Are you enjoying the creativity and ingenuity of the Inspired Creations Contest concepts as much as I am? To welcome in the new week, we have a lush and tropical tablescape and dessert table from the team of Erica O’Brien, Honey and Poppies, De-Lovely Events, and Jessica Claire.
The inspiration for this concept comes from the tropic paintings and old floral still lifes of Paul Gaugin, a post-Impressionist artist from the late 1800s. The design is full of art- and painting-inspired objects and other mixed media.
Refined vessels – a beautiful gold rimmed footed glass dish for the centerpiece, an elegant chandelier, and assorted delicate wine glasses – were juxtaposed against the wildness of the flowers.
To create the lush and tropical floral arrangements, Megan from Honey and Poppies used garden blooms such as peonies, dahlias, roses, sweet peas, ranunculus, and snowball viburnum. To bring a more exotic feel, she layered in tons of texture with vines of passion flower, clematis, and pepper berries, and finally added in wispy curled ferns and peacock feathers.
Erica created miniature collages for each place card that would also serve as a favor. The mini canvas and easel sets were purchased at Michaels and painted with acrylic paints in various colors. Names were printed on scrapbook paper, cut into the desired shape, and decoupaged on the canvas along with paper and paint chip cut outs.
Table numbers are another mixed-media inspired piece, created from paint chips and scrapbook paper with decorative cutouts. The number itself is presented in negative space – such an interesting visual piece for the table.
The desserts literally are a work of art. In addition to the three-tier fondant-covered cake with Caribbean-inspired gumpaste flowers, miniature cakes and icing in a tropical color palette were at the dessert table. Guests are invited to “paint†on their cakes using the colored icing with paint brushes. Directions, printed on scrapbook paper and framed, read “You are the artist. (1) Choose your cake. (2) Choose your icing. (3) Create your design.â€
A unique art-inspired guest book was created using paint chips from the local hardware store.
- Gather index-card size paint chips in your color palette
- Purchase an inexpensive clip or key ring such as this one
- Punch a hole in the upper left corner of each chip
- Print your message on the first paint chip (laser printers work best)
- Embellish the first paint chip to your liking – you can see the Martha Stewart Daisy border punch used here
- Place each paint chip on the ring
Scrapbook paper backed with foamcore board was framed and set at the base of the dessert table for extra added dimension. This is an inexpensive and beautiful way to add art to your decor.
I’m also completely enamored with the vintage chandelier draped with flowers set inside an oversized picture frame above the dessert table.
The following Orange County wedding vendors contributed to this Inspired Creations Contest concept:
Concept design, cake, desserts – Erica O’Brien
Floral, concept design – Honey and Poppies
Coordination and planning – De-Lovely Events
Photography – Jessica Claire
Rentals – Signature Party Rentals
Location – The Villa del Sol






