This next photo shoot is somewhat of a departure from the classic Alice in Wonderland but the details and styling are BEYOND gorgeous. Blondes may have more fun but brunettes know how to rock a moody tea party. With Tim Burton’s dark and twisty take on Alice as inspiration, Kate Whelan Events incorporated lovely jewel tones and rustic detailing into their interpretation of Alice getting married. The result captured by Sarah Maren is nothing short of STUNNING. {Click here for even more images in the gallery}
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The story of Alice in Wonderland has been a favorite of mine since childhood – so of course, when the new movie hit the theaters, I was beyond inspired. Having been a fan of Salvador Dali’s more dark and twisted take on the story, I loved the rich color palette and slightly devious delivery that Tim Burton imbued within the set. More specifically, I was inspired by deep purples, rich moss greens, pale lavenders, rusty orange and that pop of classic Alice baby blue used in the photos depicting Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter.
We approached this shoot as an opportunity to incorporate fun subtleties of the storyline into a rich, rustic backdrop. The chair tie, place card, drink/eat me sign and menu Luxecuts™ in dark shiny plastic lend an edge to the woodsy flowers and hand-painted mushrooms. The juxtaposition of the large wood farm table and the gold accents in the Chivari chairs, gold-rimmed black spoke chargers, flatware and teapots created an air of elegance against the tree-lined path. Floral china teacups brought back a hint of the classic Alice tale, as some were filled with the same pansies known to sing in Disney’s version.
Playing to the recent trend of black and white in wedding fashion and black lace tights in everyday fashion, we fused the two with a lovely lace dress accented by a tulle sash and large rhinestone rose pin. Various black and white fascinators were fun to play with – but the best accessory was a tribute to the infamous white rabbit himself, showcasing a mink colored bunny (Mrs. Whiskers) paired with a gorgeous gold pocketwatch necklace. Finally, a frothy-tulle concoction blended beautifully into the wildflowers, topped with a velvet blue bow.
Our model, Alison (how appropriate, yes?) held a bridal bouquet containing a collection of rhinestone brooches, peach garden roses, dusty miller and lavender roses, finished off with a selection of teapot and clock charms. She snacked on our lovely dessert table filled with treats listed on a large Luxecuts™ menu – Tweedle Mallows, White Rose Truffles, Royal Suit Linzer Cookies, Down The Rabbit Hole Cupcakes, and Three of Hearts Chocolate Pretzels filled the table along with other various treats in our color palette.
I cannot even begin to tell you how wonderful it was working with every single one of the vendors on the Alice team! The talent, the fun attitude, and the appreciation for the artful event industry really shines through in this project and I feel so grateful to have been a part of it!
Event Design, Planning & Styling: Kate Whelan Events / Photography: Sarah Maren Photography / Flowers: Flourish / Location: Roseville, CA / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Stationery: Luxecuts™ by Kate Whelan Events / Dessert Table: Sugar and Spice Specialty Desserts / Model: Alison Kranz / Dress: Bella Donna Bridal Salon / Hair & Makeup: Nicole Solarez at Deja Du Salon / Assistant to Mrs. Whiskers (Rabbit): Hannah Moore