Europe Weddings

There are no words.  No words at all to describe just how amazing this Parisian honeymoon shoot truly is.  Because this is a day that is absolutely beyond perfection with a beautiful Mrs., a stop you in your tracks Romana Ghita Urmanczy gown and an Eiffel Tower backdrop that will take your breath away one glorious image at a time.  All captured by EmmPhotography (the gorgeous bride and her dashing Mr.), prepare to spend your entire day in the gallery – believe you me.  Join me there for more.

Click here for the FULL photo session!

From Claudia of EmmPhotography (The Bride)… We are two recently-married photographers (Emm and Claudia) who based in Romania, working in the field of destination wedding photography. We took a honeymoon to Paris in May, and my husband, Emm, took these photos. Like every girl dreaming of that big day, I must say that I never dreamed so big! I never thought that I would meet such a loving and caring man, my Emm, that I would be wearing such a beautiful hand-made wedding dress, or that I would go to Paris to celebrate it all. It was such a celebration! We are so blessed and thankful — blessed as a couple, blessed with the wonderful job of photographing people’s happiest moments, blessed with creativity and opportunities to fulfill it. Paris was such an opportunity. It was magical.

Photography: Emm & Claudia Fagadar of EmmPhotography / Location: Paris, France / Wedding Dress: Romana Ghita Urmanczy

There are few places in the world more magical than the City of Lights, and you’re about to see that famous Parisian charm first hand through the lens of Elisa Bricker. Showcasing a delicate and unbeliveably gorgeous gown from Delphine Manivet, this shoot will have you dreaming of all things French. Oui? See the rest here.

Click here for the FULL photo shoot!

From Elisa Bricker… While in Paris for the month of August, I had the pleasure of meeting with Delphine Manivet and photographing a couple with one of her latest dresses. It was such a pleasure to be on the streets of Paris with the two of them. Can you image a more romantic setting?

Photography: Elisa Bricker / Photo Shoot Location: Paris, France / Bouquet: Rosebud Fleuristes / Wedding Dress: Delphine Manivet / Hair + Makeup: Mounira Boughanem

Now this is one of those especially spectacular weddings that send me right over the moon. I have been reveling in the absolute gorgeousness that is this Parisian number for the past, oh, hour or so and I can’t think of a time better spent. The second you see these soft, beautiful images from Kim Le Photography of these lovelies at the to-die-for Chateau de Chambord, you might just lose your mind. Every inch of this splendid day is just oh-so-enchanting, I’m convinced it has stepped right out of a fairy tale. Trust me, you’ll want to see it all in the gallery right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Kim Le Photography… This was a destination wedding for Toshiyuki and Natsuha from Japan. Natsuha had always dreamed of getting married in Paris. The couple were married at The American Church in Paris in front of 10 guests and traveled to the Loire Valley in France for gorgeous portraits at the Chateau de Chambord.

Photography by Kim Le Photography / Ceremony: The American Church in Paris in Paris, France / Photo Location: Chateau de Chambord in Chambord, Loire Valley, France / Wedding Garland: Kumi Kanemoto of Atelier Tige / Wedding Dress: Nemoto, Noriko via Organza in Tokyo / Bride’s Shoes: BENIR / Hair + Makeup: Junko Nakano

Get ready loves, because we have such a romantic, quintessential Parisian engagement shoot on our hands today thanks to the lovely Yolanda Villagran Photography. It’s pure Paris in every picture, and as a fan of that pretty city we couldn’t be more excited to share every image with you.  To top it all off, it feels like this cute as can be couple had the City of Light all to themselves that day – making for one fabulous full gallery images!

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From Yolanda Villagran Photography… Jennifer and Shola came to Paris for a short vacation and engagement photos. They are originally from Nigeria but have been living in New York for the last 10 years. They are truly lovely people, and it was like hanging out with good friends. It was a spectacular day. We started early, meeting under the metro bridge at metro Bir Hakeim. They were eager and ready to go. They looked really great together, and it was so easy capturing an easy and effortless joy in their love. It was wonderful photographing Jennifer and Shola, and it was a wonderful Parisian day — at least until we were done. It started raining one hour after the shoot and didn’t stop for days.

Photography: Yolanda Villagran Photography / Locations: Eiffel Tower, Palais Royale, Gallerie Vivienne, All in Paris, France

Does it get any more romantic than Paris? We think not. Scratch that, we know not! This adorable couple grew up within a mile of one another but didn’t cross paths until college and when they did, they instantly knew they were destined to be! They celebrated their engagement with a trip to Paris, umm, hello fabulous, and brought along Sarah Kate, Photographer who snapped up the most fabulous images of them. See even more here.

Click here for the FULL engagement!

From the Bride-to-Be… Once upon a time, a little girl and a little boy were born one mile away from each other in Sugar Land, Texas. A short time later, the little girl moved away and grew up lovely and fair, while the little boy grew up in Sugar Land strong and steadfast. Then in a land far far away, Texas Tech University, they met for the first time and fell in love. They realized their lives had begun so closely to one another and the relationship was meant to be.

After graduating college, they made their way to Dallas with Kaitlyn starting a new job and Bryan studying at the Baylor College of Dentistry. The story continues as one lovely April day Bryan proposed to Kaitlyn in the picturesque setting of the Dallas Arboretum. Much to her surprise, family and friends were waiting down the path to celebrate the engagement. A month later, Kaitlyn and Bryan found themselves in the romantic city of Paris, France — a beautiful backdrop to a beautiful relationship. In the City of Love, the happy couple filled their days climbing the Eiffel Tower, walking along the Seine and frequenting local cafés for espressos and chocolate croissants. They are excited about their wedding in November and beginning the next chapter of their lives together. Their love follows Kaitlyn and Bryan wherever they go, and with God’s grace, they will live happily ever after.

