Europe Weddings

Said best by the vendor team… a modern elopement is the ultimate expression of authentic, romantic love—the perfect beginning to a life of adventure with the one you love and the perfect manifestation of our inspirational quote: “Let’s be adventurers, Darling…marry me in Paris!” Really, is there any place more romantic than Paris to elope? Make sure to peruse The Vault for the full batch of beauty from French Grey Events and Maru Photography. Plus, more details below on their upcoming workshop!

From French Grey Events and Maru Photography… This styled editorial session is an international collaboration between wedding industry creatives from Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands, Ukraine, UK and France. We were inspired by the idea that no matter in which country and in which culture it takes place, a modern elopement is the ultimate expression of authentic, romantic love—the perfect beginning to a life of adventure with the one you love and the perfect manifestation of our inspirational quote: “Let’s be adventurers, Darling…marry me in Paris!”

The elegance and adventure of eloping to a private chateau in France can today be effortlessly achieved with the guidance of the right wedding vendors who will help couples realise their dreams of having an authentic and stylish intimate wedding.

In this editorial, we focused on the creation of an intimate wedding day in a private, family-run, French Chateau, nestled into the countryside just outside of the Paris, with an emphasis on the celebration of the simpler things in life as the French do it best—French champagne, delicious pastries, delicate floral, and of course, beautifully hand-written love notes between lovers pledging their lives to one another—what could possibly be more romantic? We wanted this destination elopement to be infused with the romance of the culture, the charm of the venue and its beautiful surroundings, creating a meaningful, unique and effortless wedding day that is truly inspired by both adventure and romance.

Our couple’s day of love begins in bed with croissants and hugs, followed by the ritual of the bride and groom preparing for their intimate ceremony. This precious time spent alone before the wedding event, to reflect and to reread their prepared wedding vows, the promises that will last a lifetime, something that a couple will cherish for the rest of their lives. A hand-written declaration of the couples’ elopement in Paris along with their wedding vows and announcement to friends and family, was beautifully designed by Vancouver calligrapher, Quill & Co.

The day unfolds with the bride dancing carefree through the streets of Paris in her stunning ice blue bridal gown by Kathryn Bass Bridal while she enjoys the last few hours before the ceremony begins. Following this, we see an intimate ceremony in the ancient Orangerie of the Chateau Barthelemy, a family run chateau, now a historical wedding venue and a place full of beginnings, artistry, romance and hope. The Chateau contains a love note box in which the owner’s aunt kept her love letters from suitors in the 1800’s—the perfect place to store your elopement vows!

After the intimate ceremony, the couple takes a quiet walk through the private grounds of the Chateau as newlyweds, returning to a romantic dinner for two in front of a blazing fire in the enormous ancient fireplace in the Grande Salon of the Chateau. What could be more romantic and intimate? The perfect way to elope in the countryside of Paris, beautifully curated by Kasia of French Grey Events, an intimate destination wedding planner and stylist based in Paris, France, and photographed by Kim-Maru of Maru Photography, a boutique destination wedding photographer, based in Vancouver, Canada with travel worldwide.

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Want to Learn from the Vendor Team?

Join Kim-Maru and Kasia in October 2017 at the L’Artisan Workshop for wedding creatives, held at the beautiful Chateau featured in this editorial, for four inspiring days together learning how to plan, execute and photograph intimate destination weddings and elopements artfully, intentionally, and authentically. For workshop details, visit L’Artisan Workshop for more details and to join the beauty making!

Photography: Maru Photography | Event Design: French Grey Events | Wedding Dress: Kathryn Bass Bridal | Engagement Ring: Perouse Paris | Hair and Makeup: Trine Juel | Hair and Makeup: Rika Bitton | Calligraphy: Quill and Co. | Groom's Attire: L'apieceur | Bridal Headband - Maison Michel: Art & Facts | Brides Coat: Zara | Chateau Venue: Chateau Barthelemy | Event and Floral Styling: French Grey Events | Feather Comb Maison Michel: Art & Facts | Lingerie: Fine Art Wedding Boutique | Manchettes: Art & Facts | Nude Bridal Shoes: Sergio Rossi | Parisian Apartment Rental: Cobblestone Paris Rentals | Pearls: Bekah Anne | Ring Boxes: Secret Keeper Box | Silk Ribbons and Table Runner: Fine Art Wedding Boutique | Veil and Hair Vine: SIBO Designs | Wedding Band: Cartier | Wedding Cake & Pastries: Cokoa | White Bridal Shoes- Rupert Sanderson: Art & Facts | paper products: Spurle Gul Studios

It’s a given that anything with Greg Finck behind the lens is destined to be pure magic. And when you add Paris and a couture Elie Saab dress into that equation…it’s heart-stopping territory. Feast your eyes on this château celebration made even prettier at the hands of event planner and designer extraordinaire Sarah Haywood and florals by Kitten Grayson. Plus see another couture dress in action with the couple’s wildly pretty engagement right here!

Sonny & Ann are both from Singapore, and had decided to organize their wedding day at stunning Château de Vaux le Vicomte. This is undoubtedly the most prestigious venue around Paris, and I had never had the chance to work in that amazing XVIIth century castle before. The couple trusted Sarah Haywood, a celebrity luxury wedding planner from London, to organize the weekend festivities. The day started at The Shangri-La Hotel in Paris, where Ann got ready and the couple led the tea ceremony. For the ceremony, Ann wore a stunning couture dress from Elie Saab, with a 30 feet long train. The ceremony was held outdoor despite the chilly Parisian weather that day. Reception was absolutely stunning with amazing florals by The Isle of You, and an amazing main table. Guests were then invited to the gardens of the Château, for a glorious firework, and an incredible video mapping on the facade of the Château.

