Considering that so many little girls dream about being princesses on their wedding days, it is only natural to be inspired by Disney. Flowers by Cina worked together with Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings and Honeymoons to create a stunningly opulent table setting influenced by the 1991 classic Beauty and the Beast. “We designed the tabletop with a romantic, modern spin in mind, filling the shoot with all red roses and gold décor and accents,” explains Melissa McGowan of Flowers by Cina.
The opening of the room featured draped scarlet theater curtains with a gold fringe trim, alluding to the cinematic inspiration of the shoot. Suspended above the table was a resplendent bullion crystal chandelier, which evoked images of Belle’s gold ball gown. Softly tufted crimson wall panels “added a romantic feel to the design of the shoot,” shares Melissa. The symmetrical design featured up lighting as well as two standing lamps in each corner. Instead of one light bulb, there were a pyramid of miniature lamp shades, mirroring the chandelier. Seating included chairs with ruby cushions as well as carved benches with ivory padding.
"The photoshoot was shot in the Revelry Event Designers studio and would not have been possible without Edgar Zamora's carefully curated inventory, design guidance and collaboration," Melissa explains. At each end of the cardinal table was a collection of red roses held aloft by a bullion stand, the base of which was wrapped with lush green foliage. Gilded votive candleholders and smaller vases holding more red roses and other blooms further filled the table. Additionally, there were two gorgeous candelabra with leaf and crystal detailing that would make Belle’s friend Lumière envious, although he can take solace in the fact that these candelabra are unlikely to share his ability to sing and dance.
The opulent color scheme of red and gold continued with the place settings and glassware. Burgundy crystal wine glasses and Champagne flutes in baroque style accompanied gold chargers, gilt-trimmed alabaster plates, and bullion flatware. Atop each salad plate was a carefully folded silky pearl napkin with an exquisitely perfect red rose bloom placed in the center.
The highlight of the table setting was also the clearest illusion to Beauty and the Beast. “We also added a dome with a single rose in it, signifying the [enchanted] rose in the movie,” Melissa notes. Not to be limited by the simplicity of what appears in the film, the floral team added additional rose petals and blooms at the floor of the glass dome. The elegant cinematic detail added to the lush and seductive table setting that would be perfect for a regal ball room reception, much like the celebration Belle and the Beast may have had.