Photography: Sarah Kate, Photographer / Location: Paris, France / Bride’s Gold Top, Yellow Top, Black Skirt + Belt: Anthropologie / Bride’s Jeans: H&M / Bride’s Gold Shoes + Pink & Black Shoes: Sam Edelman / Bride’s Black Wedges: Banana Republic / Bride’s Pink Dress: BCBG via Nordstrom / Watch: Fossil / Bracelets: David Yurman

I don’t know how to properly introduce this next gem in a way that will do it justice. So that I articulate just how breathtaking it is. Just how beautifully crafted, thoughtfully designed, lovingly built it was. All I can tell you is that I’ve never been quite as captivated by a single piece of inspiration, in the five years that I’ve been writing about them, as I am with this seemingly perfect moment. And I have the stunning bride, the brilliance of Rylee Hitchner and the pure genius of Jessica Sloane, Amy Osaba and so many more (like those crazy beautiful “paper” goods by Neither Snow) to thank for the magic that we get to devour. So, rather than go on and on, I’ll just let the photographs speak for themselves. Just remember to spend some time in the gallery because there is so much more goodness to be had.

Wedding Photography: Rylee Hitchner Photography / Creative Direction, Design + Styling: Jessica Sloane Event Styling & Design / Floral Design: Amy Osaba / Wedding Stationery + Decals: Neither Snow / Wedding Cake: Dream Cakes Bakery / Rentals: Special Events / Linens: Southern Events Party Rental & Vintage Prop Shop / Chandelier Installation: Allison Rhee of Enamored With / Wedding Dress: Badgley Mischka / Bride’s Veil: The Bride Room / Hair + Makeup: Joanna Ballentine

When wedding planning got to be overwhelming for this couple, he suggested they stop worrying, fly to Paris with their nearest and dearest and say “I Do” in the City of Lights. Was that just the sigh heard round the world? Yes, this story is 100% true, and after you spend some time with One and Only Paris Photography + Le Secret d’Audrey‘s images of the beautiful, beautiful day, you too will be calling up Rendez-Vous in Paris too to start your love story – be it your wedding, your vow renewal, or maybe just the party that will introduce you to your meant to be. Just make sure to visit the gallery first!

After we got engaged we had decided that we wanted to get married on the beach in Bridgehampton, NY. We had chosen a beach that is close to our house where we enjoy going in the summer and take our dog for walks. We had a fabulous venue and set a tentative date. However shortly after the wedding planning process became overwhelming. We had toyed with the idea of just having a civil ceremony and traveling for an extended period of time, but I still wanted to wear a wedding dress and say our vows in front of our friends and family. So over dinner one night we started to talk about having a destination wedding. Jack suggested Paris because we had been there a few years earlier for New Years and had an incredible time. As soon as he suggested it I fell in love with the idea and suddenly the wedding planning process was no longer overwhelming.

We found a great wedding planner, Heather Jerue of Rendez-vous in Paris, who helped us plan a beautiful wedding. All the planning was done over email which made it very easy for me. Heather completely understood what we were looking for and all of her suggestions were exquisite. We decided to get married in April and have a ceremony at the Chapelle Expiatoire followed by a reception at the Hotel Crillon. We had slightly over 20 friends and family fly to Paris for the occasion. Getting married in Paris was perfect for us. Yes there were some people that we wanted present who couldn’t make it but we had incredible photographers that captured the day for us. Its hard to pick out my best memory… there are so many! The actual wedding day would be my best memory. Getting ready with my mom and girlfriends, talking to my dad as we walked into the chapel, seeing Jack at the altar, saying “I do” too early in the vows, taking photos with Jack around the city, the speeches our friends gave, dancing the night away and waking up the next day and being so incredibly happy.

Photographers: One and Only Paris Photography + Le Secret d’Audrey / Planner: Heather from Rendez-Vous In Paris / Ceremony Venue: Chapelle Expiatoire / Reception Venue: Crillon Hotel / Hair and Make Up: JAMES / Shoes: Valentino / Gown: Marissa / Suit: Gucci

Before we head out to celebrate the unofficial beginning of summer, we had to share this amazingly fabulous 30th birthday party in Paris. It’s just about the most amazing thing I have ever seen! I have vowed with my bestie, just this morning, that since we already ahem, missed our chance at a 30th in Paris, we are now officially aiming for a fabulous 40th instead! It really doesn’t get any more devine than this and the images from Polly Alexandre are beyond gorgeous.

From Polly Alexandre:When it came to Audrey’s 30th birthday party, she decided to have the celebration she always wanted. A quintessential Parisian woman, and a talented photographer too (featured on SMP! http://oneandonlyparisphotography.com & http://www.lesecretdaudrey.com/), she used her creativity to produce this perfect little celebration.  She commissioned some beautiful hand calligraphy for invites, and little party signs –  ‘Time to Shine’ & ‘Joyeaux Anniversaire’, hired a suite at a beautiful hotel, a friend made a gorgeous cake, then Audrey invited a bunch of her best friends to drink champagne, and decorated the suite with antiques and beautiful flowers with the help of some friends. We spent the afternoon shooting on the streets of Paris for Audrey to have photographs that captured this personal milestone, then her cocktail reception in the suite with a bunch of friends before going on to a chic Parisian restaurant for a fine meal and dancing. I think it’s a magical idea for a hen party, but I also love the idea of commissioning portraits of yourself or yourself and a loved one on the romantic streets of Paris, to celebrate a special occasion or just to treasure as an experience. 

