2019 Style Shoot Design Contest Submission: A Vintage European Wedding

We’re packing our bags to head to abroad with this submission to our 2019 Style Shoot Design Contest! Emma from Emma McMahan Photography paired up with the Event/Sales Director of the Manor House, Morgan, to create this timeless European themed shoot. Dubbing the style, “Monet French Gardens,” the team tied light blue with Living Coral, the Pantone Color of the Year, to create this brightly colored look. 

 

We’re in love with that dress’s elegant sleeves. It’s no surprise this flirty and sultry two-layer gown ties into the French theme so well. As an added bonus, the slight undertone of blush complements the Living Coral aspect of this shoot. “Our bride was glowing in the gown!” Emma gushes. “It was the perfect mix of sultry and fun with a little French flair!” 

The team wanted the bride to look effortlessly beautiful, so they stuck to a loose, romantic updo. The soft pink tones of her makeup bring out a natural beauty that’s simply stunning.

 

The venue was a large draw of inspiration for this shoot. Emma explains that each room had a partition and paintings that brought out a natural European atmosphere the team could easily expand on. The elegant white pavilion of this outdoor ceremony and the rented wooden pillars perfectly placed this atmospheric ceremony in the backyard of an old-world manor. “I loved that it felt like this lounge area could have been in a French countryside estate that was pulled out into the yard for a romantic wedding at a family home,” Emma says. “While the venue is a wonderful statement on its own, it is such a lovely location to create something that feels very personal as well.”

 

The color palette the team used was based on Monet's Water Lilies painting. Emma says, “I loved how beautiful the colors in that painting made the coral pops stand out in a subtle and romantic way.” Flowers such as peonies, hydrangeas and garden roses with pops of blue and coral add a feeling of true romance. “I loved how the brassy color tied into our candlesticks, and the gold accents of the French gate fleur de lis,” Emma adds.

 

This three-tier cake was hand-painted to add a heartfelt touch. Emma explains this was a way to incorporate modern feel to an otherwise vintage tone. “While a lot of this shoot was meant to have a vintage and romantic feel, the painted cake, bright and vibrant color palette, hedge wall for the seating chart and hand-painted venue portrait combined a lot of current trends,” she notes.

 

 

 

 

 

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