Photography: Greg Finck Photography | Floral Design: Kitten Grayson | Assistant Photographer: Marie Film Photographer | Assistant Photographer: Oliver Fly Photography | Chateau: Château De Vaux Le Vicomte | Event Planning, Production + Design: Sarah Haywood | Fireworks: Grand Final Fireworks | Hair Styling: Phuc Le Trung | Live Music: Vogue Band | Live Painting: Maerta Wydler | Video Mapping: Rupert Newman | Wedding dress and shoes: Elie Saab

Can we just talk about this bride’s pink ombre dream dress? Because it’s pretty much everything. Inspired by Natalie Portman’s iconic Miss Dior gown, it’s a show-stopper made for a Parisian engagement shoot and a gorgeous bride like Ann to pull it off. Greg Finck made sure the dress (and of course, the couple) we’re perfectly captured and their wedding reveal is coming up later today!

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P.S. More Fashion-Forward Wedding Dresses!

Photography: Greg Finck Photography | Dress: Christian Dior | Shoes: Christian Dior | Jewelry: Chaumet | Hotel: Shangri La | Planning + Design: Sarah Haywood

When you get married in Paris, you better bring your fashion A-game, and that’s exactly what this real bride did. She customized her Junko Yoshioka gown by creating a high-low hemline and adding a statement bow in the back. And the result? Well, scroll below and see the dress (and the entire day!) captured by French Grey Photography for yourself.

From the couple… Josh and I secretly got married legally in the US before the Paris wedding. We got married at the fountain in Central Park and our 10-year-old pug dog was the best man. We drank champagne at Tavern on the Green and everything about that day was so filled with love. We both agreed that if all that our wedding ever was, was that day we would have been perfectly happy!
I think the fact that we were already married made our Paris ceremony less stressful.

We stuck really true to ourselves as a couple. We never let anyone else persuade our selections as a lot of times the stress from weddings is trying to please everyone. We wanted to have some French flair with a little bit of our modern New Yorker style mixed in. For the most part, I really love neutrals so a lot of our selections were black and white with pops of color here and there.

French Grey Events designed the bouquet… Kasia is so talented!! I sent her ideas but she really brought the look to life. It was really important to me to have peonies in the mix and I wanted the flowers to match my shoes. The table pieces were created by A Girl and Roses in Paris. Again, I sent her photos and she interpreted them really well! I wanted small scattered votives and vessels of really clean white flowers including garden roses, hydrangeas, and daisies.

Brian with French Grey Photography was our photographer. He is the husband to our officiant Kasia. They were the perfect duo for Josh and I. Brian knew all the best places to go that felt special and not so touristy. We lived in Brooklyn at the time so it was also important to capture a little sense of that Urban and modern photography. I saw Brian’s work on several websites and had to have him for our big day!

My dress was from Bridal Garden in NYC and the designer is Junko Yoshioka. I customized the dress by creating a high-low hemline and creating a huge bow in the back. The fabric was embossed with flowers and a gorgeous cream ombré. The shoes were the best part of my look! I bought them before the dress and altered my dress to highlight my Christian Louboutin lilac suede 100 mm beauties! I am only 5’1″ so the sky is the limit for me and footwear.

Josh had a suit custom made in NYC at Trunk Club in the Plaza Hotel. It was important for him to feel like himself and not wear a tux. I went with him to all of his appointments because I am his built-in personal stylist. On the wedding day, we decided to do a first look and when I saw him standing there all done up, I couldn’t help but to hold back tears and felt so lucky he was going to be my husband.

Photography: French Grey Photography | Floral Design: Girls & Roses | Wedding Dress: Bridal Garden | Wedding Dress: Junko Yoshioka | Bride's Shoes: Louboutin | Hair + Makeup: Victoria Farr | Bride's Bouquet: French Grey Events | Celebrants + Officiants: French Grey Events

Valentine’s Day is kind of a big deal around this corner of the Internet, and there’s no better way to kick off this day o’ love than a wildly romantic bridal session. With Paris playing backdrop, Kristin Sweeting’s images prove you don’t have to wear a white dress to look (and feel) every bit the bride. Hop to the gallery for more glimpses of this red hot bridal session done right.

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P.S. How to Celebrate Valentine’s This Year!

Photography: Kristin Sweeting Photography | Dress/Jacket: Leanne Marshall | Invites: Olive Juice Press

When Blue Gardenia Events puts her creative talents to work and dreams up wedding inspiration set in Paris…you know it’s going to be seriously good. Beginning with that grey Marchesa wedding gown to the elegant florals, to the must-see cake by Melissa’s Fine Pastries, this shoot was practically made for the pages of Style Me Pretty. See it all through the lens of Arte De Vie with more in the gallery.

From the vendors… Paris is the city of love and light, both of which are captured in this romantic inspiration shoot. You can just imagine you and your love walking hand in hand in the Jardins des Tuileries just outside of the grand Louvre.

The pale grey Marchesa gown worn by our bride is the essence of femininity. That feminine air continues on a table set for two, featuring vintage finds procured from local Parisian flea markets and fresh flowers from local flower markets.

The handmade paper goods echo the color palette of the stone buildings, but still feel regal and refined and as old as time. Delicate florals and draping details adorn a petite cake by Melissa’s Fine Pastries. All of which dance in the Parisian light, where love and light reside. Our loving couple glow in this light, stroll amongst the gardens, with all of Paris as their backdrop.

Photography: Arte De Vie | Floral Design: Blue Gardenia Events | Wedding Dress: Marchesa | Cake: Melissa's Fine Pastries | Invitations: Butler's Pantry Calligraphy | Bride's Shoes: Vince Camuto | Hair + Makeup: Isabelle Reda | Groom's Attire: John's Tuxedos | Female Model: Liisa Marie Laur | Male Model: Guillaume Martial | Menus + Placecards: In Loft Calligraphy | Planning: Blue Gardenia Events

Fair warning—if you are dying to get married in Paris, this slice of inspiration from Rebecca Yale and Vanessa & Caroline will send you over the edge. Or, maybe you’ll dive head first (we would). Because really, it’s just too difficult to resist bridal portraits in gilded rooms and equally charming dinner scenes like this, followed by macarons galore, of course—we get it. Go on, pin your heart out in The Vault destination dreamers.

