[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”The Inspiration”]NOTE: This editorial shoot was from a beautiful three-day photography workshop that I hosted at Château du Grand-Lucé!
The iconic Château du Grand-Lucé truly exemplifies the absolute best of French design and Art de Vivre and we drew our inspiration directly from the core of all design in France—fine art. We chose three separate artistic movements to use as our inspiration for the overall aesthetic, fashion, colors, and feeling that we wanted each of our designs to evoke.
Impression was the inspiration behind our engagement shoot. This movement focused on light, shifting color, and the natural way that forms move throughout their unique spaces. There is something very romantic and free about this movement. We wanted the fashion to feel soft yet bold and the details we brought in to give an air of elegant yet casual romance.
For our arrival scene, we added a chic lavender trench from Alexandra Pijut to bring the classic Impressionist color palette into focus. The soft pastels paired with vintage-inspired Steamline Luggage made for the perfect step-back-in-time arrival to Château du Grand-Lucé.
We designed a classic picnic in a field of flowers, brought in fine details like Christian Dior Lily of the Valley China, and paired it with chic fashion picks from Alexandra Pijit and Rives Paris for our bride and groom.
The next way was our Regency inspired welcome party and rehearsal dinner. For this shoot, we drew much of our inspiration from the pink dining room at the château. Bold colors, fine drapery, wedgewood moldings, and pure grandeur were our canvas upon which to draw inspiration. The fashion perfectly echoed the Regency style with the bride donning looks from both Alexandra Pijut and Bretagne Studio. Our groom looked sharp in a three-piece number from Rives Paris.
The welcome party tabletop was designed in partnership with Charles Mayer & Co. to evoke the balance between opulence and frivolity versus the structure and formality of the period. Coquette bows tied up hand-embroidered linens from Reverie Social while the table was set with china from French house Gien, glassware from Baccarat, and flatware from Christofle. Candelabra florals added the right amount of height and drama to the setting paired with vases of single type roses and peonies. Ink & Press Co. created the most stunning menu cards that mimicked the details and colors in the ceiling of the room. Scrolled name cards brought an old-world feel back into the table and ensured that the design felt true to the space.
The shoot culminated in our wedding inspired by the Rococo Era, which is the most fitting for Château du Grand-Lucé and the time period during which it was built. Rococo design is focused on ornamental details that we wanted to shine through in the paperie and grandeur of the china. We chose a simple yet elegant lace gown from Monique Lhuillier and paired it with an opera coat and lace cape for different looks throughout the day. Our groom wore a chic black tuxedo throughout the ceremony and dinner.
The ceremony design was a triple arch outlooking the vast Loire Valley that donned hundreds of spring blooms with exposed arch forms to emphasize the ornamental feel of the triple structure.
The wedding dinner table featured a stunning vintage floral print linen from Reverie Social paired with china from Royal Limoges, flatware from Christofle, and glassware from Baccarat, all sourced through Charles Mayer & Co. Shasta Bell created stunning tea-dyed menu cards paired with ornamental chinoiserie boxes that doubled as guest name cards. Florals focused on the natural setting arranged in structured Rococo style compotes.
After dinner, our bride changed into a sequined Monique Lhullier after party gown and our groom into a white dinner jacket for their traditional French champagne pour and cake cutting. The cake, designed by the talented Mon Annie Cakes, was a work of art itself. Featuring arches and floral details, the cake was made for the château. [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]For the Impressionist-inspired engagement shoot, we opted for soft, muted pastels to reflect the palette of the art. For the Regency welcome party, we leaned in towards the bright, candy-toned colors of the era and took the inspiration from the château’s incredible pink dining room. For the Rococo-inspired wedding, the colors were fresh and soft inspired by springtime in the Loire Valley.[/field]
[field title=”The Venue”]
Built in 1760 and located south of Paris in the Loire Valley, Château du Grand-Lucé is a neoclassical French icon has been exquisitely restored. With a vigilant attention to detail, its unapologetically opulent interiors are a stunning tribute to its noble provenance and are a gallant steward of its rich history.
