France Wedding Ideas and Inspiration - Style Me Pretty

Is This Real Life? Oh Yes It Is…And It Only Gets Better + Better…

Your wedding day is undoubtably one of the most amazing, special, beautiful days of your life… but for this couple, that joyride continued into their honeymoon in the South of France, where Oliver Fly captured the ongoing magic. From a romantic dinner for two, to after dinner drinks in the lavender fields at golden hour, this right here is what dreams are made of. See more in our Vault!

From Oliver Fly… Eva and Anoop are a sweet couple from New York City, living in Manhattan. They got married last June in the Big Apple and France and Greece were part of their dream for their honeymoon destinations.

They chose Provence because it has everything they dreamed of for a venue. It is a natural place that is well preserved and is amazingly beautiful, relaxing and has so many different towns and villages to experience, to walk around, and to take magnificent photos at. It is one of those regions that one must see at least once in their lives. Provence is probably the most beautiful region in France.

They love everything about the South of France, the beautiful scenery, the peace and quiet, the lovely vineyards and old Provencal houses, the cypress trees, and the lavender fields.

They spent a few relaxing days at the elegant Bastide de Marie in the French countryside located in the Luberon Regional Park between Gordes and Ménerbes. Eva and Anoop loved the drive around the countryside while appreciating nature, the beautiful sunset, and the selection of restaurants and bars within the region that serve authentic French cuisine and wine. They can’t wait to go back and see more of the South of France with all those stunning villages.

When they planned their honeymoon to France, they could not imagine leaving this place without a great souvenir, that’s why they decided to contact a professional photographer to go back home with some tangible memories that will last for years to come. It was very important for them for this moment to be captured through photographs that they can look at through the years.

We started the session with an intimate dinner at their luxury hotel at La Bastide de Marie, the perfect backdrop where they spent few unforgettable days in the middle of nature with vineyards, cypress trees, enchanting scented lavender bushes and century-old olive trees. The elegant floral design has been made with love by the talented provencal florist Laetitia C. Fleurs d’Atelier.

Their journey in Provence was the perfect timing for the lavender fields in blossom where we spent the second part of their dreamy session during the golden hour.

Nothing better for their honeymoon than joy, elegance and romance in the lavender fields ending a fantastic day with a perfect sunset and a signature drink with Champagne Rosé and a sprig of lavender.

Cheers from Provence !

Sylvie Gil’s Vintage Inspired Workshop in the South of France, Part I

If you were mistakenly born outside of France, then this Chateau de Varennes workshop is for you. Dreamed up by the talented Sylvie Gil Photography, it’s unique pairing of vintage elements and modern details (thanks to the stylings of Jesse Tombs) will have you daydreaming about a trip across the pond pronto. Until then, you can see every beautiful detail in The Vault! P.S. Stay tuned for Part II

MORE INFO HERE ON SYLVIE GIL’S 2017 WORKSHOP!

Style Me Pretty is so excited to be a part of Sylvie Gil Workshops, a fine art photography workshop in a luxurious 18th century Chateau in Burgundy, France. Photographers, this is wonderful chance to take your business to another level, find your own personal style, attract your dream client, and make new industry friends in a relaxed atmosphere, all while enjoying amazing food prepared by a French chef!

Sylvie and her team of industry gurus will share their successful business formulas, how to book your ideal clients, and how they design and photograph gorgeous styled shoots.

Dates for the 2017 workshop will be announced tomorrow, Sept 28th right here. xoxo

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From Jesse Tombs… Chateau De Varennes, located in the Burgundy region of France has hundreds of years of history. Built almost 400 years ago and recently named by CNN and Luxworldwide among the top ten best wedding venues in the world it called for a decor story that was laden with luxury and albeit history.

With 70’s vintage walking the most current red carpets and runways of Europe, I decided to focus my design on the era of excess, bold prints, color, texture and unusual fabrics. Inspiration was found from current collections from Gucci’s newly anointed creative director Frida Giannini and Nicolas Ghesquiere, creative director of Louis Vuitton. Colors were also pulled from images of vintage 70’s fashion magazines such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.

When designing a wedding, I pull inspiration, quirks and unique customized ideas from my clients personal life, history as a couple, interests, passions and family heritage; as this was a stylized shoot for the purpose of teaching photography, there was a lack of personal connection to a client per-say, which I didn’t want. I wanted the design to still read as something that a client
had helped me envision, something that felt authentic and real, and so a style story was born.