Photography: Polly Alexandre / Cinematography: Studio Artifice / Event Styling: the fabulous Annie Brahler / Flowers: Estelle Preston / Hair and Make Up: Yael: contactyael@gmail.com / Portraits Location: Marais, Paris / Cocktail Reception: Hotel Champs Elysees Plaza / Stationary: www.calligraphybycristine.com / Shoes: Louboutin / Dress: Aidan Mattox and Zara / Cake: Julie

We’d like to extend a warm welcome to our newest Little Black Book members…

Epicurean Catering
Honeymoon Pixie
La Gartier Wedding Garters
Sweetchic Events, Inc.
Sawgrass Limousine, LLC
Mulberries
The Village Invites
Sebesta Design
Filigree Cakes
Five Dot Design
Willow Lane Photography
Nadine Photography
Draper’s Catering of Memphis
Archibald Photography Ltd
Gabe Aceves Photography
Bliss Weddings and Events
Ten Four Paper
Feast for a King Catering

To apply to become a member of our LBB click here. We’d love to hear from you!

An oh-so friendly reminder…

California brides, mark your calendars for Kirstie Kelly’s trunk show featuring her new collection from June 1st – June 3rd!  This is one event you don’t want to miss!

SMP readers get 15% off Margaret Elizabeth jewelry until May 31st. Just use the code SMPsparkle at checkout!

Have a great weekend, lovelies!  We’ll see you back here Monday morning! xoxo

I do believe Paris is the birthplace of pretty. The City of Light is just filled to the brim with beauty, and this lucky duo were lucky enough to meet, fall in love and get engaged walking it’s love-filled streets. They were also lucky enough to get their engagement photos taken in this place of pretty by Summer Street Photography, allowing all of us to swoon over every single love-filled image in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From Summer Street Photography … Rachel is an American living in Paris, where she got a job after law school. There, she met the love of her life, Jilali, who is French. They worked together, became friends and fell in love. We were able to meet up with them while we were in Paris to capture a glimpse of their lives in together — in the city they met, fell in love and got engaged. We met up with them in the Tuileries Garden, which is right in front of the Louvre and made for a beautiful backdrop. We then made our way to the Pont des Arts, which is a footbridge over the Seine River that has hundreds of love locks on it. Couples come from all over the world and bring a padlock along to lock on the bridge together, and then they throw the key into the water below. Rachel had an adorable lock custom-made with their names and wedding date on it. After we photographed them throwing their key into the water, we jumped down along the Seine for a few shots of the two of them. Then we grabbed a taxi to get some photos of in front of the Eiffel Tower as the sun was setting. We had an amazing time photographing these two and hearing all about their love story. Félicitations Rachel et Jilali!

Photography: Summer Street Photography / Location: Paris, France

If these people aren’t living the dream, then I don’t know who is. Seriously, it doesn’t get any cooler than this moody, film noir engagement session by the oh-so-talented Kat Hill. I’m loving how we really get a feel for this romantic city and all its cozy corners and cafes. Trust me, you’re gonna wanna click here for the rest of this super gorg tour of the City of Lights!

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From Kat Hill… Martina and Leslie are getting married later this year on the south coast of England. They’re such a gorgeous couple inside and out, and I wanted to do something special for their engagement shoot. I’m not sure how the idea of Paris came about — I think I watch too many old films! — but not only is it the City of Love, but also the City of Light. Where could be more perfect? We wanted to capture something a bit moodier than engagement shoots usually are. Something a little bit film noir, a little bit retro. That’s their aesthetic, and I think it works so well with the bleak winter backdrop of Paris in February. In fact, it was -9 degrees celsius the day of the shoot, and we had to keep running into cafes to warm ourselves up again! We ran all over Paris in one day, from the Eiffel Tower to the Sacre Coeur — I really wanted to get a sense of a couple in love, spending a day in one of the most romantic cities in the world. We didn’t really need too many props or accessories, a just couple in Paris — that in itself tells a story.

I did, however, ask Kate of Kate Ruth Romey to design a set of “tickets” for the shoot. She designs incredible bespoke wedding stationery, and I knew she’d come up with something super-special. I’ve never met anyone who has such a capacity to translate my rambling ideas into a tangible vision! The two hair pieces Martina wears were designed by the massively talented Kelly Spence. The black veil is made from fine vintage lace and was handcrafted by Kelly herself. The headpieces added a touch of glamour and sophistication and really gave the shoot some polish.

Photography: Kat Hill / Location: Paris, France / Hairpieces: Kelly Spence Bridal Accessory Design / Stationery: Kate Ruth Romey

This wedding has it all. A romantic Parisian proposal that lead to the French-inspired, black tie soiree. Stunning images from 4Eyes Photography that warm the heart. A stunning couple at the center. A breathtaking floral design from Belle Fleur. And a Gatsby-esque feel that this Fitzgerald fan is eating up. I promise your smile will start out big and just get wider with every glance. Make sure to do a few facial exercises before visiting the full image gallery!

Click here to see ALL of the absolutely stunning affair!

It was late September, early Fall and my parents had planned a trip for our family to spend some time in Positano on the Amalfi Coast of Italy. Philip had approached me and delicately explained that he needed to travel to Paris for a couple of days prior to joining my family in Italy so that he could attend a work meeting that had been arranged on his behalf. Well, my love of Paris was no secret at this point so naturally I was beyond delighted to tag along on Philip’s work trip if it meant spending some time with him in the “City of Lights”. I had fully prepared myself to spend the day wandering around Paris alone, and even made plans to lunch with a friend of mine who lives there, but when we woke up that first morning in Paris everything changed.

Philip leapt out of bed with no sign of jet-lag and disappeared. I was still bleary eyed and half asleep, so I told him to wake me when our breakfast arrived and I rolled over to catch a few more Z’s (ha!). Next thing I knew Philip pounced on the bed like a playful puppy dog, snuggled up beside me and said, “Well, I had better tell you why I really brought you to Paris…” He got down on one knee beside the bed and asked me to marry him.Our breakfast arrived shortly after my tearfully happy and resounding “Yes”, so I trotted over to the closet to throw on a sweatshirt and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror – Holy moly! My wild newly cut bangs were sticking straight up in the air! I ran back into the bedroom, threw myself into Philip’s arms and said, “Babe, you proposed to me while I looked like this?! You really do love me!”.

