One Couple's Regal Blue-and-Gold Wedding at the Renaissance Atlanta Gateway Hotel

When it came time to plan their wedding at the Renaissance Atlanta Gateway Hotel, Justin and Derrick set about creating a regal event "fit for a king." Justin explains that "when we started planning the wedding day, we had all kinds of ideas for the look of the wedding. We wanted a grand over-the-top wedding. As the youngest of 6 children, I was always treated like a king growing up. And since I was treated like a king growing up, it was only fitting that I had a wedding for a king. That's where the royal theme came into play. Our colors were navy blue, blush and gold." 

Justin and Derrick wanted their wedding day to have two distinct looks but also wanted the ceremony to serve as a bit of a hint about what was to come with the reception. For the ceremony, the couple's "designer created a beautiful white rose, hydrangea and orchid floral wall backdrop in between a gold column arch on a white platform stage. The stage served as the focal point of the wedding. Along the aisle, the designer placed large white rose, carnation and hydrangea arrangements to create the perfect walkway." Then, the couple turned up the glam when it was time to move to the reception. Justin explains that "for the reception, we wanted to bring the glitz and glamour with a little drama. We lit up the room with blue-amber lights with a soft shade of blush linen on guest tables. For the wedding party table, I wanted the create a focal point for the reception. Our designer created two five-foot table halo-style centerpieces filled with white and pink roses, white carnations and ivory hydrangeas, with white orchids for drama." 

Beyond the decor of the day, Justin and Derrick also brought their royal theme to life through the bespoke outfits they donned for the celebration at the Renaissance Atlanta Gateway Hotel. "In selecting our attire, we did not want to wear the traditional wedding attire, the white or black tuxedo from a rental shop. We also did not want a look that someone else had. I searched and searched to find the right vendor to make a custom tuxedo," notes Justin. "As a wedding planner and flight attendant, I was able to travel pre-Covid to have a custom tuxedo made. Once Covid hit in March 2020, we had to communicate with our vendor via video chat. One thing we loved about working with our designer is we were able to receive the fabric to feel before the tuxedo was designed. The designer choose fabric color shades to match our skin complexion which was major for us." In the end, despite having to finalize their looks via video during the pandemic, the couple's brocade suits brought the event's regal aesthetic to life perfectly.