When Grace Kelly serves as the point of inspiration, you get a timeless bridal style with no shortage of sophistication. That was certainly the case for this bride who designed her own wedding gown, sourcing Chantilly lace from France and working directly with her dressmaker throughout the 10-month process. The result? A dress that truly set the scene for an incredible day planned by Twine Events. See all the photos by Brancoprata plus clip below by Robert Michael Films.
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From the Bride…
What did you envision your wedding being prior to planning?
We had a memorable engagement in Paris with my family and soon after, the two of us celebrated with a spontaneous getaway to the Italian coast. Everything about that trip felt like a dream. We knew we wanted to incorporate a very romantic European touch with each detail.
What was your color palette and your style vision?
I always love muted, neutral hues like cream, taupe, sand and pale blush. The palette is so effortless and there’s a softness and elegance to it. I wanted to keep everything classic with small hints of French-inspired decor like the blue bouquet blossom china we used for our tableware. While everyone dined outdoors during sunset, music by Edith Piaf played in the background. It felt like we were transported to another place in another era.
What unique elements or DIY details did you include?
Right after Jason proposed, we strolled along the Pont de l’Arcevêché where we wrote our locks and threw the key in the river. I will always remember the significance of that moment. After months of trying to find enough vintage locks, I had to get creative and settle for hand making guest escort cards for every couple. They were twined together with a small brass lock and key where they were displayed on a wrought iron gate to mimic the bridge. We also had a gentleman’s lounge / library where everyone enjoyed the cigars and whiskey tasting. I’ll give my husband credit for that one!
What was your favorite moment? Your favorite crafted detail?
Exchanging our personalized vows. Although I was a crying mess and we stood in front of a lot of people, the moment was so quiet and genuine that it was as if we were the only two there. My favorite crafted detail would have to be the collaborative work between my girlfriend, Heather from The Pointed Pen, who helped me design my formal invitations, and my brother who hand watercolored the artwork of the villa on the front face of the invite. It was all made with love.
Tell us about your flowers, your gown, your cake, etc.
The grounds already had aligned Italian Cypress trees, a side garden of rose bushes and the 1920’s villa was built with so much character that we didn’t need to overdo it with flowers. Our florist, Of The Flowers, did an amazing job highlighting areas to accentuate the natural beauty.
I designed my wedding gown with my dressmaker, Lucille (who I refer her as my ‘fairy godmother’). Grace Kelly was my wedding style muse. I envisioned the style and silhouette to be timeless and classic. We sourced the Chantilly lace from France and the top bodice was all hand sewn. It was such a fun and meaningful process for me that took nearly 10 months. Hopefully one day, I can pass it down to my daughter.
We opted out a cake and chose a dessert bar. We preferred to have many options of bite size sweets!
What is one piece of advice that you could give brides-to-be?
The same advice I was given: On the day of your wedding, take a moment. Sit in silence, be observant and reciprocate the gratitude and joy to everyone who is there to celebrate your special day. It all goes by so quickly.
Photography: Brancoprata | Videography: Robert Michael Films | Event Planning: Twine Events | Floral Design: Of The Flowers | Wedding Dress: Custom | DJ: Dart Collective | Officiant: Rev. John Moore | Venue: Villa Del Sol D'Oro | Deserts: Fantasy Frostings | Film Lab: Carmencita Film Lab | Rentals: Archive Rentals | Rentals : Dish Wish | Strings: Angelica Strings