From Vanessa et Caroline… I loved the Pavillon de Musique de la Comtesse du Barry from the moment I stepped into the garden with the beautiful fountain and the view over this gorgeous historical building. Inside the architecture is fit for a princess and feels like you’ve stepped into a fairytale with beautiful paintings on the walls, gold mouldings and rich blue. The Pavillon de Musique is the perfect combination of a classic french venue and a magnificent garden, just outside of Paris. We were inspired by the contrast in the venue of the chequered floors, the deep blue curtains in one room and hard wood floors, and the white and gold mouldings in the dining room. We used that contrast in the design of our inspiration editorial by mixing gold and silver on the table, styling a glamorous and sexy bride in a gorgeous Inbal Dror gown with a soft princess-like hair and makeup with gold floral pins in her loose updo. The gown featured a delicate lace back, which was echoed in the delicate lace of the invitation envelope and the delicate beading of the blush pink bridal shoes. In addition to a beautiful gold and white cake decorated with white sugar flowers we created a dessert display in the dining room with the classic french dessert, macarons, the perfect way to end a lovely Parisian wedding!

Photography: Rebecca Yale Photography | Event Planning: VH Events | Floral Design: Frederic Bertin | Dress: Inbal Dror | Wedding Cake: L'atelier des surceries | Stationery: La Belle Histoire | Shoes: Bella Belle | Jewelry: Messika Joaillerie | Hair and Makeup: Onorina Jomir Beauty | Cutlery and Glasses: Blanche Patine | Dress Shop: Metal Flaque Paris | Hair Accesories: Hushed Commotion | Photo Lab: Richard Photo Lab | Plates: Bernardaud | Ring Box: The Mrs Box | Silk ribbons and runner: Orchidee De Soie

These engagement pics are gonna be hard to beat. This Needle and Tread gown is chic and stunning, and the white tux worn by this hubby-to-be is practically perfect. Add in a French chateau as their playground and Greg Finck’s talent behind the lens and we have a gallery bursting with beauty. See it all right this way!

From Greg Finck… Peggy and Andy are from Hong Kong and flew to Paris for their engagement session. With both working in design, it was difficult to find a more fashion forward couple! Peggy wore a stunning blush Needle and Thread gown, with amazing Sophia Webster’s heels, and Andy was in a white tux. We headed to the glorious Château de Chantilly, near Paris, for their engagement. It was such a beautiful and hot summer day in Paris, but the couple is glowing with its beauty and love!

Photography: Greg Finck Photography | Dress: Needle + Thread | Shoes: Sophia Webster | Venue: Château de Chantilly

Proposal season is upon us, so if you think an engagement is in your near future…consider not-so-subtly forwarding this article to your man. It’s an epic Jardin des Tuileries proposal with tips from Ryan, the most romantic groom-to-be you’ll ever meet. He surprised his love, Marianne of The M.A. Times with a moment she’ll always remember and we’re thrilled to officially kick off this wedding journey with them.

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6 Proposal Tips from a Real Groom

Know where she wants to go or places that she loves

Marianne obsesses over Paris. Her books and decor screamed Francophile! I started planning a long time before to make sure that I could bring her here for the first time. Trips are expensive, so plan far enough in advance and that way you can pivot or adjust if anything comes up. It’s important to make the occasion one to remember…you can only propose to her once!

Talk to her family

I spoke with her Dad and got his permission several months before. Though Marianne and I knew that we wanted to be together and this is more of a gesture, I’d still recommend this step not only to show respect but because they can offer very useful advice and provide extra hands in planning the proposal. After I proposed to Marianne in Paris, we were having lunch and I handed her hand-written letters from our parents and that evening we had a planned Skype call to celebrate with family. The proposal should be special and you want to make it memorable not just for her but for those close to her too.

Know the style of ring she wants

Girls want you to know what jewelry they want, you just have to listen and pay attention. Some girls don’t want a diamond, some girls like silver, platinum and white gold over yellow or rose gold. Some girls want a simple ring, other want one that is more detailed. I knew she wanted something that was vintage inspired. That’s how I landed on Heidi Gibson’s site. Amazing hand-made Art Deco rings that any girl would die for. Don’t just go out and buy a ring (she’ll love it either way), make sure the ring speaks to her personality and personal style because she will be wearing this FOREVER.

Commission the help of others

Our friend Tyrone lives in France and helped me scout out the perfect place to propose to Marianne in Paris. I had no idea what the place would look like since I’d never been there, let alone whether the leaves would still be on the trees. Tyrone checked it out beforehand to make sure. For Marianne’s ring, I wanted to choose the center stone locally so I spoke with my friend Tessa who works in a jewelry shop and she set aside the best oval stones she could find. After choosing the stone, Heidi shipped me the finished ring and I had it set here in Raleigh. People are always willing to help as long as you ask!

Do NOT be predictable

I knew the key to surprising her was getting someone involved that she wouldn’t expect. I worked with Anthropologie and our local Anthropologie in Durham, NC to concoct a story to get Marianne to show up at the designated location at the right time. She thought she was showing up for a photo shoot. I looped in the photographer that I hired (Tala Nicole) and Tala emailed Marianne the same details that were planned with Anthropologie to close the loop.

Listen to her (the perfect proposal is in the details)

I didn’t just buy a ring and propose in Paris. I knew she didn’t want a hotel so I chose a HomeAway apartment in Le Marais. I knew the style of ring she would want, and the garden we got engaged was one she had talked about numerous times (Jardin des Tuileries). She was wearing a dress that I got for her that she had previously mentioned she loved from Anthropologie. Marianne read the letters from our parents at a restaurant I knew she wanted to go to (Carette). Upon returning to our apartment, there was a bottle of her favorite champagne (Veuve Clicquot) and a framed photo of us on the table (done with help of the property management company). We ended the night with a planned Skype video chat with her sister and sister’s husband, and parents. The day doesn’t have to be elaborate, but make sure that you listen to her and do things that show her that you listen. A girl that wants to marry you will drop all of the clues you need to pull off the perfect proposal, so absolutely take the things she says to heart.

