Since Molly and Chris already had an intimate legal ceremony, their celebration focused purely on the fun—no ceremony, just a party with all their favorite people. Guests arrived to find a dramatic transformation: the hallway leading to cocktail hour had been reimagined as a draped tunnel, creating the feeling of stepping into an entirely new destination and elegantly concealing the typical hotel signage and artwork that didn’t fit the wedding’s bold aesthetic. At the end of the tunnel, a shimmering disco ball seating chart by our sister company, Shenanigans, set the tone for what was to come. Instead of a traditional guest book, guests took part in a guided paint-by-number experience, completing a custom portrait of Molly and Chris’ beloved dog—an interactive and personal touch thanks to our artist friend, Nick Carlisle. The space also featured distinctive furniture pieces curated by Form Creative Services, giving guests a sneak peek of the disco-inspired celebration waiting just beyond the cocktail hour.

When I discussed design with Molly and Chris, it became pretty clear from the very first conversation that a main priority was going to be transforming the hotel ballroom space. With that objective in mind, we decided to avert guests' eyes from the distracting and busy carpet, and instead, enjoy the unique lighting treatment in the ballroom: so, we designed ceiling first, adding greenery, cascading florals, and disco balls to help us create that party vibe. We also used a combination of high and low arrangements on the guest tables to create visual interest. On both ends of the room, gathering areas for guests: one one side, the bar, and the band and dance floor on the other. From the décor to the floor plan, each detail was intentionally selected to encourage guest movement in an effort to maintain a high level of energy. Some of our favorite memories from Molly and Chris' reception include being able to witness their practice run at their first dance while guests enjoyed cocktail hour, witnessing their "first look" of the reception space, and also when Molly's dad joined the band for an impromptu performance!