Anything but ordinary – the Quirk Hotel Charlottesville is the first boutique art hotel built in Charlottesville’s historic downtown. I had the pleasure of working with an amazing team of vendors for a photo shoot that captured it’s charm. The hotel features 80 rooms decorated with artwork and headboards by local artist, Kiki Slaughter. I was ecstatic when asked to use Kiki’s art as inspiration for a Commonwealth Cake Company wedding cake.

Marilyn Speight, of Just a Little Ditty, was the creative genius behind this crisp, bold, and modern photo shoot. The colorful florals, modern design elements, and artistic vibe of the hotel were captured beautifully by Jen Fariello.

These florals by Southern Blooms are so dreamy. The color palette was centered around shades from Pantone’s colors of the year, gray and yellow, while incorporating touches of pinks and blue.

Do not be afraid to mix textiles. We used velvets, crystals, wood, acrylics, and metallic textiles to create a bold, modern, yet clean aesthetic.

For the cake we embraced our own artistic side. Kiki’s painted headboards and cloths were definitely our inspiration. We decided to layer design elements, starting with a monochromatic white buttercream stencil detail. We amped it up with an abstract painting technique, pulling in colors from the color palette. The Quirk Hotel has the perfect artistic vibe for this cake.

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Planning + Styling: Marilyn of Just A Little Ditty | Photography + Art Direction: Jen Fariello | Venue + Catering: Quirk Hotel Charlottesville | Florals + Design: Southern Blooms | Tabletop: Emerson James Rental & Nuage Design Inc | Rentals: Festive Fare | Dress: The One Bridal Salon | Hair & Makeup: Top Knot Studio & Rouge 9 Makeup | Invitations: Rock Paper Scissors & Jodi McFarlane Calligraphy | Art: Kiki Slaughter