makes me wish I could get married a thousand times, with the same person of course, but just to have different themes and gowns etc.. It truly is what every woman’s dreams are made of.

    But I have to say, the parts that stands out the most for me is the glass box with the red velvet sweet treats in, it reminds me of Cinderella in a way, it might not be a shoe, but it’s definitely a more modern version for us as we don’t live in fantasy world, but it sure does bring the fantasy aspect to us.

    And then I also love the cake by Pippa and Polly, it’s actually such a simple cake, without any added flowers etc except for the topper that fits perfectly, but yet in its simpleness it is so so elegant and classy. You really did put together the perfect Marsala shoot.

  8. Gorgeous! Loved the geometric shapes! And that Cake Well done Pippa & Polly! Great inspiration as always.

  9. I love the dress, especially the addition of the knitted cowl.

    The hanging geometric shapes adds a lovely whimsical focal point.

  10. Wow what a beautiful shoot! I actually in loce with that knitted cowl! I need one this winter. And that colour? Stunning!!

  11. Oh. My. Soul.
    Those shoes. That jewellery box “cake tin”. The cake. That bracelet. The hanger! That wedding dress with the lace sleeves. The gold ‘LOVE’ cake topper. The golden shutters. The vintage camera. Even the hair of the model. And let me not forget the font used…
    They are all favorites.

  12. Carolyn Augustus

    There is no way I can decide on just one thing. I love it all!

  13. Anita Steenkamp

    I just adore the knitted Cowl, and then all the flowers are just so Gorgeous!

  14. Oh, so beautiful!

    My favorite part is the geometric shapes and the beautiful jewelry, and that dress! Overall, beautifully captured by the photographer. Can I say beautiful one more time? Xx

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