Europe Weddings

No one captures love quite like Clary Pfeiffer, so when she shared this darling engagement we had no choice but to welcome it straight into THE VAULT. It’s sweet and simple with a couple that’s chic as all get out, so believe us when we say this gallery is the place to spend your Sunday afternoon.

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From Clary Pfeiffer Photography…This sweet couple wanted to enjoy their love of European Gardens and their favorite place to travel to, Paris! There is so much beauty in this session but my favorite images are the intimate moments between Elinor and Alvin.

There is a part of Paris beyond the sweet streets lined with cafes, the sparkling Eiffel Tower, and grey apartments with iron balconies. Just outside downtown is scenic drive to a garden created by André Le Nôtre. He designed and oversaw the construction of the garden at Versailles. In Parc De Sceaux the spansive lawns and architectural gardens are peaceful with no crowds. The pea gravel walkways lead you through orange groves, English gardens filled with roses, to a view that spans forever.

Photography: Clary Pfeiffer Photography | Shoes: Valentino | Location: Parc De Sceaux

This is my kinda couple. For after booking a local venue in the states, they called it off and opted for one of the most romantic cities in the world… Paris! With their nearest and dearest in attendance they wed in an intimate garden ceremony at the Musee Rodin. Surrounded by some of the best vendors out there (Le Secret D’Audrey and Loli Events), in the most magical venues of all, you can see it all in THE VAULT!

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From The Bride…The morning after Garret proposed to me in Mendocino, we both started talking about our wedding. We have always loved visiting wine country, so naturally a wedding there seemed like the perfect fit. The beauty of the wine country, coupled with our focus on food and wine, was something we both loved about the region and wanted to experience at our wedding.

Living in the Bay Area, we weren’t pressured to come up with an “excuse” for going to wine country to visit possible wedding venues…and taste some wine. We found a venue that we both felt was perfect, so we immediately jumped into everything that comes next in planning a wedding: choosing a caterer, selecting a DJ, contemplating design ideas and creating those special touches that would separate our wedding from everyone else’s. After signing contracts with our vendors, we reached out to our friends to get feedback on what they liked and disliked about their weddings. Unanimously, they said their weddings were a blur: They had spent so much of their time trying to say “Hi” to everyone, meeting family members and taking pictures. Many of them
said they didn’t even get a chance to sample the food they had spent thousands of dollars on! Garret and I suddenly realized that the wedding we were planning was more about satisfying our guests than about celebrating our union. We were casting aside the one opportunity to have a moment that was truly ours.

One night while Garret was cooking dinner, I suddenly said to him,” Why don’t we just forget about all this wedding planning and get married in Paris?” I had been skimming through pictures on SMP and had come across a number of stunning photographs by Audrey on the site. At first, Garret thought my idea was a joke. But after playing out the “joke” over wine (yes, wine we bought during that weekend we went up to Sonoma to look at wedding venues), we realized that a romantic site like Paris was exactly what we wanted. Within a week, we cancelled all our vendors, got our refunds and were planning, full force, our wedding in Paris. There were only a few catches: I had not been to Paris since she I was a teenager; Garret had never been to Europe, and neither of us spoke French.

Funny enough, the first thing we agreed upon was that we wanted Audrey to photograph our wedding. Realizing next that we needed a wedding planner, we stumbled upon Loli Events, for which Coralie was introduced to us. She turned out to be the godsend that made the wedding in Paris happen. Patiently, she worked with us as we weighed one venue against other options, trying to find the perfect setting for our wedding ceremony without ever having the chance to see the venue before we would fly across the Atlantic to it. After trolling the Internet for ideas and constantly asking Coralie to send us photos of possible venues — and changing our minds daily about what we wanted the ceremony to be like — we found Musée Rodin, and everything started to fall into place.

Our wedding day was surreal. Whatever preconceived notion we had out about what constituted a perfect wedding was surpassed by our actual wedding. The venue was so much more breathtaking than we had imagined from the photos of Musée Rodin. Our wedding dinner at Le Meurice was the most impressive meal Garret and I had ever shared. Coralie and Lauren were the perfect wedding-planning team; they anticipated our every need and kept everything moving seamlessly. I can easily say that the day proceeded without a single mistake, or mishap, that I so often had heard about other people’s weddings. It would not have happened this way had it not been for the incredible team that was supporting us: Coralie, Lauren, Audrey, and Thomas.

To any couple thinking of having a destination wedding in Paris, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it. Being there with our family and closest friends to experience a day you only have once in a lifetime is something that can never be replaced; we are so thankful to have such amazing photos and video of the event to remember it always.

From Loli Events…Janina and Garret knew exactly what they did not want for their wedding. After looking at venues in San Francisco, they decided to call it a day and chose one of the most romantic cities in the world… Paris! With their families and closest friend they have chosen to live their special day like all should: surrounding by some of the best vendors out there, in the most magical venues of all!

Janina got ready in the exciting Saint Germain des Pres, in a beautiful and cozy apartment. We planned the first look on the Bir Hakeim Bridge, perfectly captured by Audrey and MyLoveberry team.

The symbolic ceremony, officiated by Kasia from French Grey Events, was timeless and magical. It was one of our life goals to organize a ceremony in the Rodin Museum gardens. The couple had privatized the museum for an intimate moment full of love and authenticity. They really wanted an outdoor ceremony with an amazing background. The Hotel Biron, which was just renovated, was stunning behind the guests.

The dream continued at Le Meurice, in the incredible Pompadour salon. The whole experience offered by the palace was remarkable: great service, beautiful décor and a tasteful dinner!

The night ended with some great cocktails at the Prescription club and fun dancing!!

We loved working with Janina & Garret from the beginning to the end and wish them a lifetime of happiness!

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See even more Paris weddings THE VAULT! 

