Smaller Scale Weddings Don’t Mean Smaller Details and This Parisian Inspired Editorial Will Give You All Of the Proof!

Samantha Melei
April 18, 2021
Categories: Romantic, The Blog

A little PSA for anyone out there planning a small wedding…a small wedding doesn’t have to mean small details! In fact, we think just the opposite – the smaller the wedding, the bigger the details, and today’s editorial shoot at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, planned and designed by K. Saw Weddings is about to give you ALL of the proof. Inspired by chic, Parisian styles, they delivered a small yet mighty wedding display featuring jaw-dropping florals by Le Bloomerie from the ceremony arch to the tablescape and not one but FOUR different gowns…even mixing in some colored dresses to the different setups! Check it out below to see all of Stella Yang Photography‘s stunning images!

From K Saw Weddings…Our vision for this shoot is dedicated to all the couples out there who are planning their weddings in a very creative way. Smaller-scale weddings are now a trend, but it does not mean you have to compromise your beautiful wedding vision. As a matter of fact, indulging with unique details to express your style as a couple is now the best opportunity to do so!

Creating this dream shoot very much represents me as a wedding designer and a stylist. I’ve always been in love with anything chic, fashion-forward with hints of elegance in all the right places. I call this editorial “A Chic Parisian Rendezvous” because I have always been inspired by Parisian styles where vintage meets modern which equals GLAM. The color palette I’ve chosen includes black and pink as my main color with a touch of blush and coral hues on our florals to neutralize and soften our palette. I’ve incorporated different types of textures from my velvet table linens to tulle gowns which all blended well together.

Gathering the perfect vendors to make my vision come to life is the first step in planning this editorial shoot. Collaborating with a talented photographer, Stella Yang who captured every little detail so perfectly, followed by Kyle of Studio Arcady who filmed this shoot creating the perfect vibe I was exactly looking for. It started raining the day we produced this editorial and the sky was gloomy but he pulled it off so beautifully as we selected upbeat music to lift the mood. It may rain and pour but the show must go on!

The first thing that inspired me was the Pink and black dresses designed by Millia London. I’ve always been in love with the Black and Pink Combo which reminds me of chic storefronts in Paris! I thought Fairmont Sonoma would be a perfect venue for this, with their blush buildings- a reminiscent of Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in South of France. Because couples in California are unable to do destination weddings at this time, we learn to appreciate the beauty of what’s in front of us and that’s our very own wine country in California. Words from Fairmont Sonoma, “ Since first opening our doors, Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa has set the stage for thousands of Happily-Ever-Afters. Nestled in the heart of wine country, we invite you to host a destination wedding your guests will not forget! Adorned with lush landscaping, and a variety of historic reception spaces, we can’t wait to bring your wedding vision to life.”

For our Ceremony Scene, Melissa of Le Bloomerie created a breathtaking arch full of garden roses. From Melissa, “ There is no better way to pair the romance of Paris but with the most elegant Garden roses, Eugenie with her feminine tulle like petals, Constance and her soft delicate petals that fade from the darkest pink to a light shade of cream, and the old world elegance of the Romantic Antique rose. The wedding arch was filled with an array of ombré garden roses, their ruffles, and fruity scents remind one of a stroll down Champs D’Elysees. The bridal bouquet captured the modern and chic flair of Paris with garden roses with and lace-like sweet peas.“

Our bride wore glamorous gowns by BERTA from one of the most sought-after bridal boutiques in San Francisco, SF Bridal Galleria. She wore an off-shoulder mermaid gown embroidered with florals and glittery patterns which added glam to her whole look. For the reception dress, she wore a sweetheart neck-lined gown with a floral bodice and tulle A-line with a jaw-dropping slit! Our beautiful bride was glammed up by one of the most talented HMUA based in San Francisco, Rachel Lusk. Words from Rachel, “ I wanted to keep Vanessa’s bridal look effortless and sophisticated, focusing on soft yet glamorous makeup and refined, polished hairstyles. Glowing skin, soft waves, and a chic chignon paired exquisitely with her Berta gowns!” We’ve collaborated with Lindsay Marie Designs by selecting her dainty little earrings to keep a softer bridal look. We’ve also featured Trumpet and Horn’s Edessa ring in Amethyst enclosed in dainty diamonds to add a hint of opulence to our design. Next to our bride is our groom looking dapper in his white Tux from The Black Tux rocking the European cut paired with his nice velvet slip-on shoes adding a rich texture to his outfit.

We’ve created a luxury picnic set up where our Bride wore my favorite Pink Tulle Dress from Millia London paired with Nikki Bootie from Bella Belle Shoes. Luxury Picnic by Cali Picnics in collaboration with tablescape rentals from Amore Society to complete the look. I’ve selected blush pink chargers with a lace pattern to infuse softness to the scene paired with chiffon napkins adorned with a matching menu by The Vintage Inkwell. Words from Molly of The Vintage Inkwell, “The menu and name card combo has a custom modern crest and a soft silk ribbon to complement the beautiful pink florals. “ We also collaborated with Lux Event Rentals who assisted me in designing our cocktail hour set up. Words from Nick of Luxe Event Rentals, “For cocktail hour, our couple enjoyed a glamorous custom lounge with sumptuous blush velvets, modern silhouettes, and sleek gold accents paired with marble high top tables and a classic statement bar.”

For our Reception Scene, I’ve incorporated the Black and Blush combo on my tablescape selection with a modern pattern in black and white on my tablescape with smoke goblets to pair with. I’ve selected mauve velvet linen and silk runners from Amore Society and deeper blush chairs from Lux Event Rentals for a glamorous vibe. To complete the look, we’ve added lush floral centerpieces designed by Le Bloomerie. From Melissa, “ The tablescape captivated the pleasure and fun-like journey that Paris often takes the traveler own with pops creamy peach ranunculus and pink ranunculus.”

For our stationery flat lay, we infused a hint of vintage yet a chic vibe on our design and color palette selection. Words from Molly, “ The Hampshire suite reflects classic vintage designs, but we wanted to add some modern touches with the bold type font and deep blue velvet ribbon and envelopes.” Stella Yang styled and photographed our flat lay so beautifully which summarized our whole theme.

For our Cake moment, I’ve collaborated with WhaT’s More Cake to create a stunning blush cake. Words from What’s More Cake, “ I believe that every woman had a pink dream when she was a girl. When it comes to the ultimate Chic cake, I wanted it to be in a color palette with different shades of pink. The flexibility and elasticity of fondant helped me to create a textured yet fluid canvas. I chose to use handmade wafer paper flowers to bring in some softness and elegance, while the whole structure of the cake feels modernism.”

To conclude our dream shoot, we incorporated another fashion-forward detail for our last scene as a cherry on top where our model wore a black tulle Millia London dress where she wore a headpiece specially curated by Melissa of Le Bloomerie, words from Melissa, “The headpiece captured the Avant-garde and couture world of old and new Paris alike with hellebores, garden roses, and sweet peas.” We added this detail as a unique bridal yet fashion-forward portrait to inspire brides to express themselves in their own unique way!