This French-Inspired Chicagoland Style Shoot is Giving All the Romantic and Elegant Vibes

"Since international travel has been delayed for many couples this past year I wanted to bring a little bit of Europe, more specifically France, into this fabulous shoot at The Armour House at Lake Forest Academy," Chelsea from Gilded Aisle Weddings admits. She drew inspiration from the Palace of Versailles to add elegant and extravagant details that bring an air of romance to this venue.
 

Having grown up close to The Armour House, Chelsea has been eyeing this beautiful venue for a long time. Once she became a wedding planner, she knew she needed to host a style shoot there! Chelsea raves, "The Armour House was extremely accommodating and has an accessible layout that is every wedding planner’s dream. We had no challenges at any point in the day!" In fact, though given the entire day to shoot, Chelsea thinks they could've gone even longer because everyone was so excited to be there.
 

Every detail of this shoot was selected to best replicate the Palace of Versailles. Elegant yet bold colors such as burgundy, gold and pink were used to bring romantic vibes into the shoot. The tablescape is one of the main centerpieces of this shoot. From the finely detailed china to the intricate golden-backed chairs, all the way to Arte Italia's stunning plates, this tablescape screams elegance! The florals in the middle bring the romantic element to the table. In fact, Chelsea wanted the florals to replicate those found in Versailles Gardens, and the florist did an amazing job. "I knew immediately that we were about to create something truly special, and what their team created was beyond what I could have imagined," Chelsea gushes. Our favorite décor highlight is that beautiful staircase scene!
 

Speaking of beauty, look at that dress! As Chelsea explains, "Rich in detail, the Ponte dress is sleek and sophisticated with a fabulous train, perfect for the magnificent staircase! The Ponte dress flourishes in unique features such as bell sleeves and a deep V-neck." The bride looks absolutely jaw-dropping, too! With the soft and romantic makeup to complement her natural beauty and those gorgeous dark curls, she fits right in with the elegant theme. One trend Chelsea tried to incorporate was paying close attention to all pieces of jewelry used in the shoot, as many brides have recently chosen their jewelry with care.
 

We are obsessed with the gold details on that delicious-looking, three-tiered cake. Despite its rather simple color scheme, this cake is the epitome of all things elegant. "When I first reached out to Jo-Anne Buege, owner of Cake Chicago, she knew right away exactly what I was looking for," Chelsea says. "She focused mainly on ornate and damask features which fit in perfectly with our theme and the venue." The design is so beautiful, it almost shouldn't be eaten! 
 

 

 

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