Photography: Le Secret d'Audrey | Cinematography: My Loveberry | Event Planning: Loli Events | Floral Design: Estelle Preston | Ceremony Venue: Musee Rodin | Reception Venue: Hotel Bel-Air | Hair And Makeup: Allison Depriestre | Officiant: French Grey Events | Ceremony Music: Ivana

Found: An intimate elopement so pretty it’ll make even the most modern Bride beg for history to repeat itself. Because when you marry the monuments of Paris with an elopement inspired by the 1920’s, well you’ve got yourself a gallery deemed for greatness. It’s the type of day made possible thanks to the event stylings of Luxe Paris Events and the lens of Claire Morris Photography. See history unfold in THE VAULT!

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From The Bride…I’ve always been intrigued by the fashion, the architecture and romantic nature of the City of Lights. Paris is everything a girl dreams of… the sparkle of the tower, the bubbles of fine champagne, and the elegance of Parisian style. This is why I chose Paris as my wedding destination.

I was so nervous at first when choosing paris and organizing it on my own. When I found Claire Morris, my photographer everything came together. I was perusing her blog when I came across a stunning black dress by Paolo Corona, Immediately I knew I had to have it! Paris is about simple refined elegance, and the dress captured that. After contacting the designer I found that my team was shaping up, I met Billy Folchetti, Paolo’s partner, a talented wedding planner, officiant and floral design expert. Billy helped me to wrap up loose ends, design and put together the bouquet as well as write and conduct the ceremony. I chose Harold James after seeing his fantastic portfolio of Paris Fashion week shoots, and some private client galleries. Harold was absolutely excellent and creative when putting together my look. Not only was his talent clear, but he was willing and able to come in early and do really professional job. I chose Cedric’s Paris because of their Presidential black 1952 Citroën Traction, I was pleasantly surprised to find out with every tour, he donates money to firefighter orphans in the paris area, as the gentleman himself is also a firefighter. Lastly, we loved the Hotel Raphael; it was spacious, beautiful and classic Paris!

This was the ultimate dream team, they all knew each other, they worked well together and at the end of the day each were a master of their craft. Not to mention what a delight everyone was to work with, it was like working with friends! I could not have asked for a better location or a better day.

Paris is always a good idea!

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See even more Paris weddings in THE VAULT! 

Photography: Claire Morris | Event Styling: Luxe Paris Events | Floral Design: Luxe Paris Events | Wedding Dress: Paolo Corona Paris | Hair And Makeup: Harold James | Celebrant: Luxe Paris Events | Transportation: Cedrics Paris | Venue: Hotel Raphael

Thank you Kurt Boomer, I now have a goal for my one year anniversary. What could be more special and romantic than a shoot in the city of love itself? And when the couple we’re crushing on happens to be photographers themselves, the results are even better than ever imagined. Fall in love with them and every single image in our VAULT right this way – oh, and good luck being productive the rest of today.

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From the Bride… The beautiful Parisian streets with its ivory architecture, accented with its neatly groomed greens, seemed like the perfect place to celebrate our 1 year anniversary. Kyle and I have spent our first year with a mixture of work, school, photography, and adventure but most importantly growing our love for one another. As we spent the summer traveling across various parts of Europe and Africa, it seemed fit to end our travels with a city centered on romance and love. Kyle and I have a passion for film photography and were fortunate enough to have one of our favorite film photographers guide us through Paris. It was as if he was documenting our love story as we walked through the Jardin des Tuileries, and stood beneath the Eiffel Tower. These pictures are some of our favorites we have ever taken and will always hold such a sweet spot in our hearts as we look back on our first year of marriage.

From Kurt Boomer… The Louvre was one of those locations that I had been dreaming of shooting at for years. When I got in contact with Michelle and Kyle White (two amazing photographers themselves) and found out they would be in the area, I was beyond excited. We planned a day to stroll through the beautiful gardens, letting the beautiful light filter through the French architecture. At the end of the day, we headed to the Eiffel Tower for some shots with the iconic structure. Truly one of my favorite anniversary shoots.

Peruse more romantic anniversary sessions here!

Photography: Kurt Boomer | Venue: The Louvre

Call me biased, but my sister is awesome.  She’s kind, determined and adventurous, and when she traded in her stateside wedding plans for an intimate Parisian “I do” with only my parents on hand, I was thrilled. Think romantic details from Mon Plus Beau Jour meets a perfect ceremony by French Grey Events meets awe-inspiring images from Le Secret D’Audrey. Oh, and a surprise appearance by two sisters (!!!), all orchestrated by the world’s best brother-in-law/hubby. Head to THE VAULT to see why you absolutely can’t elope in this family. (Hint: We’re all coming.)

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From the Bride… Our story… Where do I begin? Our meet cute wasn’t exactly adorable… the type of destined‐to‐fall‐in‐love‐and‐be‐together‐forever sort of scenario that happens at the beginning of a romantic comedy. In fact, our meeting was rather typical.

Scene 1: An empty local Las Vegas bar on a Tuesday night. Four people enjoying happy hour: myself, a friend from work, Mark, and his friend from work. Not exactly fate, being that his options for conversation with other woman were completely non-existent. Regardless, the evening ended with me losing a trivial bet, for which my phone number was the gambling chip.

Scene 2: I decided Mark would be my forever after only three weeks of dating, when I was offered a new job on the east coast and turned it down to stay in Vegas with him. Everyone thought I was crazy, but it never occurred to me that I was; I just knew somehow that he was my person.

Over the next four years, he filled my life with unwavering support, love and the type of unabashed romance I thought only existed in movies. Case in point? The night Mark proposed. We were vacationing in Ravello, Italy and Mark set up a private candlelit dinner in the flower garden of the Belmond Hotel Caruso. As the last bit of sunlight disappeared from the sky, Mark dropped to one knee and asked me to marry him as a coordinated fireworks display shot off. #Ithinkmylifesafairytale

Fast forward two years to our wedding day.