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Claire Pettibone

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These Grooms Planned the Ultimate Entertainment: Synchronized Swimmers

Rade and David’s destination wedding in the South of France is one fete you’re sure to favor. With Wedding Angels at the helm, it was a day filled with synchronized swimmers, stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea, and an all-white theme that’s anything but vanilla. Captured by Ashley Ludaescher Photography, we’ve got their entire celebration waiting for you to fall in love with via The Vault!

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From Ashley Ludaescher Photography… Rade and David and their guests came all the way from Los Angeles to celebrate their marriage on the French Riviera, one of their favorite places in the world, and it was definitely one for the books! The wedding was held at the fabulous Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, located at the southern tip of the Saint Jean Cap Ferrat peninsula. They chose an all-white theme for the day, from the flowers to the guest’s attire. For their ceremony, they chose location that offered stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea and the dinner celebration was held next to the seaside infinity pool. Before exchanging vows, David’s aunt read the supreme court opinion authored by Justice Kennedy and the words had almost everyone crying happy tears.

“No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.”

As the sun set over the sea, guests were ushered down to the pool in the bubble funicular and were greeted by synchronized swimmers and serenaded by a violinist playing while floating in a bubble in the pool. The incredible dinner was highlighted with speeches from those closest to Rade & David and the overwhelming love surrounding the couple was incredible to witness. The night ended with a pool party & dance party lasting into the wee hours of the morning. More weddings should end the party in the pool

What an Anthropologie Writer Wore For Her Parisian Honeymoon

What does a style maven at Anthropologie wear for her honeymoon in the City of Light? The prettiest lace dress paired with a chic leather jacket, that’s what. Photographed by Le Secret d’Audrey, their honeymoon session is straight from a fashion editorial and you can see even peek back at their engagement on SMP!

From Natalie… Matthew and I met in late summer after I had spent a few months studying in Europe and staying with a friend in Paris. I fell in love with Paris and then fell in love with Matthew shortly after so the two always felt intertwined in my heart. I started my blog BellesVies. Com to write about my life as an American woman in love with French culture so France was the obvious choice when it came time to plan our honeymoon. Matthew had never been to Paris and I was so excited to share my favorite city with him. The combination of getting married and being in Paris with my new husband in a span of 48 hours was overwhelmingly beautiful and such a magical culmination of our love story. We spent a week in Paris staying in the Marais before continuing our journey through Burgundy, Provence, and the Côte d’Azur. I’m so in love with Paris and I’m already dreaming of our next trip.

A Picture Perfect Parisian Engagement

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

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

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

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

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

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

Don’t Believe in Magic? This Charming French FÊTE Will Change Your Mind

Audrey Hepburn once said that Paris is always a good idea, but one peek at this stunning château wedding has us ready to jet straight to the French countryside. Overflowing with lush blooms and planned to perfection by Mon Plus Beau Jour, this charming fête is the kind of magic you just can’t shake. Peruse every pretty moment snapped up by M&J Photography, and get ready to say enchanté to your new dream day!

FromMon Plus Beau Jour… This wedding took place in the Loire Valley, France. We were lucky enough to be able to set up the ceremony, cocktail hours and dinner outside, in the gorgeous ground of this chateau.

A Truly French Celebration That’ll Have You Saying Oui Oui

An intimate church wedding is basically music to our wedding loving ears, and Sara and Josh’s romantic little ceremony? It’s basically the sweetest sounding symphony. Add in the beautiful countryside of Burgundy and their closest family and friends and you’ve got a celebration that you won’t want to miss. See it all captured by Marie FilmPhotographer in The Vault!

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From Marie FilmPhotographer…Sara and Josh are from Ohio and their dream wedding was in France. But not in Paris as you could think of, but in the beautiful countryside of Burgundy.

The Chateau de Varennes was named by CNN among the top ten best wedding venues worldwide.
Their closest family member and friends came from the US to attend their union.

The ceremony in the intimate little church was so emotional, the french champagne to get ready helped the bridesmaids to survive the day, the weather was beyond perfect, the outdoor diner was so romantic. This is a perfect wedding with a perfect couple.

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Badgley Mischka

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Chic Shoes + Pink Peonies Set Our Stylish Hearts Aflutter

What do you get when you take a gorgeous English Bride and her dapper Groom, add in some very, very chic fashion choices (hello Inbal Dror!) and place them all in a “is this even real life” French chateau? One wedding to remember. French Grey Photography and Zen Film Works captured all of the dreams as they came true at Chateau La Duratie and our Vault is looking quite fashionably fine with it all!

