Sandra Vue of Dreambox Photography had a bold concept in mind inspired by the real deal. She says, “I had visited the Palace of Versailles in France (where Marie Antoinette lived) and was inspired by the queen’s elegant home and lavish lifestyle. I came up with the idea of a Marie Antoinette-inspired wedding featuring a tea party and masquerade reception. My overall vision was to create an over-the-top wedding with lots of pink florals and delicate details that, when combined, would make a bold statement.”
“I chose the Pantlind Ballroom at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids because the ballroom depicted the era of Marie Antoinette perfectly with its 24-carat gold ceiling, arched, mirrored walls and elegant chandeliers,” says Sandra. ”As soon as you walk into the ballroom, you will instantly feel as if you just stepped into an old world era filled with elegance and grandness. The ballroom was quite spacious and is perfect for both a wedding ceremony and wedding reception.”
Sandra instantly fell in love with the beautiful blush gown featuring delicate beadwork and layers of tulle. She paired it with ivory lace dresses for the bridesmaids. Bold, voluminous hairstyles and soft makeup made for an avant-garde look.
Sandra says, “Nikki from Simplicity Floral Designs & Events came up with the idea of using mostly roses for the bouquet and tablescape to give it an intimate and romantic feel. She also added some whimsical touches by adding anemone, stock, ranunculus and carnations.”
“This would not be a Marie Antoinette photo shoot without using the color pink,” says Sandra. “We added some white, blush, champagne and a hint of lavender to keep it interesting while keeping pink as the primary background.”
The shoot’s decor featured vintage teapots, teacups, dinnerware, flatware and goblets, a vintage settee and all white furniture pieces.
Sandra wanted to feature some delicious dessert and a big, tiered cake. “Audreanna Thompson of Pretty Delicious Designs came up with the idea of a chandelier cake with hanging crystals which went perfectly with our overall theme,” says Sandra. “She also provided some white chocolate covered strawberries, cupcakes and a pretty pink cake for the tea party. I added some French macarons and cotton candy fizz to complete the tea party scene.”
What We Love
Sandra says, “My intention was not to follow the trend but to create a trend. I am hoping to inspire future brides to venture outside of the rustic theme weddings and to start wearing non-traditional white or ivory wedding dresses.”
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