Scene 3: Mark and I settled on the idea of a destination elopement… or almost an elopement, because I insisted on having my parents there. He pretty much left the details up to me, and I pretty much left the details up to the wedding planner. I knew I wanted the day to feel glamorous and the evening to be filled with romantic light, but had little guidance to give beyond that. Marie Emilie of Mon Plus Beau Jour knocked it out of the park, from the elegant garden ceremony, to the candlelit dinner served under the glow of the Eiffel Tower. Every detail was exquisite, and the ambiance and emotion of each moment was captured perfectly thanks to the insanely talented Audrey of Le Secret D’Audrey.

What made the day truly special, however, was Mark’s wedding gift to me: coordinating the surprise visit/attendance of my sisters! The day would not have been the same without them, and I feel so fortunate to have had this very intimate, happily‐ever‐after occasion, filled with so much love.

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See more Parisian weddings in THE VAULT!

Photography: Le Secret d'Audrey | Photography: Polly Alexandre Photography | Photography: Clary Pfeiffer Photography | Photography: Caroline Yoon Fine Art Photography | Event Planning & Design: MON PLUS BEAU JOUR | Floral Design: MON PLUS BEAU JOUR | Wedding Dress: Allure Bridal | Cake: Sugar Plum Cake Shop | Ceremony Venue: Jardins Du Palais Royal | Reception Venue: Shangri La | Bride's Shoes: Ivanka Trump | Hair And Makeup: Sebastien Poirier | Groom's Attire: Z by Zegna | Officiant: French Grey Events | Accommodations: Shangri La | Father Of The Bride Attire: Ralph Lauren | Groom's Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo | Menus & Signage: Pink Toast Ink | Mother Of The Bride Dress: Aidan Mattox | Sister Of The Bride Dress: Jenny Yoo | Sister Of The Bride Dress: Alejandra Sky | Veil: Allure Bridal

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I’m a “Paris is always a good idea” kind of girl, but after poring through this Peaches And Mint wedding I left more convinced than ever. Especially when Paris is the backdrop for a celebration that’s as dreamy as they come. Villa Bret set the scene with a ballroom decked in ivory florals and every last inch of pretty is sitting inside THE VAULT.

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From Peaches And Mint… Canadians Ben and Stephanie share a love for globe-trotting, so when it came to selecting a location to celebrate their special day, saying “I Do” in the City of Lights was perfect to share with their close friends and family. Having worked at the same company for some time, it wasn’t until years later that they eventually met and fell in love. Together they traveled the world, including a previous visit to Paris where their love for cozy cafes, the smell of fresh bread and pastries, and extravagant outdoor gardens would eventually lead them back to celebrate their nuptials.

The wedding ceremony and reception took place at the Shangri-La Paris Hotel on a perfect summer day. The venue was chosen for its Parisian history, as former home of Napoleon Bonaparte’s grandnephew, Prince Roland Bonaparte. The Grand Salon ballroom was extravagant, featuring original chandeliers, a marble fireplace, and rich tones of gold and cream. Candles of different sizes and grandeur arrangements of white roses and hydrangeas provided the perfect scene for a wedding fit for royalty.

Led by the cutest flower girl dressed in white, Stephanie walked down the aisle in her stunning Monique Lhuillier dress. Following the ceremony, champagne and canapés were served as guests mingled on a charming outdoor terrace, overlooking the Eiffel Tower.

During the dinner reception, Ben and Stephanie wanted to incorporate intricate and personalized details into the evening by showcasing beautiful Joyce Chua Design artwork and hand-written touches. To the bride and groom’s pleasant surprise, the evening featured a choreographed dance by a group of the couples’ closest friends – that brought laughter, joy and memories that would surely last a lifetime.

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More Romantic Parisian Wedding Inspiration

Intimate Parisian Wedding | Haute Couture Parisian Inspiration

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Photography: Peaches And Mint | Event Planning: Villa Bret | Floral Design: Villa Bret | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Bride's Shoes: Fendi | Jewelry: Nocturne | Hair And Makeup: Samuel Rocher | Groom's Attire: Paul Smith | Groomsmen Attire: Hold Renfrew | Venue: Shangri La | Film Processing: Carmencita Film Lab | Photo Booth: Mister Like That | Short Dress: BCBGMAXAZRIA

I love love. I’m a hopeless romantic, big gesture, heart-over-head kind of girl, which is probably why I love this romantic Parisian elopement so much. After a long distance relationship, a fantasy trip to Paris and the Groom’s near-fatal car accident, this gorgeous duo returned to the City of Love to celebrate the most important thing of all: love. Fall for it all thanks to Coco Tran‘s stunning photography here.

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From Coco Tran… Nancy & Kevin met over 10 years ago in Mexico, where Kevin was stationed as a Navy sailor. After two short first dates, Kevin and Nancy embarked on a long distance relationship for the next 3 years. Finally reuniting after Kevin’s deployment in Iraq, they went on a trip to Paris, Nancy’s ultimate dream location. Shortly after their Paris trip, a tragic yet life changing event happened. Kevin was in a near fatal car crash that he luckily survived after major hip reconstructive surgery. Nancy gracefully and gently nurtured Kevin back to health during his long recovery. Fast forward two years, Kevin knew Nancy was the one he wanted to call his love forever. He proposed and they decided to elope in the city of Love.

Photography: Coco Tran | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier

Paris is my happy place. – so much so that I would easily consider a repeat wedding like, tomorrow. And if said repeat were to look anything like this pretty from Le Secret D’Audrey that would just be the icing on the cake. It’s pink, it’s romantic, and of course it’s perfectly Parisian with beautiful Studio French Blue hand written touches. Evoking the essence of romance you can see it all in The Vault!

