Inspiration for a City Chic Elopement at Common House in Richmond, Virginia

January 11, 2022

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Weddings

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Eloping is becoming a more popular, chic way for couples to get married. You can exchange your vows anywhere, and you can be as low-key or as over the top as you would like. Elopements and micro weddings are not a new thing, especially in cities like Richmond, Virginia, where we have a vibrant art and food scene. However, we have seen a huge rise in them during this pandemic. Couples are not wanting to expose their guests; some couples weren’t able to reduce their guest list to meet city ordinances, vaccine status, the rising increase in the cost of weddings, and the list goes on. When Alex reached out and asked if I would help style an editorial for a micro wedding, I was excited to jump in. She sent over the avatar of the couple, and I pulled together some pieces for the styled Elopement.

The Avatar:

This couple is mid 20’s. Fun, educated, classic with a modern flare. They own a Vizsla dog and travel a couple times a year to a new location but often find themselves back in Europe. The couple likes luxury clothing brands and looks put together without trying too hard. They are both brunette and attractive yet approachable. Their home is mid-century modern with warm textures. They met at university, where they started dating and got engaged while in the workforce (him as a lawyer and her as an engineer.) On Fridays, you can find them at young, modern bars that serve cocktails and craft beers.

The Setting:

We decided to use The Common House for the Elopement, a new social club, located in the Arts District of Richmond, Va. The Common House is modern, urban, a bit hipster, and definitely the perfect location for an intimate wedding. The bar and lounge upstairs made for the perfect setting for portraits. There is a window seat in the lounge that overlooks Broad St. This window seat was the inspiration for the signature cocktail.

The Common House has an outdoor terrace, with a large brick wall that is perfect for wedding ceremonies. There is a black fire escape staircase that we used for these photos and an array of high-top tables and lounge sets that can be used for events. There is also a large event space, should you have a larger guest count, and not an intimate Elopement, that can be used for a wedding or social gathering.

The Fashion:

This couple is a bit minimal but still fashionable, so they opted for a micro dress, a large hair bow, cute block heels, and a beaded handbag in which to hold lipstick and a compact for quick touch-ups. The groom wore a brown tweed three-piece suit, a vintage lapel pin, and brown oxfords with monk strap details.

The Tablescape:

When you have an Elopement, your guests tend to spend more time at the table. They usually enjoy multiple courses, longer conversation, and a few extra glasses of wine or an additional cocktail. Because they spend so much more time at the table, it should be comfortable. It should be interesting. Here we did a bunch of pattern play, and really focused on the textures. I wanted to keep the feeling warm, interesting, and do a play on neutrals. The couple avatar mentioned that they decorated their home in a mid-century style, and I find it important to stay authentic to your personal style, especially at your wedding when there are so many ‘trends’ you can pick up on. Fleure Studio really captured the essence of the shoot by using the ikebana methods. The florals were modern, fresh, and had a sense of balance and lightness throughout the shoots.

The Stationery:

I love working with Curious Fox Press, especially when we need something creative and interesting done. She is a wizard with materials, and always has the best craftsmanship. These invitations were hand crafted using book binding, leather ties, and an interactive feature for the guests. The invitation felt like a book in the receivers hand with a ribbon marking the page. When they opened the invitation, they needed to pull the ribbon to pop out the circle insert and read the information below. The place card were made from acrylic and European coins from the couples travels. This was a fun token that the guests could have take home. Similar to a paperweight, or shelf decor.

The Bar:

The actual bar is one that is on-site at The Common House. This is a great feature of this venue, as most venues bars are not as attractive. They also have some pretty amazing art on the walls that can be moved around. We moved the pink artwork behind the bar for this shoot. Curious Fox Press used bookbinding techniques to make the bar sign. This signature cocktail was inspired by the Window Seat, upstairs in the lounge area. The cocktail was displayed in Maison De Carine glassware, and the oranges brought in a touch of color and freshness.