1. Real Weddings

An Art Deco-Inspired Wedding at the Ryland Inn in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey

Katherine Campagna (30 and a project designer) and Michael Caruso (26 and a financial sales consultant) transported their guests to the era of art dec

Katherine Campagna (30 and a project designer) and Michael Caruso (26 and a financial sales consultant) transported their guests to the era of art deco, glitz and glamour with a fun vintage wedding. “We were inspired by the architectural patterns of the 1920s and '30s as well as the amazing parties and classic elegance of the time,” Katherine says. “We also wanted our guests to have fun with the theme.” Everyone from the bridal party to their guests made the style their own with bold sequin dresses, classic black tuxedos and luxe accessories. But what really stood out was the decor. Katherine and Mike worked closely with Jenny Orsini Events to make sure every piece fit their style. The tables at the Ryland Inn were lined with elaborate, tall hydrangea and feather centerpieces alongside gold candlesticks, gold chiavari chairs and embroidered linens. The black chandeliers were even dripping with pearls! Catch every "Great Gatsby"-worthy detail below, beautifully captured by CLB Photography.

The bridesmaids nailed their art deco style with totally glam looks from Nordstrom. Each chose a floor-length navy dress that was detailed with navy or silver sequins. Some even had a geometric design to match the 1920s and '30s vibe. Making the looks even more luxe, they all carried white rose bouquets wrapped in gold ribbon.
Mike kept things vintage and chose a time-period-inspired, three-piece Italian suit. He paired the charcoal look with a white shirt, merlot tie, matching pocket square and a white calla lily boutonniere. The outfit also had a more personalized and sentimental element as he made sure to carry his grandfather’s pocket watch.
Each escort card had a chic gray and white print that almost reminds us of a flapper dress, with its overlapping circular design and gold border. The table numbers, however, really stood out with names of a famous person or character from the time in a capitalized font.
Rather than having all-white feather-filled centerpieces, they mixed things up with another design. Round tables were paired with lower centerpieces of white hydrangeas in these gold breakaway vases. Each one was surrounded by a trio of glamorous gold candlesticks in cylinder vases.
Since their theme focused on the 1920s and '30s, they named every table after a celebrity from that era. The likes of Amelia Earhart, Al Capone and Gatsby himself were all part of the seating chart.
Every tall centerpiece was filled with white feathers and hydrangeas on tall gold candlesticks. Strands of pearls draped along each display and the black chandeliers. To make the scene even more glam, a trio of gold candlesticks in gold-painted cylinder vases separated each centerpiece.
When it came to the stationery, Katherine and Mike wanted everything to match. The team at Jar of Ideas Design Studio made sure every card looked like it was straight out of the 1920s with custom black-and-white geometric prints. The menu, specifically, included this and even more personal flair. They picked every item to reflect what they love as a couple.
Katherine's vintage inspiration didn't stop with her dress. She made sure to finish her look with red lipstick, large stud earrings and a cool silver necklace. The large pendant and curved detailing on both sides brought out all the glam of the 1920s.
Their theme was even carried into their wedding cake design. They worked with the pros at Palermo's Bakery and chose an ivory fondant confection with vanilla and hazelnut cake. Every square tier had a geometric design that was specifically made to match their stationery and the bridesmaid dresses with art deco-inspired triangles, bold crystals and even white piping to resemble pearls. For guests who wanted something different, they also served cheesecake with bacon, zeppole and chocolate chip cookies with milk.
The Brandywine Valley Talent, a 10-piece band, kept everyone on the dance floor and even had Mike on stage for a surprise performance. “He got up and played bass with the band for Stevie Wonder’s ‘I Wish,’ ” Katherine says.