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“This will help you pull off a proposal she will love

and also prepare you to be the husband she deserves.”

-Ryan

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About the proposal from Ryan… Since I had met Marianne in 2012, she had always dreamed of Paris. Everything in her apartment was French-inspired, and even her coffee table books were about Paris. I come from a camp that believes life is too short to wish and dream, and that you should always aspire to make dreams come true. I knew Paris was the perfect place for us to start our love story, so I cashed in my credit card miles to buy two tickets.

A self-confessed Francophile, Marianne already knew ALL the places she wanted to go in Paris, but I wanted to choose a surprise location for the proposal. The Pavilion de Marsan in the Tuileries Garden at the Louvre Palace was a place I had seen online when planning our trip and I loved the way it looked. As a photographer, I always capture surroundings that interest or inspire me. It was important to me to have this moment captured too, so I began researching photographers in Paris. Standards held high, I was thrilled when I came across Tala Nicole Photography. I sent her pictures of Marianne, introducing myself and my plan, and she responded almost immediately, saying she would LOVE to shoot my proposal. I also arranged with Tala to shoot our engagement photos following the proposal at several of Marianne’s favorite spots in Paris.

I told Marianne that I would take care of our accommodations and I wanted it to be a surprise. I knew she wanted to be in Le Marais, and had dreamed of lavish details like hardwood floors and a balcony with a view. I had booked several beach houses and cabins through HomeAway in the past, and I knew I wanted to stay in something like that…a home away from home, but I wasn’t sure if they offered properties overseas. Luckily it turned out HomeAway had several thousand properties to choose from in Paris; which eased my hunt for the perfect property. I was able to narrow down properties in Paris by the location, the number of bedrooms, number of guests, etc. After sorting through hundreds of options, I found a property in Le Marias that was that not only 2 minutes walk to the Metro stop, but also had a wrap-around corner balcony with the most amazing view. Without hesitation, I booked.

Getting Marianne to Paris was easy (I mean, who wouldn’t jump on a plane if handed a ticket?), but how was I supposed to make sure she showed up to a given location and not get suspicious of a photographer on the grounds? Marianne partners with our local Anthropologie at The Streets at Southpoint, and after she helped host a fashion show with them, I got the idea to use Anthropologie as a way to get her to show up. With the help of Ashley and Carey at the SouthPoint Anthropologie and Kelly at the corporate office, we began crafting a master plan. I had Carey text Marianne to say that home office reached out and wanted to shoot with some of their blogger partners who had upcoming travel plans, and Marianne (as I suspected) replied that she’d love to do a shoot in Paris. Anthropologie told Marianne if she would be in Paris with a male friend to have him wear a suit, as he may be needed for some of the shots. I feigned reluctance to the idea, but eventually “caved.” To top it off, I worked with Carey to make sure Marianne had her dream Anthropologie dress to wear that day. Every little detail was coming together.

Finally, on Wednesday, November 2nd at 7:30 AM CEST, the time was finally here! We headed over to the Tuileries Garden to meet Tala and started shooting; just Marianne at first and then Tala told me to step in. While we were shooting, I turned to Marianne and started saying sweet things to her, but she tried to ignore me because she thought she needed to remain professional for the shoot. She seriously had no idea. I got her attention though and turned her toward me, grabbing both of her hands. In that moment she realized what was happening, and couldn’t hold back tears. The next little bit was a blur, and the only thing I can remember clearly after I asked and she said ‘YES,’ was that, in all my excitement, I couldn’t figure out which finger the ring went on! After soaking in our engagement at the Tuileries, we continued our journey around Marianne’s favorite places in Paris: the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Pont Alexandre III, Palais Royal and then the Trocadero view of the Eiffel Tower. This wasn’t just important to me so that we would have photos together but each spot and each photo helped to capture the feeling of that day.

The day wasn’t over after parting with Tala. I had both of our parents write letters to Marianne which were tucked in my jacket pocket. When we arrived at Carette for a late breakfast, I gave Marianne the letters from our parents – cue the waterworks again! We savored our tea and pastries and then headed back to the HomeAway. While we were out, I had our property manager set up a framed photo of us and a bottle of champagne so we could come back and celebrate our engagement. I’d also coordinated with Marianne’s family beforehand a time to do a Skype call so that they could be a part of the excitement. It was the perfect ending to the most perfect day. And that’s how Marianne Verrilli made my dreams come true and became my fiancé.

Photography: Tala Nicole | Engagement Ring: Heidi Gibson | Apartment: Rutherford Private Estate | Bride-To-Be: Marianne Verrilli | Center Stone: Diamonds Direct | Groom-To-Be: Ryan Sides | Housing: Rutherford Private Estate | Ring Box: The Mrs Box

I love when photographers capture other photographers; the images seem to sparkle a little more. So when Gert Huygaerts snapped these fellow wedding photographers for their engagement shoot in Paris, I knew we were in for a treat. And the way Marie and Matthieu describe their life together made it even better: “We are in love with love, shooting love is our job, we share a passion, we share a vision of love and we learn a lot together…” See it all go down in our Vault right here!

From Gert Huygaerts Photography… Getting the question from another fine art film photographer to shoot their love bond in the amazing city of Paris, is a true honour to me… I felt really blessed to be chosen by Marie and Matthieu to immortalize their love this autumn. Marie and Matthieu met at work, on a wedding day where Matthieu was Marie’s second shooter. She totally did not expect to fall in love with this gentleman, but it happened. As sometimes there are more lows in life then highs, they were both in the same feeling that moment… But what happened then, can be captured in one sentence: “and then I met you…”

As Marie told me how she feels her job and life… It just sounds adorable: “We are in love with love, shooting love is our job, we share a passion, we share a vision of love and we learn a lot together. For once we wanted to be on the other side of the camera, to celebrate our love.”

