French Ballet Inspired Photo Shoot by Sara Donaldson

August 15th. 2011 by Aimée | Filed Under | 22 comments

This is the perfect inspiration for anyone who loves the ballet or all things girl-y and feminine. The perfect mix of music and movement, I’m loving all the details including the vintage looking music sheets wrapped into a cone, holding petals for the adorable flower girls festooned with baby’s breath crowns and tutus. Captured by Sara Donaldson and designed by Shannon Schultz Events, this photo shoot is full of pretty little details that you can incorporate into your day. It’s fresh and gorgeous and there’s so much more in the full gallery of images!

Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events
Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events
Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events
Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events
Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events

Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events

Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events
Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events
Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events
Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events
Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events

Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events
Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events
Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events
Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events
Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events

Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events

Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events
Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events
Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events
Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events
Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events

Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events
Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events
Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events
Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events
Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events

Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events

Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events
Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events
Photography By / Sara Donaldson
Event Design By / Shannon Schultz Events

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Sara DonaldsonShe is a ballet dancer. He is a pianist and singer. For this style shoot, we wanted to both capture real life as well as simplify what the wedding experience can be: genuine, raw, real. Every detail has a simple practicality to establish a reflection of the bride and groom as a couple.

A six-foot altar was created with the groom’s vintage piano sheet music, flanked by ivory mosquito net panels and a gold curtain ballast. Many of the altar’s music pages feature the groom’s beloved teacher’s handwritten notations. The flower girls stole the show, playing in and around the altar, telling secrets and throwing rose petals, simply being children and exemplifying the pure innocence with which love begins. Two deconstructed piano keyboards held escort cards. The bare bones of the piano and rugged edge of the escort cards gave the shoot a raw simplicity and a reminder of the groom’s genuine creativity.  Allowing wedding guests to continuously interact with such personal details keeps the wedding focused on the bride and groom.

The French zinc tabletop was a true inspiration.  With its industrial presence, we were able to mix and match feminine vintage chairs to create a very simple, classic look. Hand painted white chargers, 70-year-old amber china, gold flatware, EmersonMade linen napkins, organic moss, and tea-stained compliment tags worked to create the romantic charm of a ballet dancer marrying her beloved. Maiden Hair, Lysmachia, and Nigella (all garden flowers) were chosen for their unique feminine qualities. The boutonnières played on the idea of joining a man and a woman in marriage: the masculine berries tied with feminine lace made a perfect juxtaposition.  A bouquet of precious light peach roses perfectly complimented the bride’s ballet-inspired gown, her long French tulle veil, and her detailed tiara. Soft rose petals filled tea-stained music sheets for tossing.

We couldn’t resist bringing in one final detail, a 1968 Imperial Crown Coupe Mobile Director. The classic, clean lines and rich blues of the vintage automobile reflected the couple’s charming interaction. When you keep your wedding details classic and simple, your story as a couple can truly sparkle.

Photography: Sara Donaldson / Design: Shannon Schultz Events / Furniture: Simple ThingsSara Donaldson / Floral Design: The Enchanted Florist / Food: Linguine and Dirty Martinis / Calligraphy: Blue Eye Brown Eye / Car: The personal collection of Chandler Smith / Dress + Accessories: De Ma Fille Bridal

 

22 Comments about “French Ballet Inspired Photo Shoot by Sara Donaldson”

  1. lauren
    August 15, 2011 at 9:24 am

    This shoot was so much fun to participate in, Sara and Shannon are such talents!

  2. Lisa
    August 15, 2011 at 9:51 am

    This is my favorite shoot I've ever seen...amazing job to all the vendors involved!! It is truly beautiful, and the concept is incredible. I love it! :)
    Lisa

  3. Sara Donaldson
    August 15, 2011 at 10:31 am

    Thank you Style Me Pretty for your lovely feature. This inspiration shoot was such a joy for me to shoot, not only because of the wonderful vendors involved but also because I simply loved the concept. Please please pop over to the full gallery and see all of the images shot. The vintage car was a phenomenal detail that can't be missed! :)

  4. Shannon Schultz
    August 15, 2011 at 12:32 pm

    Thank you Style Me Pretty! We are so honored to be featured in today's post!