The rest of the day couldn’t have been more perfect. It was a beautiful, warm, sunny day in Paris. We meandered around the city, enjoyed a relaxing boat ride on the Seine, and finished the day off with a bottle of champagne and a cozy dinner in a romantic bistro. The very next day we traveled to meet my family in Italy and we were greeted with huge smiles and big hugs. We spent the next week in Positano, glowing, as it all sunk in. A dream come true.

Although the Pierre Hotel in NYC is now a Taj hotel its roots are French, and I am a complete Francophile. After the Paris proposal I thought it would be cool to keep a French/Parisian theme, and I couldn’t resist the old world charm and appeal of the Pierre. Philip and I both love to get dressed up, and we so rarely have the opportunity to, so when it came time to decide what kind of wedding we wanted to have we thought it would be great fun to make it wedding black tie. I must say, everyone looked absolutely stunning! The men were beyond handsome in their tuxes and the ladies were breathtaking in their floor length gowns!

We both felt like it was a real “Gatsby” moment for us. I didn’t want to get too colorful with the flowers, though I do love colorful florals, but when I think of Paris I for some reason think of black and white antique photographs, so we chose ivories, barely blushes and a hint of black with the berries. The entire evening was utterly unforgettable. A friend of mine had told me that her wedding day was the best day of her life. I must admit that when I first heard that I was dubious, but after having experienced my own I can say that Philip and I fully, and whole heartedly agree with that statement. It was truly the very best day of our lives, to this date.

Photographer: 4Eyes Photography / Floral Designer: Belle Fleur / Cake: Cheryl Kleinman / Wedding Gown Designer: Vera Wang Luxe / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Bridesmaid’s Dress Designer: Amsale / Bride’s Jewelry: Kwiat / Venue: The Pierre Hotel

How’s this for romantic?!?  A stunning bride and groom, the oh-so-lovely streets of Paris and layers upon layers of flowy goodness in the form of a Pronovias gown that will literally take your breath away. Intrigued?  Well, you most certainly should be, because this captivating City of Lights elopement is all about the sweet L.O.V.E.  And with Wisner Photo filling the gallery with image after image of intimate wedding bliss, trust me, there’s not a single moment that isn’t downright fabulous.  Click here for more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… When Josh and I got engaged, it didn’t take long for us to decide that we weren’t interested in having a traditional wedding. We knew that a destination wedding was right for us, and we knew that there was a narrow window of opportunity at the beginning of May that accommodated his work schedule and my school schedule, as I was in my last months of graduate school. One day Josh asked me, “If you could get married anywhere in the world, where would it be?” I quickly replied, “Paris!” It never occurred to me that getting married in Paris would be an actual option, as I was prepared for him to tell me to keep dreaming! We did a little research on the logistics of getting married in France, and decided that it was not only possible, but it was just the right place for us. As much as we wanted our parents and siblings to be present for our day, we felt that it was quite a lot to ask for so many people to travel to Europe on three months notice. We certainly didn’t want anyone to feel obligated to make such a big trip, and the thought of having some family members present and others absent didn’t seem right to us. We knew we were going to have to take an “all or nothing” stance, so we decided to keep it simple, romantic, and private with just the two of us.

One of the most difficult decisions to make, and something that any bride getting married out of the country needs to consider, is the legality of the marriage itself. We learned that our vows in Paris wouldn’t be legal, so we would either have to get married in the US prior to our trip, or get married when we got home. I was determined to wait until we got home to legalize our marriage, as I wanted our private ceremony in Paris to be the first time we took our vows. However, the more I researched officiants, churches, and locations, the more I noticed that most places required your marriage certificate from your home country prior to using their facility. I also realized that finding an officiant was going to be more difficult than I expected. I was running out of time to secure an officiant, and in order to help the process, I conceded that we should get married before our trip. It actually worked out perfectly, as we got married by the Justice of the Peace on Saturday morning with our families present, followed by a sweet brunch and send off, and we left for the airport that afternoon. I ended up finding an American minister to marry us in Paris, but it came down to the last minute — a week before we left for our trip we were still unsure of who would be marrying us!

The day of the wedding was a comedy of errors, but could not have been any more perfect. Our chosen location was under construction, so my husband had to go out the morning of the wedding and scour (public) locations that would be suitable for the ceremony, which was difficult as many of the beautiful landmarks were undergoing repair for the upcoming tourist season. I trusted his judgment, as he had been to Paris several times before, but somehow we ended up exchanging our vows on the sidewalk of a shopping center surrounding a local park! (He swears to this day this it is actually a very famous courtyard.) There were lots of personal touches throughout the day, including my porcelain dog friend “Buster,” who actually belongs to a girlfriend and served as my something borrowed (Buster has traveled the world with many of my friends and it seemed fitting that he make the trip to Paris). I used charms honoring our alma maters, Ole Miss and Baylor, tied to blue ribbon and pinned inside of my dress as my something blue. It was truly the happiest and most fun day of our lives.

Wedding Photography: Cristina Wisner of Wisner Photo / Location: Paris, France / Bouquet: The Photographer’s Mother / Wedding Dress: Pronovias

I don’t know what’s prettier, the streets of Paris or this lovely couple or the crazy gorgeous combination of the two as seen through the lens of Mademoiselle Fiona Wedding Photography. An engagement session in the City of Lights seems totally fitting, don’t you think? It’s one of the most romantic spots on the planet and the evidence is in each and every image. Whether Megan and Scott are strolling along the Seine or sipping wine at a local cafe, these two are in love and that love is swirling throughout Mademoiselle Fiona’s gorgeous pictures. See them all here!