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From French Grey Photography… The late spring wedding of this fashion-oriented bride and groom from England was my first wedding of the year at Chateau la Durantie. The Chateau and the stylish couple went hand in hand and the event was filled with beautiful details on every level! The bride wore a very sexy and form fitting Inbal Dror gown and the groom matched his bride’s sexiness with his Louboutin red soled shoes.

Every space in the Chateau was filled with beautiful florals that made the place smell incredible. And the stylish guests enjoyed the atmosphere in this French Chateau until the very early hours of the morning!

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Badgley Mischka

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Peonies, Paper Parasols & A White Horse. This Wedding is a Fairytale IRL

You know that wedding you dreamed about as a little girl. Simply put…this is it. An epic high-low dress. Pink peonies by the buckets – quite literally. Floating paper parasols above an al fresco reception. And a white horse with flower-adorned mane. I can hardly believe this day is real life, so join me in the gallery by Peter & Veronika to see for yourself.

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From The Bride…Our wedding was about being with our friends and family and celebrating in a beautiful place. Working in food, I definitely wanted that to be a big part of the week. Will proposed in provence at the hotel de tourrel (location of our rehearsal dinner) so it made sense for us to return to a place that was so magical for us. We tried to show our friends and family the best of what we had experienced there. I have incredibly talented bridesmaids who helped with so many of the aspects of the wedding from hair and makeup to flowers.

Rain Has Never Looked So Good

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This Candlelit Parisian Wedding is Everything

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It Doesn’t Get More Charming Than a French Countryside Wedding

I’m not sure whether it’s Madame Artisan Fleuriste pretty florals, Sylvie Gil’s dreamy photographs, or the quaint countryside setting itself, but this wedding has completely captured my heart. Simple and sweet, the couple kept the extra fuss to a minimum and let the joy-filled moments speak for themselves. See the day for yourself, little French chapel included.

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From The Bride…We wanted something like us, like what we love most in our everyday life. So basically chic but not bling, amazing food and wine, simple, smart, and authentic. It took place in the vineyard of Laurent’s family where there are very old trees, hectares of vines, olive trees, a beautiful, romantic and provencal castle and an amazing tiny chapel, where we have celebrated our union.

Glamorous Wedding Film in the City of Light

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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A Storybook Parisian Wedding Inspiration That’s Fit for Fiction

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

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

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

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

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This Parisian Engagement Session Delivers Major Goals

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

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

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

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

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

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

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French Châteaux Are Where Wedding Dreams Are Made

Styled shoots are special – they give vendors the opportunity to create any scene their heart desires and when we get invited in, we get pretty excited. And this one here is divine. With Mango Muse Events behind the wheel, various influences were combined into one Old World meets modern elegance at Chateau de Jalesnes and Julia Winkler captured all. Our Vault is brimming with the goods – this way!

From Mango Muse Events… For this fall French chateau wedding shoot, we really wanted to create a whole wedding to showcase the beauty of the chateau. So, we did just that and to inspire us, was Jasper and Camille.

Jasper and Camille met in France while studying abroad. They became friends and then later, more than friends. She’s American and he’s British, so when they got engaged, they wanted a destination wedding in the country where they met. They wanted to celebrate where they fell in love and share it with their guests. They wanted a small wedding, just family and a couple of close friends and they wanted everyone to stay together in the same place. While they love Paris, they wanted something a bit quieter, so they picked a chateau in Loire Valley. Chateau de Jalesnes was perfect because it is in the countryside, but not so far away from Paris that they couldn’t hang out there too.

She’s a teacher of biology and he’s a historian. They love trivia, puzzles, facts and of course history. So, we included touches that evoke a bit of history both past and the creation of a new one. They wanted to bring in both of their cultures and mix it with French style. So, we created a wedding with an old world feel combined with a contemporary natural look. Comfortable but luxurious, organic but detailed.

The details included special gifts for their wedding guests leading them from one area and stage in the wedding day to the next. As guests woke up, they received a vial of perfume to get them ready for the day. Then at the ceremony located at the forest decorated with garlands fitting the tower ruins, the guests receive a vintage French handkerchief.

