Wedding Inspiration: Sunny Citrus

Event designer Matthew Robbins finds inspiration in a variety of surprising sources. Here, a wildly creative and beautiful celebration inspired by citrus fruits.

By: 
Matthew Robbins

  • The Inspiration

    The Inspiration

    Adapted from Matthew Robbins’ Inspired Weddings—Designing Your Big Day with Favorite Objects & Family Treasures (Stewart, Tabori & Chang 2012).

    Though I think all fruits on the branch are beautiful, citrus fruits hold a special place in my heart; you can’t grow up in Florida without loving them at least a little! 

    Photo Credit: Thuss + Farrell

  • The Palette

    The Palette

    Everything about citrus inspires me. The bright yellow lemon, the sweet pink grapefruit and the bold orange make for an amazing palette. I love how strong and intense all the various hues are. You might be surprised to hear that my favorite part about the citrus palette is actually the green of the leaves. I adore how crisp the green looks when paired with yellow and orange. The soft, round shape of a citrus fruit is particularly lovely; there are endless ways to incorporate that shape into an event, especially with your table setting. And don’t forget about the flavors!

    Photo Credit: Thuss + Farrell

  • The Wedding Style

    The Wedding Style

    I envision a couple that dreams of a destination wedding: Perhaps Italy, Napa or even the South of France calls to them, but the theme works for any outdoor wedding whether at home or abroad. This couple is far from fussy, and is clearly interested in creating a comfortable yet amazingly beautiful environment for their guests to enjoy. Here, a freestyle runner of various types of citrus fruits winds its way down a farmhouse table (remember: round fruit will roll so take care with your placement).

    Photo Credit: Thuss + Farrell

  • Where and When

    Where and When

    What’s wonderful about this palette is its wide seasonal range. You’ll find it easy to feature these tones from spring through summer and all the way into fall, making them a versatile choice. The juicy orange, yellow and white color palette is bright, airy and crisp, making it most ideal for a warm summer day or evening. Here, a sunny cascading bouquet is pictured, composed of fern, orchids and orange sandersonia.

    Photo Credit: Thuss + Farrell

  • The Focus

    The Focus

    Cheery escort cards by Arak Kanofsky Studios features guests’ names on each fruit and table numbers on each leaf. The goal here is to create a feeling of effortless abundance—very easy, friendly and totally approachable.

    Photo Credit: Thuss + Farrell

  • A Sweet Treat

    A Sweet Treat

    Orange-colored and flavored specialty sodas make a great outdoor treat.

    Photo Credit: Thuss + Farrell