Named one of the ‘Best Hotels in the World’ by Condé Nast Traveler, Tatler, Travel + Leisure, & more, attendees will each stay in one of Château du Grand-Lucé’s private rooms that pay homage to the extravagance of King Louis XV’s reign complete with luxury ensuite bathrooms, fine French linens, and Buly 1803 products. The grandeur of the eighteenth-century neoclassical design layered with centuries of modern splendor sets the bar in five-star hotel design.
With eighty acres of private parkland that include a formal French garden, lake, meadows, and historic white oak forest—Château du Grand-Lucé is one of the most exclusive and high-end wedding destinations in Europe.[/field]
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[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]Fashion was a huge part of the shoot, and for the Impressionist-inspired engagement session our bride donned a chic lavender trench and delicate Lily of the Valley dress, both from Alexandra Pijut. To compliment the fashion, the hair was soft and romantic with lots of movement and makeup featured a natural glam look with a smokey eye in shimmering rose & champagne brown tones and a soft pink lip.
The next day was the Regency-inspired welcome party where fashion perfectly echoed the Regency style with the bride the bride wore a beautiful pink skirt and top from Alexandra Pijut and a haute couture embroidered mint green gown from Bretagne Studio. The bride wore her hair in a regal and elegant French chignon which she complimented with luminous, dewy skin and rosy cheeks.
Finally, for the wedding, we chose a simple yet elegant lace gown from Monique Lhuillier and paired it with an opera coat and lace cape for different looks throughout the day. The bride’s hair was worn down with glamorous waves and a deep side part paired with pearly skin and a heavier pink cheek and lip to keep with the Rococo feel.
As the sun set, she donned a fantastic sequined gown completed with three dimensional flowers for the after party—again from Monique Lhullier. To transition her beauty look from day to night, she opted for a matching veil from Monique Lhullier, a chic up-do, and a touch of kohl liner and pops of shimmer.[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Party”][/field]
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[board_carousel title=”Fashion”]
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[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]We designed a classic picnic in a field of flowers, brought in fine details like Christian Dior Lily of the Valley China, and paired it with chic fashion picks from Alexandra Pijit and Rives Paris for our bride and groom.
The welcome party tabletop was designed in partnership with Charles Mayer & Co. to evoke the balance between opulence and frivolity versus the structure and formality of the period. Coquette bows tied up hand-embroidered linens from Reverie Social while the table was set with china from French house Gien, glassware from Baccarat, and flatware from Christofle. Candelabra florals added the right amount of height and drama to the setting paired with vases of single type roses and peonies. Ink & Press Co. created the most stunning menu cards that mimicked the details and colors in the ceiling of the room. Scrolled name cards brought an old-world feel back into the table and ensured that the design felt true to the space.
The ceremony design was a triple arch outlooking the vast Loire Valley that donned hundreds of spring blooms with exposed arch forms to emphasize the ornamental feel of the triple structure.
The wedding dinner table featured a stunning vintage floral print linen from Reverie Social paired with china from Royal Limoges, flatware from Christofle, and glassware from Baccarat, all sourced through Charles Mayer & Co. Shasta Bell created stunning tea-dyed menu cards paired with ornamental chinoiserie boxes that doubled as guest name cards. Florals focused on the natural setting arranged in structured Rococo style compotes.
The cake, designed by the talented Mon Annie Cakes, was a work of art itself. Featuring arches and floral details, the cake was made for the château. [/field]
[field title=”Favorite Design Element”][/field]
[field title=”Tips To Pull Off The Look”][/field]
[field title=”DIY Moments”][/field]
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Photography: Molly Carr Photography | Event Design: Rachael Ellen Events | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: MonAnnie Cakes | Reception Venue: Chateau du Grand Luce | Groom's Attire: RIVES | Beauty: Jen Lagers | Fashion (Lily of the Valley dress, pink dress, lilac trench): Alexandra Pijut | Fashion (Mint Green Gown): Bretagne Studio | Gloves: Cornelia James | Invitations (Wedding): Shasta Bell Calligraphy | Invitations (Welcome Party): Ink & Press Co. | Linens: Reverie Social | Luggage: Steamline | Styling Surfaces: Chasing Stone | Tabletop: Charles Mayer & Co