Photography: Gert Huygaerts Photography | Floral Design: Floraison | Dress: Lavish Alice | Shoes: Louboutin | Rings: Etsy.com | Make-up: MyBeautyCorner | Calligraphy: Nice Plume | Suit: Zara | Film Lab: Carmencita Film Lab | Silk Ribbon: Orchidee De Soie

I’m downright giddy with glee today. Not only do we have pretty pics from Greg Finck but the center of his attention? The lovely face behind Myrtle et Olive and her adorable hubby as they explored Paris in honor of their anniversary. From getting ready and prepping her florals, to strolling the streets, image after image gives me the best kind of butterflies. See them all right this way!

From the Bride… My husband, Charles, gave me one of my most treasured anniversary presents, a photo shoot with Greg Finck in my favorite city, Paris. Charles and I met during our University years. Charles took a bold move to drop out of University to pursue his entrepreneurial dream and he encouraged me start my own business three years ago. I took a leap of faith and started Myrtle et Olive Floral and Events, now working as Myrtle’s Artistic Director and Lead Florist. This year marks our 2nd year wedding anniversary, but more importantly, our 10th year being together.

Greg Finck is one of my favorite fine art photographers who is so immensely talented and calming to be with. It was such a memorable and fun experience designing this photoshoot with him. Our great friend Karla from Written Word Calligraphy gifted us with our wedding vows in her handwritten calligraphy on precious hand-made paper. It is something we treasure so dearly and brought together with us for this shoot along with my gold amber vintage ring from my vintage ring collection.

Greg captured the entire journey of our anniversary session from a boudoir session of me getting ready in the refine Windsor Robe from The Lace Atelier, putting together the final touches of my overgrown, pastel bouquet, to Charles and I wondering the quiet, immensely charming street of Paris with the sight of the Eiffel Tower. Our anniversary is captured so wonderfully by Greg and we are so grateful to relive our moments through tangibles! They are such beautiful memories that we will cherish for a lifetime.

Photography: Greg Finck Photography | Shoes: Valentino | Makeup: Onorina Jomir Beauty | Boudoir Lingerie + Dress: The Lace Atelier | Floral Design + Styling: Myrtle et Olive | Handwritten Vows: Written Word Calligraphy | Maxi Dress: BCBG

There’s something about Paris that pulls at our heart strings and thankfully Loli Events and Sylvie Gil Photography agree. Creating and capturing beauty in the city of lights, this is one imaculate inspiration that you’re sure to go mad(eleine) for. See it all in The Vault!

From Loli Events…Paris overflows with historical monuments and epic love stories. That is why the city of lights attracts couples from all around the world every year to celebrate love!

One of our favorite venues is the beautiful Pavillon de Musique de la Comtesse du Barry. Located right outside Paris, it is the perfect combination of intimate gardens and historical interiors. And wait until you read about the love story behind it…

After the passing of his latest wife, the King Louis XV was introduced to Jeanne, the countess of Barry and fell in love with her kindness, beauty and generosity. Jeanne received a refined education that awakened her to the Fine Arts and music. Tall and elegant, this lovely blond with a clear complexion and sparkling blue eyes full of intelligence and fineness was what we call, here at Loli Events, our kind of lady!

In 1769, Louis XV offered Jeanne the Pavillon des Eaux in Louveciennes (Luciennes at that time). Finding it a little too small for her receptions, the countess of Barry easily obtained from her madly-in-love King, the authorization to construct a little pavillon so she could decently receive her guests. The plans were entrusted to a young architect, Claude-Nicolas Ledoux.

Keeping in mind Jeanne’s love for receptions, we envisioned this styled shoot to have a romantic touch and an iconic Parisian fashion feel for a lovely and intimate dinner.

With her expert eye, the very talented Sylvie Gil captured all the details that make this venue so special. Meanwhile, the Lily Paloma team worked their magic once again to create an amazing composition that brought a natural and summery atmosphere in the room.

With the help of Vaisselle Vintage rentals and the couture gowns from Loho Bride, we were able to capture a perfect mix of luxurious antique-chic vibes.

This is how we imagined a modern Jeanne, in her Pavillon, throwing a private dinner on a very special summer day.

Photography: Sylvie Gil Photography | Floral Design: Lily Paloma | Wedding Dress: Camilla Christine | Wedding Dress: Cortana | Wedding Dress: Houghton Bride | Cake: Synies | Invitations: La Belle Histoire | Bride's Shoes: Bella Belle | Jewelry: Bekah Anne | Rings: Trumpet & Horn | Hair + Makeup: Trine Juel | Accessories: Styled By Twos Company | Bridal Boutique: LOHO Bride | Rentals: Vaisselle Vintage | Ring Boxes: The Mrs Box | Stylist: Loli Events

After viewing this gallery in The Vault, it’s taking every bone in my body to not move to Paris pronto! Overflowing with dreamy Janna Brown Design florals and a stunning balcony view, we’ve got every bit of this beauty captured by Julie Paisley waiting for you below!

From Julie Paisley…Paris is the most romantic city in the world. It was the perfect backdrop for this bridal inspiration shoot. A private balcony overlooking the city, beautiful florals designed by Janna Brown Design, a designer dress by Yolan Cris, it felt like it wasn’t even real. A once in a lifetime experience that still feels like a dream.

Photography: Julie Paisley Photography | Event Design: Janna Brown Design Co. | Floral Design: Janna Brown Design Co. | Wedding Dress: Yolan Cris Haute Couture | Jewelry: Susie Saltzman | Calligraphy: Poppy And Scooter | Venue: Shangri La | Film Processing: The Find Lab | Ribbons: Silk and Willow

I’m pretty sure these two struck photography gold when they discovered Oliver Fly via SMP’s Vendor Guide. Through emails and Skype, they got to know one another and when they later connected in Paris, it all came together picture perfectly. With engagement pics taken all over the city of light and love, it’s a love letter to Paris and their relationship. See it all in our Vault right this way!

