French Ballet Inspired Photo Shoot by Sara Donaldson

This is the perfect inspiration for anyone who loves the ballet or all things girl-y and feminine. The perfect mix of music and movement, I’m loving all the details including the vintage looking music sheets wrapped into a cone, holding petals for the adorable flower girls festooned with baby’s breath crowns and tutus. Captured by Sara Donaldson and designed by Shannon Schultz Events, this photo shoot is full of pretty little details that you can incorporate into your day. It’s fresh and gorgeous and there’s so much more in the full gallery of images!

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From Sara DonaldsonShe is a ballet dancer. He is a pianist and singer. For this style shoot, we wanted to both capture real life as well as simplify what the wedding experience can be: genuine, raw, real. Every detail has a simple practicality to establish a reflection of the bride and groom as a couple.

A six-foot altar was created with the groom’s vintage piano sheet music, flanked by ivory mosquito net panels and a gold curtain ballast. Many of the altar’s music pages feature the groom’s beloved teacher’s handwritten notations. The flower girls stole the show, playing in and around the altar, telling secrets and throwing rose petals, simply being children and exemplifying the pure innocence with which love begins. Two deconstructed piano keyboards held escort cards. The bare bones of the piano and rugged edge of the escort cards gave the shoot a raw simplicity and a reminder of the groom’s genuine creativity.  Allowing wedding guests to continuously interact with such personal details keeps the wedding focused on the bride and groom.

The French zinc tabletop was a true inspiration.  With its industrial presence, we were able to mix and match feminine vintage chairs to create a very simple, classic look. Hand painted white chargers, 70-year-old amber china, gold flatware, EmersonMade linen napkins, organic moss, and tea-stained compliment tags worked to create the romantic charm of a ballet dancer marrying her beloved. Maiden Hair, Lysmachia, and Nigella (all garden flowers) were chosen for their unique feminine qualities. The boutonnières played on the idea of joining a man and a woman in marriage: the masculine berries tied with feminine lace made a perfect juxtaposition.  A bouquet of precious light peach roses perfectly complimented the bride’s ballet-inspired gown, her long French tulle veil, and her detailed tiara. Soft rose petals filled tea-stained music sheets for tossing.

We couldn’t resist bringing in one final detail, a 1968 Imperial Crown Coupe Mobile Director. The classic, clean lines and rich blues of the vintage automobile reflected the couple’s charming interaction. When you keep your wedding details classic and simple, your story as a couple can truly sparkle.

Photography: Sara Donaldson / Design: Shannon Schultz Events / Furniture: Simple ThingsSara Donaldson / Floral Design: The Enchanted Florist / Food: Linguine and Dirty Martinis / Calligraphy: Blue Eye Brown Eye / Car: The personal collection of Chandler Smith / Dress + Accessories: De Ma Fille Bridal