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From the Bride… Scott proposed in May 2011, and after winning a trip for two to Paris (lucky us!), we knew that this would be the perfect place to shoot our engagement photos. Paris is such a magically beautiful and romantic city, and we wanted these photos not only to capture this exciting time in our lives but also memorialize an amazing trip abroad. After seeing Fiona’s work on Style Me Pretty (and later finding out that she is from France), we knew she would be the perfect person to tell the story of our love through photos. We were lucky to have the sun come out on this cold January day, and as we walked through Paris with Fiona, she showed us beautiful hidden courtyards and galleries that we would have never found on our own. We were incredibly happy with our engagement photos and will remember our trip to Paris forever!

From Fiona of Mademoiselle Fiona Wedding Photography … As a French-American photographer based in Brooklyn and originally from France, I love when I get a chance to shoot in Paris. I was so glad to show Megan and Scott some of my favorite places, such the flower market in the Ile de la Cité and some historical covered passages. The city never ceases to inspire me!

Photography: Mademoiselle Fiona Wedding Photography / Location: Paris, France

Ah Paris. The epitome of romantic cities. It’s no wonder this Boston Couple traveled across the Atlantic to commit their lives to each other in the City of Light. And thanks to the talented XOANDREA, they were able to share their big day with all of us. It’s gorgeous in every way – the romantic city setting, the delicious-looking Croquembouche, and the fantastic couple. Oh la la, is all I have to say. Meet me in the gallery where we can all study the romance language á la this pretty fête!

At the heart of our decision to organize this destination wedding, we wanted this moment to be uniquely meaningful and symbolic. We chose the auspicious date of 10.10.10 for this celebration as it carries a special significance when translated into the Chinese idiom “shi quan shi mei”, which means “Beauty and Perfection”.

Picking Paris as our wedding location was an easy decision as it was where Julien grew up. We chose La Maison des Polytechniciens in the 7th district of Paris, near Musée d’Orsay, for our event. This hôtel particulier with its turn of century architecture and décor together with a meaningful history provided the perfect backdrop for our special day.

The decor and design of our wedding were driven by my love for anything vintage and each of our favorite colors, purple and green. My hobby of crafting quickly became a full-time job, designing and making all our wedding stationary and details from our save-the-dates, invitations, place cards, programs to seating diagrams, signs, menus, and even folding our own napkins. Due to the multilingual nature of guests, all our wedding stationary was made bilingual in both English and French. We slowly realized our vision of the day from our Boston home after hours of web-surfing, picking vendors online and communicating with them via email.

We arrived in Paris five days ahead of the wedding, luggage packed with DIY products, purple napkins and even more supplies for unfinished projects. Thanks to my bridesmaids and good friends who labored day and night in Paris, we managed to get every ribbon knotted and napkins folded in time for the wedding. Other friends and family helped setup and decorate the wedding site.

Following the traditions of my culture, I was not allowed to see my husband-to-be 24 hours prior to the wedding. I crashed at my bridesmaids’ who shared a rented apartment in a neighborhood full of life. It provided the perfect backdrop for Chinese door games, nice photo shoot, and a Cyrano de Bergerac like love declaration.

The wedding ceremony was the most important event of the day and is also the most memorable one. It included elements from my Malaysian Chinese background, Julien’s French Vietnamese origin, his Buddhist upbringing, our American life together, Taking advantage of the multi-cultural dimension of our relationship, we a wanted our guests to experience the different aspects of what our union signified. We customized our ceremony to start with a western wedding procession (I have always dreamed of walking down the aisle), a Buddhist ceremony carried out in Sanskrit by a Buddhist monk who blessed our union, followed by the Vietnamese ancestral ceremony and ending with a Chinese tea ceremony. We provided our guests with a booklet containing the translations of the sutras recited and the symbolism and meaning of each ceremony. I wore three different wedding dresses throughout the day to represent the different cultures we stand for: a western wedding dress, Vietnamese ao dai, and Chinese qi pao.

The celebration after the ceremony was done in Parisian style, serving French classics at dinner, and a delicious croquembouche as our wedding cake. We gave our guests a flower and Chinese tea blend (another DIY) as wedding favors to symbolize our appreciation and thanks. Instead of hiring a videographer, we gave our wedding party Flip video cameras as favors which allowed them to document the event from their experience of the day. We ended the night dancing away to music and drinks in the vaulted cellar cum lounge within the compounds of the hôtel particulier.

Planning a wedding from abroad in a country that I was unfamiliar with, together with the language barrier made this an experience of a lifetime. Every moment beginning from the day we started planning up till the very last minute of the wedding night was truly a memorable one. We are very thankful to have found our wonderful photographers – Andrea and Marcus – who did an amazing job capturing this special day which will allow us to reminiscence this day in true color many years from now.

Venue: La Maison des Polytechniciens / Photographer: XOANDREA / Floral Designer: Charline Michelet / Music + DJ: Eric Ianneta / Piece Montee: Stroher / Hair: Lexi Derock / Event Planning & Design: DIY from Bride / Wedding Invitations & Stationery: DIY / Wedding favors: DIY / Wedding Gown Designer: James Clifford / Bridesmaid’s Dress Designer: Allure Bridals & BCBGMaxazria / Veil: Unveiled Bridal Designs / Engagement ring: Designed by groom, purchased from La Ron Jeweler

Can you seriously think of anything more romantic than eloping to Paris with the love of your life and your closest friends and family? I’m literally drooling on my keyboard over these gorgeous fairytale like images by One and Only Paris Photography. This beyond beautiful couple nixed the idea of a large wedding and trying to please hundreds of guests and instead opted for a luxurious and intimate fete in the most romantic city in the world. Rendez-vous in Paris planned the entire beautiful day, down to that pretty, purple cake appropriately inscribed with the word l’amour. Be still my romance loving heart! Click here for more.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From One and Only Paris Photography…As wedding photographers based in Paris, we love elopements. They’re intimate, and stress free. As a bride you have more control to infuse your style with each detail. When you’re unburdened with having to please hundreds of guests, your focus shifts more toward the meaning of the day. The pace is calmer, providing brides the time to soak in the significance of the important moments.