From the Bride-to-be… Cameron and I are living in the Yarra Valley, a wine region in Australia located East of Melbourne. We met five years ago on a night out with friends. His brother, whom I went to school with, introduced the two of us and we started dating a few weeks later. Just over a year into our relationship we were lucky enough to travel to Europe for a two month summer holiday. While there, we fell in love with some of the most beautiful cities in the world including the city of love, Paris.

We were planning our second trip to Europe for this summer when Cam popped the question in November last year. He had planned a picnic for the two of us at a lake in the mountains as a fantastic backdrop where he grew up. He read me a couple of poems before asking me to be his wife. It was so sweet! I don’t know how he kept it a secret, as I’m usually one to pick up on things.

It didn’t take long before my heart was set on a Parisian engagement session, the perfect getaway for our couple. I started looking for photographers in Style Me Pretty’s Vendor Guide when I came across Oliver Fly Photography. Oliver’s style was exactly what we were looking for, soft, elegant and romantic. We got to know Oliver through a bunch of emails and a Skype call and eventually we were just counting down the days.

On the day of our session, Oliver made us feel very comfortable. It was such a fun day and Oliver captured our love perfectly ! We planned our session for the middle of summer and we started in the morning with the Eiffel Tower, the most iconic view of Paris. We ended up this lovely sunny day still on the right bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement with the historic monument of the Louvre Palace and its stunning architecture. We couldn’t dream of a better photography experience in Paris. Now, we are exploring ideas for our wedding, most likely to be somewhere beautiful in Australia in the Yarra Valley where we live. Or maybe Europe… who knows !

Photography: Oliver Fly Photography | Dress: Elle Zeitoune | Hair + Make Up: Little Miss Make Up | Bridal Boutique: White Runway | Processing Lab: Richard Photo Lab

Life happens, the good, the bad, the messy, and all the beautiful bits in between. It’s easy to let dreams fall by the wayside but this married couple refused to let go on their plans to visit Paris. And when they did, Peter and Veronika joined in to photograph what they thought would be warm, sun drenched snaps. But Mother Nature has the final say and in came rain… much to the camera lens’ luck. Rain looks good on these two and these pics,and this story, are officially my new, inspired #relationshipgoals.

From the Bride…  Since we just got married, it has been my dream to travel to Paris for our five year anniversary. Five years went by and the trip just didn’t seem realistic. We just had our second baby, bought our first home and I was really sick earlier that year so traveling across the globe was not even in the conversation. But the desire in my heart was still there, quietly tugging at me.

One night after a conversation with a close friend, I decided that unless I took some sort of action towards making this travel dream a reality, it was always going to be just a dream. So I started a little savings envelope towards that trip and put money aside every chance I got, skipping nail appointments and passing up the opportunity to buy new clothes. Almost two years later, we finally had enough to comfortably travel Europe for close to three weeks and so we set off on our anniversary adventure.

This trip was so special to us! We both were ready to slip away from reality and everyday busyness and focus on each other and invest in our friendship. It was really refreshing to be able to leave the kids and go adventure together, just the two of us. Stay out late, ride bicycles, and do other normal activities that get a little complicated to enjoy once you have two babes at your hip.

This trip was so special to us! We both were ready to slip away from reality and everyday busyness and focus on each other and invest in our friendship. It was really refreshing to be able to leave the kids and go adventure together, just the two of us. Stay out late, ride bicycles, and do other normal activities that get a little complicated to enjoy once you have two babes at your hip.

Paris was everything I had imagined. It stole my heart, just like I knew it would. I fell madly in love with the old, charming city. Being a photographer myself, I couldn’t imagine being in Paris and not taking the opportunity to to get our photos taken to save these memories forever. The shoot was not at all what we had anticipated. The weather changed dramatically before the shoot. I imagined warm, golden photos but in the end it turned out way more romantic than we could ever imagine.

I was really concerned with how we’d look on photos being totally soaked in the pouring rain. My hair literally looked like I just stepped out of the shower! But the photos turned out beautiful. The best part of the shoot (aside from the fact that our photographer was down for anything!) was that we had SO MUCH FUN! The rain seriously didn’t bother us one bit. My husband and I really enjoyed just being together, holding hands, kissing, and running around in the rain. I felt young and free. That was the best thing.

The photos turned out wonderful but the experience of running around in the rain with my love, after being married for seven years and having two kids, it was unforgettable. Life gets so busy sometimes and it’s so easy to get carried away with everyday tasks that we forget to enjoy those simple moments and to just let lose and be wild with the one you love.

Photography: Peter & Veronika | Jewelry: Nordstrom | Blazer: Banana Republic | Blue Dress: Lulu's | Pants: Nordstrom | White Top: Bristol And Bull

Parisian weddings are the end all, be all of romantic “I do’s” – and this stunning affair held at the breathtaking Shangri-La Paris?  Most definitely delivers on the WOW.  Think a talented team of vendors (hello, Et Voila Weddings, Madame Artisan Fleuriste, and French Grey Events), a beautiful gold and blush color palette and a candlelit ceremony that will make your hearts happy.  See every mesmerizing image captured by Catherine O’Hara right here in THE VAULT.

From Et Voila Weddings… Nicole and John came to us with an idea of planning a romantic, classic and elegant wedding in Paris. They had gotten engaged there a few weeks earlier and it was quite clear for them that Paris was where they wanted to say their “I Do’s.”

For this intimate destination wedding and these Paris lovers, it was clear to us that we needed to find a venue that was part of the city’s heritage, an historical Parisian venue. After looking at a few luxury hotels, museums and hotels, Nicole and John chose the Shangri La’s historical rooms to hold their special day. As they could not fly to Paris before the wedding, we sent them a lot of photos and they made their choice from pictures and trusting our knowledge of each venue.

