My husband is studying English Literature, so the moment I read this shoot was inspired entirely by “Literary Romance,” I knew that this was going to be very close to my heart. And the photos from Archetype Studio sure didn’t disappoint! Tamara Menges’s inspiration from Shakespeares’ Sonnet 18 can be seen in every bit of this shoot. It doesn’t get more romantic than a setting like Chateau Cocomar, stunning lace details, a color palette that nods to the Old World, and just the right touch of metallics . Head over to the gallery for even more awe-inspiring images.
From Tamara Menges… I knew I wanted to push the boundaries of the vintage feel that so many brides are incorporating in their wedding. Together with Archetype, we designed the perfect details to convey our story. The overall concept was “Literary Romance.” We incorporated this into the story through the use of romantic lace, roses, Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 and gold-leafed vintage books.
For the ceremony, we dressed one of Chateau Cocomar’s exquisite fireplaces as the altar. I draped a very full garland of smilex, magnolia leaves and seeded eucalyptus to the floor, then finished off the mantel with roses, mercury glass candle sticks and an antique clock. The aisle was marked with golden lace swags, more roses, candles and gold-leafed books opened to show the aged pages. For seating, we used gold chiavari chairs, and a pop of color was added with an olive green sash.
For the reception area, we created a family style setting. The table was adorned with layered linens, a gold lace overlay and a high-end, textural, couture linen that was bustled up on the corners. For the florals, I used luxurious design with an intimate feel. Most of the vessels were pink milk glass, adding just a hint of our palette in a unique way. I used multiple shades of roses, tulips, seeded eucalyptus and hydrangea. Wrapped around each napkin are lines from Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18, which made for interesting conversation pieces, as each guest had a different line of the famous sonnet.
Photography: Koby + Terilyn Brown of Archetype Studio Inc. / Photo Shoot Venue: Chateau Cocomar in Houston, Texas / Event Planning, Floral + Event Design: Tamara Menges / Invitations: Glenda Little of Dressy Designs / Wedding Cake: Jessie Lopez / Sweets: Sandy Le of SWEET / Linens: The Perfect Touch / Chair Rentals: Any Occasion Party Rental / Wedding Dress: Jim Hjelm Couture JH8210 via Brickhouse Bridal / Shoes: Lulu Townsend / Jewelry: Paul Carter Jewels / Hair + Makeup: Christen Hobbs / Garter + Flower Girl’s Headband: Lauren Gibson of Rosebud Lips / Groom’s Tuxedo: Al’s Formal Wear / Model Bride: Jennifer Brown / Model Groom: Randall Magill / Model Bridesmaid: Ashley Dernick / Model Best Man: Trent Barnes / Model Flower Girl: Keira Brown