When we first met with Natalina she asked if we could try to avoid capturing expressions of stress and worry on the faces of the couple and their families. Like all of us, she had witnessed distraught brides and families during hectic weddings.  What she hadn’t yet realized was she had already sidestepped this possibility by running off with only her closest friends and family to get married in the City of Love. Escaping to Paris was the perfect solution to being truly relaxed and having fun, while still having a stylish wedding.

Natalina and Warwick down scaled in size, and up scaled in lavishness. They were able to seize the best Paris has to offer; an exquisite hotel for getting ready, a vintage car for their route along the Champs Elysees, a candle-lit orthodox ceremony, and an elegant reception in the famous Plaza Athenee.

Tradition dictated that Natalina not reveal her gown until she met her groom on the steps of the Russian Orthodox Church.  There, the couple awaited an invitation to enter from a greeting priest dressed in full regalia. After the candle-lit ceremony, we took the couple around the historic center for photos of them draped in our favorite city sights. Paris is a gorgeous backdrop for a romantic wedding, and brides are well received here.  Natalina and Warwick were greeted by waving pedestrians and drivers’ cheerful honking.  The genuine smiles this induced from the couple helped us capture the images we love that show the fantasy of Paris.  From these images, it’s easy to see that this destination wedding in the City of Love had quite an impact on the lucky couple. It truly was a special day for Natalina and Warwick. Paris tends to have this effect on lovers.

Wedding Photography: One and Only Paris Photography + Le Secret d’Audrey / Wedding Planners: Rendez-vous in Paris / Make-up + Hair: Sally Biondo – Natural Beauty Team / Reception Location: Hotel Plaza Athenee Paris / Flowers: Hotel Plaza Athenee Paris / Wedding Cake: Sugar Plum Cake Shop / Favors: Laduree / Rings: Cartier / Wedding Gown: Pronovias via Marry Me Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Gary Castles Sydney

I honestly don’t even think I have the right words to open up this next jaw-droppingly beautiful feature. The gushy words that generally come so easily when I spy a pretty wedding have left the building. Totally and completely disappeared as this is a bring-you-to-tears, squeeze your hubby tighter love story like none you’ve ever seen. An engagement session in Paris. Photographed by Jose Villa. A wedding to follow. Filmed by Elysium. Designed by Michelle Rago. And a so-crazy-gorgeous-it-will-literally-make-you-gasp gown. Oh and a croquembouche with sparklers. Yep, a freaking croquembouche with SPARKLERS people. I told you, it’s beyond words. So sit down, grab a cocktail and prepare to die from total lovely overload. And click here if you need even more.

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Carolina + Jaime’s Highlights // Destination Wedding Paris from Elysium Productions on Vimeo.

From the beautiful bride…Paris holds a special place in my heart. It’s where my husband proposed on my birthday in 2009. During that magical holiday, my father asked me to visit L’Eglise de Saint-François-Xavier to light a candle for St. Madeline Sophie, founder of the Society of the Sacred Heart. As soon as we entered this exquisite church,Jaime and I knew it was the place we wanted to be married.  The City of Lights, nothing could be more inspirational!

We were married on March 19, 2011. Our reception was at France-Amériques, a gorgeous Parisianmaison near the Champs-Élysées and now a private club for French and American opinion leaders.  You can feel the history and the mixing of cultures in the grand halls and limestone terraces. Because weather in Paris is unpredictable in March, France- Amériques provided beautiful indoor spaces, intimate gathering places and a dining room to accomodate dinner and dancing.  Parisian wedding venues tend to be small.  France- Amériques, was an ideal venue for our party of 200 — our guests traveling to join us from the US, Latin America and beyond.

We embraced the regal look to reflect the 19th century and the golden age of Napoleon III when this stunning home was built.  Large chandeliers graced the dining room and tables were decorated with twinkling crystal candelabras. Our flowers were simple yet elegant: deep red, purple and gold.  The room, so ornate with its gold engraved walls and fresco paintings made the most dramatic statement.

I was most delighted with the details, such an important part of the effect and what made the evening so spectacular.  The amber lighting emphasized the gold filligree in the moldings. around the tables were gold Louis XVI dining chairs, upholstered with red velvet button — the tufted cushions set a romantic mood and brought the elegance of the era to life.  My dress was custom made by Parisian haute couture designer, Zuhair Murad and it weighed over 20 lbs.  The handmade silver, antique white and gold embroidery truly channeled the uniqueness of Paris.

Event Planning: Michelle Rago Destinations / Photography: Jose Villa Photography / Videography: Elysium Productions / Dress: Azzedine Alaïa via Neiman Marcus / Shoes: Christian Louboutin via Neiman Marcus / Jaime morning frac: custom made from Damiani /Jaime shoes: Damiani / Caro Headpiece: special order from Maria Elena Headpieces / Caro Veil: Zuhair Murad Haute Couture / Dress Engagement Photos Shoot: Azzedine Alaïa Neiman Marcus / Shoes Engagement Shoot: Christian Louboutin Neiman Marcus / Caro’s Hair: Katia Quintero at OM Beauty / Caro’s Makeup: Eric Cuesta at Neiman Marcus  / Church: Saint Francois Xavier / Reception: France Amerique / Rehearsal Dinner: Maison Blanche / Flower Production : Hervé Chatelain / Paperie: Ceci New York / Rentals: Options / Macaroons: Laduree / Piece Monte: Fauchon / Lighting and Sound: Magnum / Film Work: Richard Photo

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Just one look at these stunning nuptials and it’s easy to see why Paris is the official City of Love.  Set against the backdrop of The Eiffel Tower, romantic doesn’t even begin to describe this elegant soiree.  Thatcher Studio (The fabulous bride!) designed every detail to classic perfection and from the invitations and paper goods to the reception filled with white roses and baby’s breath by A Fleur et a Mesure, it’s one gorgeous moment after another.  All perfectly planned and executed by No Worries Event Planning and captured in brilliant images by Olivier Lalin, this is one wedding that will keep you enchanted for years to come.  See every exquisite detail here!