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From Le Secret D’Audrey… Paris is a romantic city to most. But for me it is also my hometown, where I live and have so many great memories. A s a photographer I am always inspired to shoot here. Many couples choose France and Paris to get married and elope.

In this stunning video by the talented Ale of Imaginale I wanted to share the magic time you can have in Paris, getting married in the most intimate way. A minimalist Parisian apartment, some fresh cut flowers, a flowy gown and you are ready to say I Do in the City of Love. Couples who elope want to keep it simple and you can still have a fabulous decor and feel with a few tricks. Big loose Dahlias flowers will look great in your decor, add some candles and you will get a great atmosphere to your getting ready room.

Simple stationery with beautiful calligraphy can be a great way to tell your story. You won’t be sending invitations of course but sending the announcement you eloped is a great touch.

I love when couples get a small wedding cake. No need for guests to enjoy a yummy cake! And lastly the great thing about eloping is that you are having an intimate getting ready, perfect to add some Boudoir photos to your day. A cute lingerie ensemble, lace and a cute robe is all you need.

Photography: Le Secret d'Audrey | Cinematography: Alejandra and Jose Vidal | Floral Design: Estelle Preston | Wedding Dress: Fanny Liautard | Cake: Synies | Hair And Makeup: James Harold | Groom's Attire: Chris Von Martial | Venue: Paris | Eyelashes: Cils De Marie | Film Lab: Carmencita Film Lab | Manicure: Pierre Arnaud | Stationery Calligraphy: Studio French Blue calligraphy + design | Veil And Lace Dress: Mignonne Handmade

The phrase is technically “I left my heart in San Francisco,” but, I left my heart in Paris. Thankfully, this couple’s portrait session in Paris from French Grey Photography is bringing me right back. And the city’s inherent glamour and beauty is even more magical with this Bride and Groom—from the Bride’s pastel bouquet and feather wedding dress to the Groom’s classic bowtie and dashing suit. See it all here.

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The bride and groom looked so majestic in their formal attire as we made our way through the quiet streets of Paris. As the city slept, during the early morning hours of those first spring days, we dashed around the city to capture the images which you see, with a privacy that only comes in the early morning quiet hours of city life.

Customizing her wedding gown with delicate white feathers, and accessorizing her beautiful golden locks with just the right touch of red lipstick, paisley looked like a movie star straight from Hollywood! The brides bouquet of soft pastel colored Peonies, Freesia, Ranunculus and white Roses were provided by French Grey Events.

We danced our way around Paris in all the must-be-seen at iconic Parisian locations, as well as some hidden corners that I have discovered in my many years of working primarily in Paris as a professional portrait and wedding photographer.

A fantastic morning spent with a fantastic couple in the beautiful city of glamour and romance.

Photography: French Grey Photography | Event Coordination: French Grey Events | Wedding Dress: Jovani | Brides Shoes: Steve Madden | Groom's Attire: H.M. Cole | Groom's Ring : David Yurman

In college, I spent a semester abroad in Paris, and — like pretty much any American who’s ever lived in France can tell you — it was the most beautiful six months of my life. This stunning springtime e-sesh from Les Productions De La Fabrik captures not only the incandescent magic of the City of Light, but the infectious love of two of the chicest lovebirds I’ve ever seen. See all the Parisian pretty right here!

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Photography: Les Productions de La Fabrik | Venue: Square Du Vert Galant

Bride’s, I’m about to introduce you to your new best friend. Because not only is Chloe from Boxwood Avenue sweeter than Southern tea, but she’s our newest Blogger Bride-to-be! She’ll be sharing her journey down the aisle with us, and what better way to get things started than with her love story and pretty engagement pictures with Ian Holmes from Paris below!

From the beautiful Bride-to-be…Hi SMP readers, let me introduce myself! I am Chloe Legras (soon to be MacKintosh!) from Boxwood Avenue; a rural lifestyle blog that all girls can draw inspiration from. Style Me Pretty was one of the only blogs I read before becoming a blogger, so to say I’m honored to be here, is an understatement! I can’t wait to share my wedding planning experiences with you! Being rurally located, it was hard for me to know where to start in the planning process, but luckily, we’ve got SMP, so with the help of their Little Black Book, and of course, the Lookbook, I’ve been able to plan my upcoming Lake Tahoe wedding from afar!

Greg and I met right when I graduated from high school, and for a few years, we attended college together. While I spent most of my nights studying, he couldn’t have been less interested in school. So halfway through our college years, he decided to move two hours north of our hometown, to his family’s cattle ranch, and adopt the glamorous title of ‘Cowboy’. I opted to finish my degree, so during those years, he commuted as much as he could, and we lived in a somewhat long-distance relationship. Immediately after I graduated, I moved north to be with him, and it’s been a complete adventure (thank goodness for online shopping!).

The ranch is a working cattle operation situated on 167,000 acres of land in northern California. What’s a girl to do when she is living in the middle of nowhere? Start a blog, of course! I started Boxwood Avenue to share my story of rural living in the modern world. I love to cook and garden, but most of all – I love to DIY! When Greg and I got engaged, I knew from that very moment, I was going to be living in a DIY dreamland for the next year as we planned our wedding.

Speaking of our engagement, let me tell you the story! A week before we left for a vacation in Paris, my girlfriends invited Greg and I to an ‘end-of-the-summer’ dinner party in Lake Tahoe. As we drove up to the lake, for what I thought was a dinner party, Greg was acting very weird. He was upset because we were running late, and I couldn’t for the life of me understand why he was so shaken up by it! We pulled up to the restaurant right at sunset, and he hurriedly took my hand, and said, “I have something to show you.”

He was shaking, but I still had no clue what he was up to. As we walked towards the water, I realized what was happening. The beach was lined with candles in paper bags and fresh flowers (thanks to my bestie for helping him!). He got down on one knee, and asked me those magical words, “Will you marry me?”