Nicole had a clear idea of her colour palette from the start: she wanted natural tones, creams and whites. As the dinner table linen was going to be white, we agreed to add a bit of blush flowers to the arrangements to make them stand out a bit more. The florist did a great job on sourcing the perfect tones, especially the ranunculus which were perfect and encapsulating the whole colour palette on one flower.

At the Shangri La, ceremonies are usually held in one of their salons. Nicole was not very excited about the ceremony space available, and while on a logistical site visit we thought the rotunda (which is a large landing space) was a gorgeous space and definitely a great one for a ceremony, with its large stained glass, marbles and sculptures. It had never been done before and fortunately the venue agreed, as well as the couple. They had a truly unique, never done before wedding ceremony!

The couple was conscious that their party was quite small, and they had at heart to make sure that everyone would be entertained. During cocktails reception we arranged a photo booth with lovely Parisian props (huge success) and a caricaturist, like the ones you find in Montmartre. The guests loved it and all of them had their caricature made, to take home with them!

During dinner a band played some French oldies and some gipsy jazz music, which created the perfect chic, Parisian yet relaxed atmosphere the couple was after for their dinner reception.

At midnight, we planned a surprise group photo with sparklers at the exact time the Eiffel tower started to sparkle. It was magical!

Photography: Catherine O'Hara Photography | Event Planning: Et Voila Weddings | Floral Design: MADAME Artisan Fleuriste | Dress: Michal Medina | Cake: Shangri La | Stationery : Paper And Honey | Makeup: Charles Gillman | Hair: Ciara Coiffure | Grooms Suit: YSL Pour Homme Tuxedo | Celebrant: French Grey Events | String Quartet: Wedding Music in France | Venue: Shangri La | Grooms Bowtie: Tom Ford | Grooms Tuxedo Buttons and Cufflinks: David Donahue | Jazz Quartet: Octave & Anatole | Menu/Placecards/Programmes: Every Little Something | Photobooth: Sharingbox

Bring out the tissues because this beautiful Parisian wedding film by Zen Film Works captures this creative couple’s love story to absolute perfection. Afterwards, you’ll want to head to The Vault to see even more of the prettiness, from the bride’s chic gown to the stunning statement floral centerpieces!

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From The Bride…We met at my first real job out of college, and it was probably somewhere near the end of summer. It was in the morning, and I was in the break room alone, and he walked in. The rest is history. Since then we’ve lived in San Francisco, and then currently now in New York. Our first trip together was Paris where we completely fell in love with the city.

The foundational theme of our relationship is constant support of each other’s creative growth and seeking new experiences together. This has taken us around the word, several career pivots, and a deep bond.

When Jonathan and I first moved to New York, a few days in, I had a crazy incident when a psychic flagged me down in the middle of the street somewhere in the West Village, to tell me that I was meant to marry the man I love with the name starting with a “J”. That was my first and last time with a psychic.

Jonathan proposed on an impromptu trip to Florence, Italy. He proposed unexpectedly a few days into the trip before our dinner reservation while I was still getting ready.

Before we were about to head out to the restaurant, I asked him (as I always do), “is there anything you’d like for me to hold for you in my purse?”. He quickly responded with “actually, there is something I’d like for you to hold, but I’d like for you to hold it forever”, and then got down on one knee with a ring.

It was a magical evening, that’s almost a cliche scene for romantic date movies. We found an amazing trattoria that was the best meal of our trip. We drank fantastic wine and glowed the way newly engaged people do.

Then it started pouring rain. The city smelled clean and of wet stone. We ran through the streets without an umbrella, eventually taking refuge under an archway, which turned out to be the entrance to a small church. Moments later, the church doors opened and a congregation of elderly couples, shuffled out of a late service. There we were among 50 elderly Italians, with warm smiles and kind eyes, appreciating the peacefulness of the heavy rain. Their nods, seemed to say “stay with us for as long as you need, you are among friends.” There would be the occasional excited exclamation we couldn’t understand, but could relate to whenever the lightning and thunder struck.

Jonathan thinks these were all good omens. The rain symbolized new beginnings. The elderly couples showed us a future we could aspire to have. The church accepted our vows before they were made. The delicious meal filled our bodies with warmth. The night’s events filled our hearts with love.

Some people say the chaos of the day will make you forget everything. We soaked every moment up. Our vows were for each other, sincere, loving and as true as the sun is bright.

The pride of our parents witnessing our union and the life we’ve made with each other was a moment of self actualization.

The speeches from our friends and family brought tears of joy to us. There were a lot of tears of joy.

But most of all, sitting under our tree of love in the dining room after running around Paris to take photos we sat back and took in what was before us. We simply watched as our most beloved friends and family connected with each other, in a historic venue, building new bonds that ultimately reinforced ours. These people from around the world, of all walks have one thing in common – they love us.

Any advice for couples wanting to get married in Paris/France?
You are in Paris. You are in love. And those with you are there to celebrate your love. This is not a performance, so you can’t make a mistake. Just be present.

For the guys, know this: Everyone is watching the bride, but the bride only sees you.

For the girls, know this: things may not go as planned, but it’s your attitude that determines if they’re “going wrong” or “happening as they should”.

Society has made us forget how to be romantic and respect the gravity of marriage. Express your love to each other to the max, because there are few events in life that warrant such celebration.

Photography: Claire Morris | Cinematography: Zen Film Works | Wedding Dress: Pnina Tornai | Bride's Shoes: Paul Green | Makeup: Onorina Jomir Beauty | Groom's Attire: Suitsupply | Venue: Shangri La | Event Planning + Floral Design: Luxe Paris Events | Groom's Cufflinks: Montblanc | Groom's Watch: Rolex

If you need me, I’ll be spending the rest of the day (if not the entire week / month / year /decade) in this perfect little gallery. Because when you combine the incomparable talents of Bows and Arrows and Greg Finck Photography at the incredibly inspiring Joy Proctor Design workshop you know you’re in for a real treat. An inspiration that’s sure to ignite your wanderlust, you’re invited to peruse the pretty via The Vault!

