An Elopement Editorial That Captures the Allure of the French
What does it take to create an alluring, Provence inspired elopement without leaving the States? A delicate Truvelle gown with a hint of lace, foraged florals expertly arranged by Finding Flora, Melanie Osorio Photography behind the lens, and the keen vision of HauteFêtes Fine Weddings and Design. See that certain je ne sais quoi for yourself – it's all in the Vault.
From HauteFêtes Fine Weddings and Design… Provence is one of those places that, when visited, captures the heart and mind and never fully leaves the soul. The light, the dusty colors, the time-worn patina of its architecture, even the food has a way of staying with you long after the last morsel. For our elopement, we were inspired by the simple, rustic elegance of Provence which we brought to southern California. Melanie Osorio Photography has such an authentic way of capturing beauty that we transported our bride and groom to a French bastide on a late summer afternoon to start a new life as a couple. The rose lined driveway and wisteria clad walls of Bastide de Bonheur made for a beautiful backdrop for our intimate affair. Our wonderfully talented florist, Finding Flora, used a combination of hops and branches foraged from the gardens, and the vine motif became a central design element for our stationery suite with By Priscilla Lee's beautiful, French-inspired calligraphy. For our color story, a dusty fall palette of rose, ochre, and persimmon were complemented by warm wood and brass tones. Handmade dishes, simple wine, water goblets, gold flatware, vintage brass candleholders, and stone-washed linen from La Tavola completed our French farm table top. No elopement would be complete without some kind of French pastry – a decadent croquembouche, perfectly imagined by The Crimson Cake and accented with tiny flowers, was really hard to resist. The cream walls provided the perfect canvas for our vision as all the pretty details came to life. Styling the couple, we knew we wanted a youthful, romantic look, which Jess Steingard so wonderfully captured. A chiffon and lace dress from La Truvelle was the perfect balance of the effortless elegance and allure the French are so well known for. We completed her look with Bella Belle shoes, her hair casually swept up in a romantic chignon, loose tendrils escaping in the wind, and a sprig of flowers gently tucked in. This shoot was incredibly easy, relaxed, and fun to create. We laughed so much – it shows in our real couple’s faces. It was so lovely to spend a day with likeminded creatives, playing with design, walking through the garden, and taking beautiful pictures. I hope these images show how much we enjoyed putting it together!
Photography: Melanie Osorio Photography | Event Design: HauteFetes | Event Planning: HauteFetes | Floral Design: Finding Flora | Wedding Dress: Truvelle | Invitations: By Priscilla Lee | Ceremony Venue: Bastide De Bonheur | Shoes: Bella Belle | Hair + Makeup: Jess Steingard | Candles: Creative Candles | Dessert: The Crimson Cake | Dishes: Crate & Barrel | Linens: La Tavola Fine Linen Rental | Silverware: West Elm