After I said YES! I looked up to see all of our closest friends and family cheering for us from afar. Which turned our engagement into our engagement party, where we celebrated our love with great food and great friends. It was a magical night to say the least – followed by two beautiful weeks in Paris, where we had the opportunity to have our engagement photos taken by the talented Ian Holmes.

I look forward to sharing some of the ideas, and of course DIY projects, that I will be using in my own wedding, as well as tips for brides planning an out-of-town wedding. I’ve had so much fun being engaged, and hope to translate some of that joy to all of you brides out there!

Photography: Ian Holmes Photography | Venue: Paris France

When it comes to our Blogger Brides you better bet they’ve got style, grace, and of course good taste. So when Jean of Extra Petite sent over her recent e-sesh from Paris – with none other than Le Secret D’Audrey behind the lens – well let’s just say I just about DIED over every detail. It’s pretty, it’s pink, it’s Parisian (with a petite flair), and we’ve got it all waiting for you in the gallery!

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From Le Secret D’Audrey… Jean is a “Boston gal standing just under 5 feet tall”. This blog started as a means for her to share her experiences while building a wardrobe of pieces that actually fit and flattered her figure. She is followed by many for her great taste and fun tips.

From The Bride To Be…Hello beautiful brides! For my third post on here, I wanted to share our engagement photos from Paris taken by the talented Le Secret D’Audrey. For brides who have more than one dress planned for wedding activities (ie. rehearsal dinner, reception, bridal shower), an engagement session could be a great opportunity to give one of the other dresses some extra attention and not have to buy something new. I wore this shorter white dress later for my shower, and this blush pink gown was handmade by one of my best friends for our Chinese wedding tea ceremony. Our wedding photographer shoots with a digital camera, so for engagement photos we wanted to experiment with a film photographer for the lighter, more airy feel of that medium. Romantic Paris turned out to be the perfect setting!

Photography: Le Secret d'Audrey | Gown: Khatu | Venue: Paris | Film Lab: Carmencita Film Lab | Jean : Extra Petite | White Lace Dress: ASOS

I have a love affair with Paris, and this anniversary session from Sophie Epton Photography, Madame Artisan Fleuriste and Lazzaro Makeup Artistry is precisely why. The stunning photos below capture the beauty and charm that make Paris my favorite city in the world. And this sweet couple? Well, they’re pretty gorgeous, too. Get your passport ready and experience the romance of the City of Lights here.

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We had the best time photographing all over this magnificent city, following our couple to some of their favorite areas including Le Marais and the spectacular Palais Royal, and shooting small snippets of their life together to commemorate such an exciting time. Samantha with Wondrous Whimsy provided incredible calligraphy to represent love letter passages and quotes that had been written back and forth over the years by the duo; she also teamed up with Lacy from Paper Birch Designs to create an engraved olive wood board that was used during their picnic in Place Des Vosges, as well as the laser-cut “Tu Me Manques” wood sign (which translates to “you are missing from me” in French) that really represented the long-distance period of their relationship. We even procured a French Blue Mrs. Box to house a ring that had been bought years ago in Mexico as a symbol of their long-lasting love and promise to one another.

The entire shoot was elevated so much by the incredibly talented vendors in Paris that we spent months planning with across the world. Madame Artisan Fleuriste created whimsical florals in dreamy shades of peaches and pinks that added so much beauty and drama to every scene. Jacqueline with Babylone (a local jewelry shop in the heart of Le Marais) contributed the most exquisite handmade jewelry that paired perfectly with each outfit and metallic BHLDN gowns. Additionally, Toni with Lazzaro Makeup Artistry provided brilliant hair and makeup, even traveling with us all over the city for touchups. We ended the day at the quintessential Eiffel Tower, and as we were all packing up, the iron skyscraper lit up with an explosion of golden shimmer…the perfect end to such a magical day! We hope this story and shoot inspires more couples to document their life beyond their wedding day, and truly celebrate the living, breathing, authentic love that exists within any everlasting union.

Photography: Sophie Epton Photography | Event Styling: Sophie Epton Photography | Floral Design: MADAME Artisan Fleuriste | Dress: BHLDN | Jewelry: Babylone Paris | Hair + Makeup: Lazzaro Makeup Artistry | Venue: Paris | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab | Laser Cut Wood Sign + Engraved Cutting Board: Paper Birch Designs | Linen Napkins: Burkelman | Love Letters + Calligraphy: Wondrous Whimsy | Market Bag: Apolis | Ring Box: The Mrs Box | Silk Ribbon: Frou Frou Chic

Big weddings aren’t for everyone—thank goodness, because if they were, we wouldn’t have this beautiful couple’s romantic Parisian elopement. And despite this small size, this wedding has everything it needs: love, family (the couple’s daughter and flowergirl insisted on flowers in her favorite shade of pink) and stunning photos from Le Secret d’Audrey. See them all here.

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From The Bride…Late one night, somewhere between trying to minimize our ever growing guest list, seating arrangements and choosing the perfect colour scheme, I had a light bulb moment! Why don’t we elope? He loved the idea, I loved the idea and both of our families were extremely supportive and knew that this would be perfect for us. Together with our 2 beautiful children, we wanted to make this special occasion an intimate and heartfelt one, dedicating our lives to one another without any added pressures. Walking down the aisle with the 2 most important human beings in our lives, I cannot begin to explain how special this moment was.

I wouldn’t quite say that I am a perfectionist, but I certainly do dedicate a lot of energy into the finer details. I wanted our wedding to be timeless and elegant with a hint of personality on the side. I had a lot of fun collecting fresh flowers from a local flower shop and styling the mantle in our apartment with my wedding details. My daughter loves the colour pink and her only request was that we had pink flowers, so I couldn’t resist a few pink peonies!

