AN OLD WORLD ROMANCE: A DRAMATIC ITALIAN-INSPIRED WEDDING AT TLAQUEPAQUE

When Sarah and Grant first came to me, they had a vision that was a little different from the weddings we typically see in Sedona. They wanted something dark, romantic, gothic, and dramatic. Deep reds, candlelight, rich textures, and most importantly, DRAPING.

And if you know me, you know I love an opportunity to do something that hasn't been done before.

What started as a gothic-inspired wedding eventually evolved into something much more romantic. After spending time in Italy just a month before their wedding, Sarah and Grant fell in love with the old-world architecture, European charm, and effortless romance of it all. We started shifting their original vision toward an Italian-inspired celebration, while keeping the darker, moodier elements they had loved from the beginning.

The result was a beautiful marriage of gothic romance and old-world Italian elegance.

DRAPING TLAQUEPAQUE LIKE NEVER BEFORE

One of the biggest design elements Sarah and Grant requested was draping. And I don't mean a little fabric behind a sweetheart table.

I mean we DRAPED Tlaquepaque.

For those unfamiliar with the venue, Tlaquepaque is a public shopping village, which means we have an incredibly limited window to transform the space before guests arrive. For this particular wedding, we had approximately an hour and a half to bring the entire reception design to life.

We incorporated dramatic ivory draping throughout the reception, creating a softer, more intimate atmosphere against Tlaquepaque's beautiful Spanish architecture. The fabric was intentionally gathered and styled to feel romantic and almost theatrical, rather than like traditional wedding pipe and drape.

I wanted the space to feel like you had stepped into a candlelit courtyard somewhere in Italy.

We paired the draping with crystal chandeliers, long banquet tables, gold candelabras, and hundreds of little details that made the entire space feel cohesive.

THE DETAILS WERE PERSONAL. LITERALLY.

Something I take a lot of pride in with AWE is how much of our design work is actually created in-house.

For Sarah and Grant, I personally handmade their signage and customized their linens to complement the overall design. We incorporated rich burgundy velvet, ivory fabric, gothic-inspired typography, and personalized details that tied everything together.

The long banquet tables were one of my favorite parts of the entire reception. Rather than traditional round tables, we created an intimate, European-style dining experience with rows of candlelight, red roses, textured linens, and dramatic gold candelabras.

I love designing weddings where every detail feels like it belongs to the same story, right down to the menus sitting at each place setting.

A LITTLE SURPRISE FROM AWE

One thing about me is that I will absolutely find a way to surprise my couples with something they didn't know they needed.

For Sarah and Grant, it was draped red amaranthus.

I incorporated cascading amaranthus into the floral arrangements and crystal chandeliers to bring another layer of drama into the space. The deep red strands against the sparkling crystal and warm candlelight were exactly what the design needed.

It was romantic, a little unconventional, and perfectly suited to their personalities.

Sometimes it's those unexpected details that end up being my favorite part of a wedding.

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

By the time the sun went down, the entire courtyard had transformed.

The chandeliers were glowing, the candles were lit, and the deep burgundy accents looked incredible against the warm stone walls of Tlaquepaque. The black-and-white dance floor brought a modern contrast to all of the old-world details, and watching Sarah and Grant share their first dance surrounded by their favorite people made every bit of that ambitious setup worth it.

This wedding was such a good reminder of why I love the design side of what I do.

I don't want every wedding to look the same. I want to take what my couples love, even when their ideas change along the way, and create something that feels completely personal to them.

Sarah and Grant trusted me to take their original gothic vision and turn it into something romantic, dramatic, and unlike anything we'd created at Tlaquepaque before.

And I couldn't have loved the outcome more.

With love,
Arabella
Arabella's Weddings & Events | Wedding Planning & Design in Sedona, Arizona

THE CREATIVE TEAM

Planning, Design & Custom Details: Arabella's Weddings & Events
Photography: Maya Papaya Pictures
DJ & Entertainment: DTB Pro
Rentals: Verve Events
Catering: Sedona Catering Co.
Venue: Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village | Sedona, Arizona