1. Real Weddings

A Playful, Vibrant Wedding at The Room on Main in Dallas, Texas

Erin Wong (29 and an accountant) and David Burford (35 and a portfolio manager) planned a Kate Spade-inspired fete with a vibrant palette of gold, pur

Erin Wong (29 and an accountant) and David Burford (35 and a portfolio manager) planned a Kate Spade-inspired fete with a vibrant palette of gold, purple and red and plenty of fun-filled touches. The couple revealed their whimsical theme with custom invitations by Laura Biggins of By Invitation Only, which featured punchy black-and-white stripes and statement-making script. The day of the event, Erin and David gathered their guests at The Room on Main in Dallas, Texas, for an intimate ceremony and night of dinner and dancing. With the help of florist Sonya Ayala and planner Rebecca Hackl, the couple created their own modern chapel, complete with a black-and-white-striped aisle runner and arrangements of bright fuchsia, burgundy and blush blooms spilling from gilded vases. “Our Catholic priest, Father Todd Bell, was able to marry us outside the church, which is normally not done,” Erin says. Before the evening’s celebrations kicked into high gear, Erin and David headed to the rooftop to snag shots of Dallas’s skyline, while guests sipped on French75s and Mexican margaritas. The reception revealed a playful scene, with shimmery gold sequin linens, gilded chargers, bundles of fresh pink blooms and tasseled balloons infusing the expansive space with undeniable panache. Dinner was served station style, creating a low-key atmosphere that invited Erin and David’s family and friends to effortlessly mix and mingle. Comfort food dominated the menu, with dishes such as waffle fries, roast beef, spice-rubbed pork tenderloin, sliders, Southern fried chicken and truffled white cheddar mac and cheese winning over even the pickiest of palates. After dinner, a full-blown dance party erupted, with DJ Jordan Bell spinning an upbeat set of pop tunes. A tip from Erin: “Lists. Make lists. I am an accountant, so our entire wedding is contained in an Excel spreadsheet, including finance tracking and RSVPs. This was handy for our day-of planner and for tracking finances.” —Libby MacCarthy

Erin and David tapped Laura Biggins of By Invitation Only to create a custom invitation suite that captured their wedding’s contemporary Kate Spade theme. The resulting stationery didn’t disappoint, bearing a bright calligraphy-inspired font and a bold black-and-white-striped border.
When it came to choosing a down-the-aisle ensemble, Erin headed to Lulu’s Bridal Boutique in Dallas’s Design District. It was there that she spotted the striking Maggie Sottero gown that she would wear for her playful preppy affair. With its sleek mermaid-style silhouette, beaded embellishments and low-cut back, the gown struck the perfect balance of modern glamour and timeless elegance. To complete the look, she wore an elbow-length blusher veil, silver peep-toe heels and a locket carrying a photo of her father, who had died just a month before the wedding.
Erin took the mismatched route for her bridesmaid “I do” ensembles. Her two maids of honor donned black-and-white-striped dresses as a nod to Erin’s love of Kate Spade, while her other three bridesmaids wore red and purple dresses from Weddington Way, which they paired with glam gold shoes.
The groomsmen followed David’s lead by walking down the aisle in traditional black tuxedos by Black by Vera Wang. To distinguish their look from David’s, the guys accessorized their snazzy suits with pink and purple bow ties and vests.
While David stayed true to tradition by donning a classic black tuxedo, he paired the three-piece ensemble with a black-and-white-striped bow tie and a white rose boutonniere wrapped in striped ribbon to complement the evening’s preppy theme. Erin’s mother even sewed David a white-and-gold-striped pocket square to give his getup a punch of extra panache.
Both the ceremony and reception unfolded at The Main Room in Dallas, Texas. Before dinner and dancing got underway, Erin and David gathered their guests for an intimate Catholic ceremony. With the help of florist Sonya Ayala and planner Rebecca Hackl, the couple created their own modern chapel, complete with a black-and-white-striped aisle runner and arrangements of bright fuchsia, burgundy and blush blooms spilling from gilded vases. Bright yellow balloons added to the whimsical feel, while floor-to-ceiling windows offered guests prime city views.
Erin’s sister, the force behind The Apothecary Bee, created hand-lettered escort cards for the affair, each trimmed with colorful tassels that Erin and her mother made. The cards were displayed a modern black picture frame that let the brilliant shades of red and purple pop.
In lieu of skyward-reaching arrangements of florals, which Erin and David thought would hinder conversation during dinner, the pair opted for petite bundles of bright pink and purple flowers, to which Gardenia attached tassel-accented balloons.
The place settings brought a punch of playfulness to the table decor, with gold chargers laid against a backdrop of royal blue. Bright pink napkins tied together with striped holders added to the tablescapes’ festive flair, while serving as a nod to the evening’s preppy modern theme.
After dinner, Erin and David treated guests to a slice of butter cake with chocolate ganache, white chocolate and butter bourbon. The four-tier confection was decorated from top to bottom with rainbow-colored sprinkles, pearlescent embellishments and a white fondant bow for a whimsical look that captured the evening’s Kate Spade theme.
In addition to their fanciful sprinkle cake, Erin and David also had the bakers at Frosted Art whip up a raspberry chocolate truffle groom’s cake. The cake was adorned with an Alaska-shaped cutout and yellow stars (from the state’s flag) as a nod to David’s Alaskan roots.
“So often at weddings you can’t even see the person across from you because of the giant floral arrangement in the center,” Erin says. “I wanted understated centerpieces that were low with laser-cut wood calligraphy table numbers and balloons attached to each. The balloons were just to add a fun, not-too-serious touch.” The florists at Gardenia more than delivered, creating bundles of brilliant pink, fuchsia and purple blooms, which they displayed atop dazzling gold sequin table runners for a glam look.