Why Paris? Why not?! It is the City of Love after all. With its intricate beauty and romantic backdrop, I couldn’t think of a more perfect location to say “I do.” Planning an elopement in Paris is easy, especially if you have the gorgeous and vibrant Yanique from Elope in Paris on your team! She took care of every fine detail, from locations to makeup and everything in between, she was an absolute pleasure to work with!

For Chris and I, finding the perfect photographer to capture our special day was imperative. As our family and friends weren’t there with us on this joyous occasion we wanted to be able to relive the day with them through still lives. When I came across the most stunning images I had ever seen on an Instagram page (@audreyparisphoto) I knew that we had found the one!

With Audrey’s eye for detail and knowledge of Paris, she captured our day exactly how we had imagined! Now I have the most amazing photographs of my very own fairytale wedding.

Photography: Le Secret d'Audrey | Event Planning: Elope In Paris | Floral Design: Les Herbes De Paris | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Cake: Super Mom In The Kitchen | Hair And Makeup : Modern Beauties | Children's Outfits: Tartine Et Chocolat | Earrings : Cerrone | Film Processing: Carmencita Film Lab

There’s something about Paris that the second I see a photo of the City of Lights, I immediately start dreaming of ways to move back. And these photos from Le Secret d’Audrey have me tempted to grab my passport and pack my bags. From the Bride’s stunning Sherri Hill gown, to the intimate ceremony and reception planned to perfection by Rendez-Vous in Paris and the portrait session around the city, this soirée has me dreaming of la belle vie. See all the beauty here in the gallery.

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From the Bride… While living in Dallas, I befriended my neighbor Cameron, we would often run together in the park across the street from our building. After a run one Friday, we went to hang out by the pool (spoiler alert: I don’t end up dating Cameron!).

While at the pool, I went on a rant, complaining about the overall lack of decent men in Dallas. Cameron tells me he has the perfect guy for me, then gets Brad on the phone. Cameron and Brad had recently worked together. The conversation went something like this:

Cameron: “Hey man, remember that girl you saw on my Facebook and thought was hot?”

Brad: “I think so…”

Cameron: “Hold on, here she is.”

This lead to our immediate, first, and very awkward conversation on the phone! We both laughed it off and decided we would all have to get together some time. Cameron later brokered the exchange of our contact information but Brad never called!

So, I did what any self-respecting girl would do. I found him on Facebook, changed my profile picture to one of me in a bikini and sent him a “friend request.”

Some time went by without an acceptance from Brad. Then, he accepted me and called instantly. He later admitted to finally seeing the request, scrolling through all of my pictures and immediately calling me once he saw what I looked like! What a catch!

Shortly after, we went on our first date and we’ve pretty much been inseparable ever since!

The proposal occurred during the Christmas and Candle Light Tour at the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, NC. We got in the photo line to have our pictures taken in front of a massive and beautiful Christmas tree. After the first picture was taken, Brad asked the photographer if she would take one more. Then, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was prefect!!!

Our wedding was slightly unconventional to say the least. Our wedding reception was held at Tour Eiffel 58 (restaurant on the second level of the Eiffel Tour.) I mention the reception first because it was the night before the wedding. Guest dined on four courses of French cuisine while enjoying a breathtaking view of Paris at night. The wedding was the next day at the Chapel Expiatoire.

The ceremony opened with the mothers being seated, while a violinist and pianist played Make You Feel My Love. I walked down the aisle to Cannon in D and the musicians played So This is Love (from the Cinderella Waltz) during our first kiss as husband and wife. Before the first kiss, the Officiate asked the mothers to come up and stand next to us. Then he read, “before the couple has their first kiss as husband an wife, it is only fitting that their last kiss as singles, come from the women who gave them there very first kiss.” This moment was a surprise for the mothers and they both lost their composure. It was beautiful!

I would have to say the most unique moment in the wedding was the scripture reading. Brad told me he would take care of selecting a scripture for his sister to read during the ceremony. I was very concerned nonetheless I relinquished the task. During the ceremony his sister read a scripture followed by a reading of a card that I’d sent Brad a couple years back. She said, Brad told her that he saved the card because after reading it he knew I was the woman he wanted to marry. After the wedding we flew to Barcelona, Spain where we honeymooned for five days!!

Before the wedding my girlfriends asked what do I think Brad will do when he sees me walking down the aisle. Knowing that Brad is non-demonstrative and that I’ve only seen him cry twice I’d rely, “I’m not sure what he will do but I’m positive he won’t cry!” Well I was wrong; I got to the top of the stairs at the Chapel and saw my best friend and now husband, waiting for me with tears in his eyes. Hands down, the absolute BEST thing about my wedding day!!

Photography: Le Secret d'Audrey | Event Planning: Rendez-vous in Paris | Wedding Dress : Sherri Hill | Cake: Dalloyau | Ceremony Venue: Chapelle Expiatoire | Reception Venue: Tour Eiffel 58 | Rings: Israel Diamonds

This stunning Parisian inspiration photo shoot from Le Secret d’Audrey and Vanessa & Caroline all started with a Krikor Jabotian dress, and oh my goodness, is it a dress. I’m not usually a beaded gown type of girl, but the Lebanese designer’s dreamy blush masterpiece stole my heart, and now, there’s no going back. I’m OK with that though because I want to live in this Parisian fête, especially with the romantic florals and gilded French ballroom. Fall in love here.

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From Vanessa & Caroline – Créatrices de Mariages … We fell in love with Lebanese designer Krikor Jabotian and we wanted to shoot one of his amazing dress. We both agreed on this particular model ‘The Feyrouze’ as is it so unique and luminous. From there we built this styled shoot around gold and blush colors with an elegant yet simple and chic style.

