Black-Tie Romance Meets Coastal Elegance in this Grosse Pointe Style Shoot

The hosts of this shoot dreamed up an editorial that had both the decadence of a black-tie soiree and the colorful beauty and effortless elegance of a coastal celebration. Although the planning process included a few unexpected hurdles, the incredible collaboration of local vendors ensured the shoot came together beautifully!
 

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As far as venues go, The War Memorial could not have been more perfect! Situated right on the shores of Lake St. Clair, this elegant estate had plenty of spaces for the team to utilize. The grand staircase cascading onto the expansive waterfront lawn created a breathtaking scene, while the stately fountain at the front entrance provided the ideal place to showcase the vintage getaway car featured in the shoot. With its timeless architecture and lakeside setting, the entire property evokes the charm and romance of a European escape—without ever leaving Michigan.
 

Both parts of the shoot beautifully contrast and complement one another. We are obsessed with the black linens in the black-tie portion of the editorial, as they allow every detail of the tablescape to stand out even more. We also love that the team opted for a white linen on the sweetheart table, helping it stand out among the guest tables. Layered with romantic candles and lush florals, it became an intimate focal point of the reception. In contrast, the outdoor coastal-inspired tablescape embraced a palette of soft pastels, creating an equally luxurious scene with a lighter, breezier feel.
 

This team decided to include two dresses in the shoot to help solidify the elegance of both scenes. The black-tie bride is dressed in a classic satin gown with a romantic lace-up corset back. One of our favorite details is the modern bow on the back! It's such a unique touch to the timeless style. The coastal elegance bride's dress was very classic at first glance, but up close it donned a few surprises! The sweetheart neckline brings an air of romance to the style while the pleated fabric design and ruched detail at the waist make the dress truly one-of-a-kind. And we love that the fabric moves like waves as the couple moves around the venue!
 

The team also differentiated the two scenes through the floral details. They used draping tulips for the black-tie part of the shoot, while the costal elegance side utilized plenty of hydrangeas to add texture to the tablescape. An abundance of blue elements were also included in the coastal elegance theme. One of our favorite blue details is the bride's shoes! What a fun way to incorporate something blue. We also love that a cake was included for the couple to cut and enjoy, because no wedding is complete without something sweet!
 

 

 

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