  5. Jonathan Ivy
    August 15, 2011 at 12:38 pm

    I love the chair! I think I have seen that at Restoration Hardware.. yeah I definitely want it.

  6. Amy
    August 15, 2011 at 1:40 pm

    I love all the details that have incorporated the bride and groom's passions of music and dance. The use of the two drums as a cocktail table is fabulous!

  7. anne walker
    August 15, 2011 at 1:47 pm

    wow! the details! everything is perfection!

  8. Laura
    August 15, 2011 at 1:59 pm

    Such a sweet and pretty concept!

  9. Laura Ann
    August 15, 2011 at 6:28 pm

    Gorgeous! I love the classic beauty displayed in this photo shoot. Thank you for the inspiration, Sara and Shannon!

  10. Allisen
    August 15, 2011 at 7:59 pm

    Shannon and Sara - beautiful job!! Every detail is truly lovely. :)

  11. Meredith Warnock
    August 15, 2011 at 8:45 pm

    Bravo ladies! A fantastic collaboration with beautiful results. I love that it is glamorous, frilly, rustic, old world and fresh all at the same time. Good balance of all elements!

  12. Corinne
    August 16, 2011 at 12:01 pm

    This is truly amazing work! I smiled all the way through! Gorgeous details ladies!!

  13. Lindsay
    August 17, 2011 at 10:15 am

    Can you share the martini recipe? The color is perfect!

  14. Chelle
    August 17, 2011 at 4:01 pm

    So pretty! Such great detail! I would love to know where the flower girl's tutus are from! They look so cute!

  15. Susan
    August 17, 2011 at 7:09 pm

    Not only is this event absolutely charming, the details tell an amazing story of the bride and groom.

  16. Sara Donaldson
    August 18, 2011 at 1:33 pm

    MARTINI RECIPE

    Grapefruit Champagne Cocktail with Fresh Thyme Syrup

    Thyme Simple Syrup:
    Yields 1 cup
    1 cup granulated sugar
    1 cup water
    1 bunch fresh thyme
    Simmer ingredients together in a small saucepan over medium high heat until reduced by half—approximately 45 minutes. Strain, let cool then chill completely.

    To mix cocktail:
    Pour 1 part thyme simple syrup in a martini glass or highball. Add 1 part fresh grapefruit juice and two parts chilled champagne. Garnish with a thinly-sliced grapefruit round and a sprig of fresh thyme.

  17. Grace
    September 3, 2011 at 12:47 pm

    I am so amazed and impressed with everything I see. Talk about detail oriented! Shannon Schultz Events, could you please contact me!!! I'd love to talk to you about helping me out with my wedding!

  18. Shannon Schultz
    September 3, 2011 at 5:34 pm

    Chelle,

    The tutus are from a local dance shop. You can also find them online at capezio. The girls had so much fun in them!

4 Links to “French Ballet Inspired Photo Shoot by Sara Donaldson”

  1. Ballet Inspired Photo Shoot « blue eye brown eye
    August 15, 2011 at 9:24 am

    [...] turned out. Here is a sampling of the shoot, and to see the complete collection of images visit Style Me Pretty today! All photos are by Sara [...]

  2. Ballet-Inspired Glamour «
    August 17, 2011 at 6:04 am

    [...] poms and white flowers: Martha Stewart Weddings| Peonies and anemones: La Belle Vie| Flower girl: Style Me Pretty| Rooftop table: Style Me Pretty| Bow-Topped Slingbacks: BHLDN| Engagement ring and macarons: Rinse. [...]

  3. Photo Inspiration | Love You, Mean It
    September 12, 2011 at 12:25 pm

    [...] via F.Y. Wedding Ideas Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. This entry was posted in [...]

  4. style me pretty | Simple Things Blog
    December 13, 2011 at 2:28 pm

    [...] out these gorgeous photos from the Style Me Pretty blog that feature Simple Things merchandise! Photographs were taken by Sara Donaldson and design was [...]

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