Maison Champs-Elysées was a perfect fit with its golden decorations and elegant Paris feel, it matched our shoot ideally and is an amazing venue for a typical Paris reception in the heart of Paris, near the Champs-Elysées and the Eiffel Tower.

Paris is such a romantic city, it is really the city to fall in love all over again and it is one of the best place to get married. Everywhere in the city you can find spots to have a small ceremony and have great couple pictures. We love to plan intimate romantic weddings and hidden venues where couples can enjoy the authenticity of Paris.

The idea was to shoot a beautiful couple eloping in Paris, and show a dress different form the usual white one: a blush and golden gown that sparkles and reminds of Paris’s beauty and lights.

We decided to chose an organic and elegant style for the flowers and Lily Paloma created a centerpiece and bouquet that highlighted the table as well as the dress. The stationery from Imprimerie du Marais in letterpress and golden hues added perfectly to the mix. And the final touch with and elegant wedding cake from Synie’s Cupcakes.

Photography: Le Secret d'Audrey | Floral Design: Lily Paloma | Wedding Dress: Krikor Jabotian | Cake: Synies | Stationery: La Belle Histoire | Stationery: Imprimerie Du Marais | Ring: Eternamé | Hair And Makeup: Harold James | Groom's Attire: Artling | Venue: Maison Champs Elysees | Event Styling & Planning: VH Events | Film Processing: Carmencita Film Lab

Ahhhh, Paris. The City of Light, City of Love… Whatever you call it, Paris is truly magical, and the most romantic city in the world to fall in love — and  have your engagement session! Blogger Bride-to-be, C.J. of Toe That Line, and her handsome fiancé (who met on an international class trip in law school!) did just that, and shared all the Rhianne Jones-captured dreamy, Parisian magic with us in the gallery here!

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From the beautiful Bride… Traveling is probably our greatest shared love (well, after food, but sometimes they are one in the same!). We have traveled to over 18 countries across five continents together over the past few years. In fact, we met on an international class trip in law school and we were engaged while traveling in Istanbul. When it came time to plan our wedding, a destination was a natural fit.

I truly wanted a French feel to our wedding, combining the rustic charm of Provence with the beachy fun of San Tropez. While we eventually settled on the “American Riviera,” satisfying each of those styles in the areas surrounding Santa Barbara, I started out hoping for the South of France.

Because he was the absolute best fiancé on earth and he knew about my dreams, he planned a surprise trip for my 30th birthday. We would visit both Paris and the French Riviera! When I got wind of the plan, I decided it was the perfect opportunity to have our engagement photos taken. Enter Rhianne Jones, an adorable Brit living and working in Paris. After much research, we chose Rhianne to be our photographer for that chilly February morning and we are beyond pleased with the result.

We were blessed with a brilliant sunrise in the City of Light and now we have memories – and stunning images – to last a lifetime. It also afforded me the opportunity to shoot for my style blog in the most amazing of locations. And, in the process, we got an unforgettable tour of fair Paris. From the steps of the Trocadero to the Pont Alexandre bridge (which became the image used on our Save the Date card) to croissants and coffee at a perfectly Parisian cafe! We even got the chance to add our own lock (which he thoughtfully designed and ordered in advance) to the collection on the Pont des Arts bridge. A dream come true!

While we didn’t end up selecting any of the French venues we visited to host our nuptials, I couldn’t be happier that we made the trip together and captured our time in Paris to celebrate our engagement.

Photography: Rhianne Jones

I think it’s safe to say that there’s nothing quite as romantic as a Parisian elopement.  But when you take that crazy romance and add in a dream team of vendors (think Les Productions De La Fabrik, Aude Abadie and Wedding Paris), it’s a day that is utterly speech-defying in its beauty.  Imagine lush blooms, a sweet duo and breathtaking landscapes.  Click here, and get swept away.

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From Les Productions De La Fabrik… Kristy & Colin come from Austin, in Texas. They decided to get married in the City of Love, just the two of them, and their elopement took place in front of the Eiffel Tower, at the romantic Bir Hakeim Bridge. The sunny spring was there and tears and laughs too! We had such a lovely time for the couple shots in Paris, with a delicate sunset on the Alexander III Bridge.

Photography: Les Productions de La Fabrik | Event Planning: Wedding Paris | Floral Design: Au Jardin De Matisse | Hair And Makeup: Harold James | Officiant: Celebrant in Paris | Hotel: The Aspen Institute At Wye River

It’s hard for me to put into words how special Paris truly is. Even after spending a year living in the City of Lights, I’m still mesmerized by its magic, and no photographs seem to do it justice. But the photos of this couple’s romantic anniversary session from Gert Huygaerts Photography come close.  As the beautiful bride perfectly states below, “leaving Paris awakened something in us.” One look at the gallery, and I promise you’ll be awakened, too.

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From the beautiful Bride… After my trip to Paris, I truly understand why it is called the city of love. It is a magical place like no other. The city gives couples the chance to reminisce and forget about all the worries of everyday life. Time slows down there and you learn to appreciate all the smells, light, sounds, and beauty around you. It would be impossible to explain the giddiness I felt while wandering this old city with my husband. It is something that neither of us will ever forget… that day we walked through Paris hand-in-hand and so in love.

“We travel to open our hearts and eyes. And we travel, in essence, to become young fools again – to slow time down and get taken in, and fall in love once more.” – Pico Iyer

I read this quote before our trip to Paris and it hit home. Marriage can be hard work and sometimes you just need to take a moment to escape together and remember why you fell in love in the first place. This trip definitely opened our eyes and brought us that much closer together. We are so thankful for that experience.

It was a slow Wednesday evening in January and my husband was stuck late at work. I texted him “Let’s go to Paris!”. He thought I was joking… A couple of weeks earlier we agreed to go on a trip instead of exchanging normal presents for Christmas. We have traveled up and down the east coast together, but never to Europe. I started looking at plane tickets and realized we could make this Europe trip a reality. A month later and we were there, in Paris! It was a dream come true and we both couldn’t have been happier.