After the ceremony, guests are greeted in the foyer with small hand written notes and stories (decorated with natural florals and vines and mini apples) sitting next to a history book where guests are asked share their favorite stories of the couple. At dinner, the place cards and menus showcase an amazing meal to come. Tables are set with overflowing natural garlands with fall foliage, fruit and flowers. The night ends with drinks in the lounge, delectable desserts and the couple’s favor, a choice of coffee or tea (each a favorite of the couple’s).

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Fairytale Engagement Session Complete with Castles and Couture

If you’ve ever doubted that fairy tales exist, then we invite you to peek at this storybook session captured by Love Is My Favorite Color. Complete with castles, couture, insanely gorgeous backdrops, AND sweet kisses, thanks to The Vault we think you’ll believe in happily ever after in no time at all.

From Love Is My Favorite Color…When you’re at Mont Saint-Michel you can’t help but feel you’re in some kind of magical place.

The aura around Mont Saint-Michel shone through the clouds and the rain and created the perfect setting for Evelyn and Windy’s fairytale engagement shoot.

They came all the way from Indonesia to experience one of Europe’s most unforgettable sights and led us with them. We could not have dreamed of such a perfect place, in such a breathtaking location.

Photography: love is my favorite color | Dresses: Christine Wibowo | Location: Mont Saint Michel

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Tips to Look Your Best at Your Engagement Session

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A Picture Perfect Photo Session on a Rainy Day in Paris

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Perfect Garden E-Sesh for Any Couple With A Green Thumb

It’s official, I’m moving to Dangeau and it’s all thanks to the captures from Jen Huang. Because this gallery right here? It’s my dream life. Seriously, no exaggeration. A slow French afternoon in the garden with the one you love? DREAM, DREAM, DREAM. See it all in The Vault!

From Jen Huang…In Dangeau, days are slow and nights glow with the warmth of summer. For Louise and Pieras, a honeymoon was the extension of their quiet romance. Here are the languid moments in the chateau kitchen and gardens. Days were spent in each others arms and afternoons in the cool vegetable patch. Intimate kisses were exchanged as they prepared delicious organic dinners paired with local rose wines. Glances and moments were weighted, heavy with the anticipation of their future life together. There is nothing more fulfilling than the daily repetition of a simple routine when it is with someone you can not bear to be without.

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This Paris Wedding Will Make You Believe in Love at First Sight

Your first time in Paris is something you’ll never forget, and for Annie and Robin, they’ll remember more than just the city’s magic — they’ll remember their wedding day. After all, what could be better than seeing the world’s most romantic city than seeing the world’s most romantic city on the most romantic day of your life. And thanks to Le Secret d’Audrey and MgImage, we can see it all too in The Vault!

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Al Fresco Romantic

From Le Secret d’Audrey…Annie and Robin contacted me as soon as they got engaged as Annie dreamed of Paris for her wedding. She never visited Europe so it was a full adventure! We were lucky to have the sunniest day for us and after the ceremony I took the couple in my favorite locations in Paris for some timeless couple photos.

Her dress was stunning and Annie was the most elegant bride. With the beautiful architecture of the ShangriLa hotel we sneaked into the lobby before the ceremony and shot some Classic photo of her. She was all smile and excited to meet Robin to start a new Chapter of their life.

For months we were exchanging about her wedding, I gave her all my inputs about Paris, my recommendations and preferred vendors so it is always emotional even for me to see the day unfolding like you imagined.

From The Bride…We met at our previous job a little more than 6 years ago. We were working in different departments and by chance he had a project that required him to work in my area. We then realized we lived 20 minutes away from each other so we started carpooling to work together. We started off as friends for a while, then I noticed he started acting unusual and different around me. I just wanted to be friends at first but he was very persistent. He would do something sweet for me every single day. Even when I initially turned him down, he was persistent for almost a full year! He is super funny with an incredible sense of humor. He is very witty and super smart. We started sharing stories about our childhood/upbringing and we realized we had a lot in common. I soon realized that he is a sweet, caring, generous and loving person and I found myself falling for him too.

We decided to get married in Paris because we both think it is the most romantic city in the world. Everything about Paris is romantic! The language, the art, the architecture… breathtaking! So that’s why we chose Paris because we thought it would be a great place to get married and a wonderful back drop for photos. To be honest, when we were indecisive about the location, seeing Audrey’s photography really inspired me and helped us finalize the decision.

My dress is designed by Hayley Paige and I loved the playful yet romantic soft layers created by the horsehair tulle on the dress.

My bouquet was inspired by multiple photos on Pinterest. I didn’t want cliche red roses. Since my wedding is during spring time, I wanted soft spring colors!