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From the Bride… In June 2010, I became engaged to the most amazing man I have ever met. I was so thrilled about the two of us taking this next step together. And five minutes later I thought, I have a wedding to plan! Sean suggested Paris (I told you he’s amazing). We had been to my brother’s wedding in Italy the year before. It was such an amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience for us and our family, and we knew we wanted to do a destination wedding and be able to share that experience with Sean’s family as well. Being a fashion designer, art lover and hopeless romantic, Paris was the perfect choice.

As I started the planning, I found it hard to find the special touches I wanted for the wedding. Many of the choices didn’t seem to suit our taste, or were just not quite right. And I was not willing to settle. Out of necessity, I designed our invitations, place cards, programs, gift tags, etc. and found that I absolutely loved it. I was able to add personalized thoughtful details that I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to open Thatcher Studio.

I used French Architecture as the inspiration, calling the theme “Modern Baroque.” The grand beautiful structures with soft draped detailing inspired my wedding dress and veil designs. The colors were kept clean and modern, Black, White and Grey with touches of Royal Blue. I mixed Modern details with the Historic French elements. And mixed Modern fonts with Edwardian Script. We used Baby’s Breath and White Roses in circular pomanders and square vases. The Baby’s Breath were set into tall vases so the guest’s eye would look up at the beautiful ceiling of the Salon Aigles. I designed the wedding cake to look architectural and modern yet timeless, and the Croquembouche, a traditional wedding cake, was actually invented by a French Architect turned Baker in the late 1700s. As guests arrived to Paris, they received welcome bags with Paris maps, custom damask playing cards, tuxedo mints and the Itinerary of Events and the French Guides I made for them.

The Wedding Day came and was more beautiful than anything I could have ever dreamt up. The Eiffel Tower view from our apartment was the perfect backdrop for getting ready. The intimate group of our closest family were the perfect people to share the momentous day with. And the romantic sophistication of Paris swept through the air. In the words of Hemingway, “Paris is a moveable feast, wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you.”  Our wedding day in Paris was a dream day that I will feast on forever.

Wedding Photography: Olivier Lalin / Wedding Cinematography: Shanksville Entertainment / Floral Design: A Fleur et a Mesure / Wedding Cake: The Bride (Design) + Sugar Plum Cake Shop / Event Design: Thatcher Studio (The Bride) / Event Planning: Dezhda “Dee” Gaubert of No Worries Event Planning / Ceremony Location: The American Church In Paris / Reception Location: Hotel de Crillon / Invitations + Paper Goods: Thatcher Studio (The Bride) / Bride’s Shoes: Max Studio / Wedding Dress: The Bride (Design) + Christianne Brunelle / Veil: The Bride + Kate Banko Couture / Garters: Florrie Mitton

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock the last couple of months, I’m sure you’ve spent some time perusing SMP’s Destination Blog. And I have a feeling you, like me, have been daydreaming the days away, thinking of far off lands boasting the most special weddings. Well, I have good news for you this Monday morning, LBBers. Our very favorite Pineapple Productions has brought the romance and glamour of Paris to our nation’s very own capitol, Washington D.C. with this wedding inspiration. Shot by Red Shoes Photography, this shoot is just what we’ve been waiting for – a bit of the fabulous destination wedding right here on our own turf. C’est magnifique, oui? Click here for more in the full image gallery!

From Pineapple Productions … Using a stylishly designed and letterpressed save the date as inspiration for this photo shoot, we went with neutral colors with a pop of beet purple to create an eclectic and whimsical setting.   Neutral linens, with a purple plate and glass helped to bring in that color that tied everything together.

Meridian International Center was the perfect backdrop with its Parisian look and feel, with elaborate gardens and quirky Linden trees which were bare in the late winter.  A lacy and vintage inspired Claire Pettibone dress fit in well with the gauzy fabrics and wrought iron gates throughout the property.

The dessert buffet was also French-inspired with passion fruit with milk chocolate and orange-ginger macarons and lime and pistachio with green tea madeleines.  It was filled in with some white chocolate maltballs, Jelly Bellys and sour grapefruit slices.

Photography: Red Shoes Photography / Flowers: Philippa Tarrant Floral Designs / Event Design: Arney Walker of Pineapple Productions / Desserts: The Sweet Lobby / Event Rentals: DC Rental / Reception Location: Meridian International Center / Invitations: Designed by Ellie Goedeker, letterpressed by Gilah Press / Calligraphy: Arney Walker Calligraphy / Dress: Claire Pettibone, Kleinfeld’s Bridal

I’m pretty positive that every girl’s fantasy includes a destination wedding in Paris. I’m swooning just sitting here thinking about it and then I laid my eyes on the actual photographs by One and Only Paris Photography, and ladies and gentlemen, there was no going back. I am in complete and total wedding crush mode with this baby and you all are about to follow suit. Find every last gorgeous detail here!

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From the Bride…I began my wedding planning just like every other bride: looking at tons of wedding blogs and magazines; searching for inspiration. I had so many questions floating through my mind, “Do I want a big dress, or a fitted dress? What colors should I use? Where can we have the ceremony that is not going to put my parents into years and years of debt?”  The only thing I knew for sure was that it was going to be HUGE. I come from an extremely large family, and of course I wanted to include every one of them. That was pretty much all I had locked down when I flew home to Louisiana, from Los Angeles, for Christmas.