As a wedding planner I knew we would have to take this once in a lifetime opportunity and get some anniversary photos taken. I found Gert Huygaerts Photography through the SMP Little Black Book. I instantly fell in love with his film photography and knew he would be the perfect fit!

The day before the photo shoot my husband and I roamed the city. We gathered local fruits, flowers, and desserts. We had so much fun foraging together. I love sharing my passion for design with my husband and it makes me smile when he enjoys being a part of the process. The shoot was a last minute idea, just like the trip itself, but we poured our hearts into it. It is a true reflection of us and our love for sweets, flowers, and everything Parisian.

We woke up the morning of the shoot and were so happy to have decent weather. It was a bit overcast, but the temperature was nice. Ciara Coiffure and Charles Gillman met me at our flat for hair and makeup and worked their magic. I slipped on my gorgeous Erin Fetherston gown and we were out the door! Gert guided us around all the most beautiful parts of the city. The photo shoot was a tour in itself! We traveled to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Tuileries Garden, the Seine River, and ended it back at our flat across from Notre Dame. It was a whirlwind of a day, but we wouldn’t have had it any other way!

Leaving Paris was tough, but it awakened something in both of us. It made us want to live a little more and appreciate every day. Since our return home we are already trying to plan our trip back! Paris does that to you.

Photography: Gert Huygaerts Photography | Event Design: Browne & Towers | Dress: Erin Fetherston | Jewelry: Kate Spade | Jewelry: Givenchy | Makeup: Charles Gillman | Hair: Ciara Coiffure | Calligraphy: The Oblique Pen | Suit: Banana Republic | Film Processing: Carmencita Film Lab

We’re suckers for a Parisian love story, and this one will steal your heart. Primrose And Company captured the magic of the City of Lights in this romantic wedding, which features a sentimental lock and key theme inspired by the Groom’s proposal at the Ponte de Arts. Mary + Roy snapped away at all the pretty, which you’ll find in the full gallery right here!

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From Primrose And Company…Meghan and Kyle met and became Seahawk Sweethearts while attending Wagner College. After six years of dating, the couple took a summer vacation to Europe. While in Paris, Meghan surprised Kyle with a padlock to lock on the famous bridge Ponte de Arts. People from all across the world take part in this romantic tradition, where they place a padlock on the bridge and throw away the key into the Seine River, all awhile making a wish. The couple accidentally put their lock on the wrong bridge. However, Meghan’s wish did come true when the couple finally found Ponte de Arts and Kyle got down on one knee and asked for Meghan’s hand in marriage. In addition to the gorgeous ring, Kyle had also brought a padlock to Paris but didn’t mention it to Meghan when she had presented him with the lock she had brought. Later, Kyle’s padlock was placed on their wedding cake, bringing the magic of their Paris love story to their New Jersey wedding reception.

It was very important to Meghan and Kyle to stay true to their style when planning their wedding. The couple wanted to keep the day romantic, intimate and most importantly personal. During their ceremony, Meghan and Kyle locked their hand written vows in a box during the unity portion of the service. Not only did the locking of the vows symbolize their devotion to each other, but it also replicated the events of their engagement. In order to achieve the personal aesthetic in the reception space, the couple created baby photo table numbers, skeleton key escort cards, and donation favors. Not to mention, their Florist/Event Stylist surprised the couple with many Parisian themed decor pieces that truly took Meghan and Kyle’s breath away.

The fifteen months of planning each detail did not go unnoticed by any of the guests. Everyone was so incredible joyous in the celebration that not a single person sat during the reception. The dance floor was constantly packed to the point that the DJ had to request that guests please be seated to eat their meals! College friends reenacted choreography from their school musical “Footloose”. Uncles waved their napkins above their heads while dancing their own jig. Grandparents took part in doing the Polka and a brother of the Bride put Taylor Swift to shame in his rendition of “Shake it Off”. Meghan and Kyle’s wedding was truly an event no one wanted to see end. The couple is looking forward to planning an anniversary party in the future, just to relive every moment of their special day!

Meghan felt absolutely glamorous in her Allure Couture gown. Her earrings were an incredible find at T.J.Maxx. Her shoes by Caparros were the perfect height for dancing the night away. The lace that wrapped the bottom of Meghan’s bouquet was from her Mother’s wedding gown. Kyle was dressed in a custom three-piece suit from Indochino and his Etsy custom made cufflinks had a map of Paris on the face. The couple purposely designed Kyle’s suit to be a slightly darker grey than the groomsmen, to make his suit a bit more special. It was important to the couple that their wedding party be dressed in affordable and practical attire. Their ensembles were not only picked out for the wedding but for potential use to be worn again with out looking too bridal. The women were dressed in black cocktail dresses from White House Black Market. Their earrings were from Kate Spade and bangle bracelet from Papyrus. The groomsmen suits were from Charles Tyrwhitt and their ties and suspenders were from The Tie Bar.

Photography: Mary And Roy | Wedding Dress: Allure Bridal | Cake: The Bake Works | Invitations: Jessica Leigh Paperie | Bridesmaids' Dresses: White House Black Market | Hair: Christine Truax Of Tru Love Weddings | DJ: Above And Beyond Disc Jockey Entertainment | Groom's Attire: Indochino | Groomsmen's Attire: Charles Tyrwhitt | Wedding Venue: The Historic Smithville Inn | Bridesmaids' Bracelets: Papyrus | Bridesmaids' Earrings: Kate Spade | Cake Topper: Better Off Wed | Floral Design, Event Planning And Styling: Primrose and Company | Groom's Cuffs: Littlebotton | Groomsmen's Ties And Suspenders: The Tie Bar | Music: Shrewsbury String Quartet