From Joy Proctor Design…I was honored to host a workshop on intentional design and thoughtful styling workshop in Paris this spring alongside an incredible team of vendors, and a talented group of participants. As part of the workshop, I invited participants to look at my creative process as I shot an editorial alongside Greg Finck and Alica Rico of Bows and Arrows.

The editorial was inspired by the incredible historic room in which we shot. The room had recently been painted, and its former butter yellow hue inspired the palette of yellow, light blue and rose. Presenting the colors in an elegant way was something that was very important to me. I chose a beautiful velvet linen from La Tavola to set the color story in the room. Bows and Arrows created the most lovely floral arrangements that brought the yellow and rose into the room. The room has stunning painted frescos in each corner, which inspired the rose and burgundy in the editorial. We lined incredible yellow and light blue suite by Written Word Calligraphy with similar paintings to highlight the history and significance of the room. The Cake Opera created the most intricate, stunning cake inspired by the former color of the room.

To tell the story of a wealthy Nobleman’s daughter who fell in love with a farm hand, we were lucky enough to have the incredible Yolan Cris create stunning tops and gowns just for the editorial, which paired perfectly with the burgundy suite worn by the groom. Harold James created a soft, feminine look for the bride, upon which we add a stunning veil by Twigs and Honey and Claire Pettibone ring from Trumpet and Horn.

Photography: Greg Finck Photography | Event Design + Styling: Joy Proctor Design | Floral Design: Bows and Arrows | Wedding Dress: Yolan Cris | Cake: Cake Opera Co. | Stationery: Written Word Calligraphy | Ring: Trumpet & Horn | Hair + Makeup: Harold James | Venue: Maison Des Polytechniciens | Garter + Veil: Twigs & Honey | Linen Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Ring Box: The Mrs Box | Tabletop Rentals: Plate Occasions | Trinket Bag: Shop Signora | Vow Book: Velvet Raptor

Can we please discuss how incredibly CHIC this engagement session is? For starters, what’s better than running through the cobblestone streets of Paris with the one you love? I’ll tell you what, absolutely nothing – that’s what. And thanks to the talented Romance Weddings we’re proving just that with this The Vault!

From Romance Weddings…Slip off your sparkly shoes, pour yourself a glass of champagne, and imagine you’re strolling through the streets of Paris with your love!

Clara and Carlos are getting married in July of 2016 and I’m so excited that they’ve asked me to help them plan and style their dreamy engagement session in Paris. Clara wore an amazing ethereal gown by @dreamsbyisabella.

This selection of images are like a little peek their session. We wanted the overall look of the shoot to reflect the two of them as a couple and this is why specifically looked for a film photographer for the dreamy and timeless nature of this old- photography medium.

It is always a pleasure when we (Mar and Joseba) can shoot in dreamy destination as Paris certainly is!

Photography: Romance Weddings by Joseba Sandoval Photography | Dress: DreamsbyIsabella | Creative Direction + Styling: Romance Weddings by Joseba Sandoval Photography

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Tips to Look Your Best at Your Engagement Session

Rain on the day of your Paris engagement session is not ideal. But, as Audrey (the fabulous talent behind Le Secret d’Audrey) said: “It is Paris — even plan B is beautiful.” And it was. From the beautiful and intimate apartment photos to the rainy adventures in the streets of Paris, this engagement session is making us say “Je t’aime.” See every reason why in The Vault!

From Le Secret d’Audrey…Often I get asked ” what do we do if it rains?” Well of course ideally we reschedule but sometimes my couples are traveling to Paris for a few days and don’t have many options. Tan and her fiance came in Paris for two things only: having engagement photos by me and running the Paris marathon. So we had only a tiny window to schedule the shoot. We had to go with our plan on the rainiest day of this Spring. But because it is Paris even plan B is beautiful: we spent some extra time in their Paris apartment for some indoors photos. Then not to get the wedding dress in the rain Tan changed into a cute short dress at the last minute and we hit my favorite locations in Paris. Some arcades, an umbrella and we were good to go!

From the Bride to be…Both of us work in the same organization and we were introduced over a casual lunch on one of those usual workdays almost 7 years ago. Never did we thought that this brief lunch would blossom into a lifelong relationship.

One of the things that we like to do together is running. Since both of us have never been to Paris, we decided to sign up to run the Paris Marathon and to cover some unbeaten tracks around France.

The marathon was signed up a year in advance and between that time to the marathon, he proposed. I started to research about weddings in Paris and that is when I stumbled upon Audrey. I know immediately that this is the style that I want to be photographed in.

The search for the perfect dress for the photoshoot was a stressful one as I only started looking for one slightly less than 3 months before. From the start, I knew that I wanted a dress that has a non-conventional neckline that is elegant yet has a sexy aura to it. There are limited options in my city and I was almost going to resort to customizing my own, until I tried on this dress from Snow by Annasul Y. The dress was so unthinkably gorgeous when put on and I completely fell in love with the lace bodice and the sheer skirt where my legs are faintly visible especially in the reflection of light.

The weather on the day of our photo shoot was a depressing one as it was gloomy and drizzled pretty much the entire day. My idea to have Audrey to capture us in the evening light, just like those beautiful photos from her portfolio, was pretty much ruined, or at least I thought. Audrey was upbeat throughout however and reassured me that the photos would turn out fine, only with shiny floor.

I chose to wear the Annasul Y dress for the indoor session and a Lavish Alice short dress that I got from ASOS for the session at Louvre Museum and Eiffel Tower. Wearing the Lavish Alice dress was unplanned for, if not for the weather, however the dress stood out perfectly in the photos.

Audrey was exactly right, the photos are amazingly beautiful that I immediately fell in love with the moment I received them. I have to say that the dream team I had on that day, both Audrey and James, was the best ever.

Photography: Le Secret d'Audrey | Hair + Makeup: James Harold | Film Processing: Carmencita Film Lab | Location: Paris France | Long Dress: Annasul Y | Short Dress: Lavish Alice