The first thing on the agenda was the dress. I took all of the important women in my family shopping with me, and it turned out to be a huge success. Within two days I found the absolute dress of my dreams, and for a fourth of what I thought I was going to have to pay. I basically designed it myself. The dress and the sash came separately, but when I saw the sash hanging on the mannequin I knew it was the extra “pop” I needed to make the dress really stand out, and unique. We then deconstructed the sash (since it was originally brown velvet) and attached all of the beading to the black material, which I found on Ebay for crazy cheap. I instantly felt like Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City. From that point on my vision of classic and elegant was clear. I wanted everything to be black and white, with a touch of pink in the flowers.

I was very overwhelmed with the planning, since it was going to be such a large group of people, and the prices of everything were adding up by the minute. I started to feel like I was getting lost. Then, I stumbled across an elopement in Paris and was instantly swept away by the beauty and the romance, and of course, the breathtaking pictures. I called my fiance then and there and said, this is what we are doing. My fiance thought it was a great idea! Since we both love to travel, and are very into French food, it was the perfect mix. Once that was decided, everything fell immediately into place. I have always been the type of person to do things a little differently, and anything with as much glamour as Paris is right up my alley. Plus, Paris fit right into my idea of a Carrie Bradshaw type wedding. After all, Big did go to Paris to profess his love on the season finale.

Our day ended up being more than I ever could have asked for. It was a true fairytale. Since my fiancee and I didn’t have a bunch of people to get ready with, we took the day in together. We got up extremely early and had breakfast in the hotel restaurant, walked around and took some pictures of our own, and just really embraced the day. I also got to Skype with my family a little, so they were able to see me in my dress and I was able to tell them I loved them right before I had to leave for the church. I really hope to inspire other brides, as I was inspired to take this route. Eloping may be a difficult decision at first, but in the end is one that I couldn’t be happier I made.

Photography: One and Only Paris Photography / Floral Design: Estelle Preston of Paris Haute Couture Florist / Cermony Location: The American Church in Paris / Hotel: Four Seasons George V/ Wedding Dress: Watters and Watters / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bracelet: Lucia Bella

Be prepared to indulge your inner francophile with this uber-romantic, Parisian-to-the-max, inspiration shoot.  Mon plus beau jour put together an amaaaazing spread full of chic design infused with vibrant, modern details.  The combination of the glamorously gorgeous flowers in pinks and reds with candlelight in complimentary colors looks simply exquisite against the gray backdrop.  That Fanny Liautard gown is beyond stunning and the sweet, French model totally rocks it in bright red lipstick and hot pink heels.  And, of course, one of our favorite French photographers, One & Only Paris Photography, captured every single brilliantly styled detail that would be perfect for a wedding abroad in Paris or a Parisian-inspired affair at home.  Get your fill of the fantastic French goodies in the full gallery!

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From Mon plus beau jour… Montmartre is an incredible neighborhood in Paris for it is so poetic!  The Hotel Particulier Montmartre is, to me, the best location in Paris for an intimate and unique wedding. One has to take a private path and go through two gates before discovering this authentic location on top of the Montmartre hill.  I wanted to share this ‘bijou’ (jewel) with future brides who would like to get married in Paris away from the busy and well-known locations. The interior is very boudoir styled; the perfect ambiance for a bride to get ready… feminine, quiet and elegant (photos 1, 2 and 4).  Outside, the building is surrounded by a luxuriant garden with terraces and nooks.  I immediately thought about One and Only Paris to do this style shoot for I know they love these very Parisian places, so ‘Romantique’!

First of all, I knew I wanted to bring fresh- ‘acid’ colors in this decor that is mainly white (the hotel front) and green (the garden); pink, light yellow, mango and slate popped up in my mind!  I also wanted to keep the garden table, chairs to create a fresh look and find the way then to add the ‘chic touch’. I, first, set a slate grey table runner in the middle of the table, where I also displayed white china, silver cutlery and crystal chiseled glasses.  I wanted the flowers to bring a pop of color to the table; I picked only one kind of flowers; Coral Peony, they had the perfect colors I was looking for: pink and yellow.I also ‘played’ with the candles; they all had different shapes and heights but they all matched the colors of the flowers.

In each plate, there were two small chocolates that showed different views of Paris.  Place cards were hand calligraphed, either on grey butterflies or on organic paper cards.  The book (La Conversation Amoureuse – Alice Ferney) was used as the table label. As for the invitations, they were pretty, old-fashion styled post cards put in DIY envelopes.  I chose plain pink and grey envelopes.  On the grey one I put light pink Japanese tape and white lace on top.  On the pink one, I put a ribbon on the left corner with a wax seal on top.   Envelopes were hand calligraphed with white or silver ink. Camille, our model, is wearing a strapless dress, satin silk muslin, made by the French designer Fanny Liautard.  She is wearing vivid pink shoes from the French brand Les Petites.  Her hair and make up were done by Lexi De Rock.

As for myself, I am the manager of Mon plus beau jour (My most beautiful day) based in Paris and founded in 2003.  We organize weddings everywhere in France for French people but also for couples who live abroad.  We have now a consultant in NYC for American couples who would like to get married in France.  Throughout the organization they would have a wedding planner in NYC and then, when they come to France the French team would be there on their wedding day to coordinate everything.

Photography:  One & Only Paris Photography / Wedding Planning and Design:  Mon plus beau jour / Venue: Hôtel Particulier Montmartre / Dress designer: Fanny Liautard / Hair and make up artist: Lexi De Rock / Jewellery:  JEM / Pink shoes: Les Petites / Wedding cake: Jenny C. Vincent cake designer for Berko / Candles: Cire Trudon / Favor chocolate: Lafayette Gourmet / Model: Camille