Miranda Priestly may have been right when she said florals for spring aren’t necessarily groundbreaking… but an intimate garden fête in a setting that looks like it was plucked straight from an Impressionist painting is! Especially when said setting is inspired by France’s iconic countryside village of Giverny, but with a US postal code. Yep. I’m talking about Monet Vineyards – a dreamy European style wedding venue you’d never believe is found in the PNW.
The influence of Monet is abundant in the design story from Willow & Ivy Events. At the heart of the pastel palette and nods to common fluttering garden residents (butterflies, bumble bees, dragonflies…) is a whimsical ode to sun-kissed afternoons in the Provencal countryside. To complement the mood, Lilyput Floral left her floral legacy through bell-shaped blooms in varying heights artfully tangled with dahlias, roses and petite fillers reminiscent of clouds turned starbursts. Of course, words can only do so much! So we’re truly thankful Janet Lin Photography was there to capture this Monet Vineyards wedding in full glory… and of course that we get to pass that beauty on to you today! Allons y.
From the Photographer, Janet Lin Photography: For the bride with a romantic, fine-art sense of style who is also drawn to pops of cheerful, whimsical color, we bring you this stunning micro-wedding experience at Monet Vineyards in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Featuring all the romance of a French Chateau inspired wedding venue, paired with a sherbet inspired-color palette, get ready to save these posts to your “dream wedding” Inspo board!
As a fine art wedding photographer with a light and airy style, I find that the couples I work with are often drawn to very romantic, light and airy venues and neutral color palettes. Every now and then though, the couple feels more connected to color and really wants to see it incorporated into their wedding day without losing the light and airy vision they dream of. This micro-wedding inspiration exemplifies how couples can do just that; allow their love for color to flow freely while preserving a timeless, fine-art aesthetic. Here’s how:
First and foremost, selecting a venue that lends itself to airy, light-filled photos is key. Monet Vineyards is a classically elegant venue offering the charm of a luxury European chateau in the Pacific Northwest countryside. The white home creates a perfect bright and airy backdrop while the lush ivy and blue doors and window frames add a bit of charm and whimsy. The property is meticulously curated. From the English gardens to the lavender-lined driveway, it is truly a magical place.
Setting the tone for the wedding day with an invitation suite that conveys your sense of style and design is such a beautiful way to create a cohesive and luxurious experience for your guests. Kristina of Cree & Co used a combination of romantic soft-white handmade paper and touches of blush pink and blue in the envelopes, liner, and accent pieces to introduce the romantic, neutral palette with pops of color. With a gorgeous venue sketch, gold-foil calligraphy, and dainty blind debossed floral detail, guests got a tiny glimpse of what to expect when they arrived on the wedding day. Cree & Co found creative ways to pay tribute to bumble bees, which were a special nod to the couple’s meeting place; Bumble the dating app! Bumble bees were subtly present throughout the wedding day, from the menus to the escort display.
Florals are an excellent way to introduce color to your otherwise neutral and romantic wedding scheme. Erica of Lilyput Weddings perfectly demonstrates how texture, color, and breadth can be combined to create arrangements that have that romantic, fine-art feel while incorporating color galore. The bridesmaids bouquets were cohesively designed to have similar shape and style, while each had a unique pastel color theme to complement each bridesmaid’s dress. The ceremony stair installation was utterly romantic, with colorful florals of varying size and height intermixed with loose, whimsical greenery and moody candlelight.
Modern white chairs and luxurious velvet ivory linens gave the reception tables an instantly elevated, fine-art look. Planner & Designer Alex of Willow and Ivy then selected tabletop pieces that would bring color into the dining experience while maintaining the romantic feel of the event. Butter yellow plates, pink and gold accented cutlery and gorgeous blue goblets that mimicked the color tones in the lush tabletop centerpiece and throughout the invitation suite brought the design full-circle.
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An unexpected way to marry color and fine-art style is with the wedding cake! Lady Grey Seattle created a three-tiered cake that pulled double duty as a work of art. With sleek, white top and bottom layers and a beautiful butter yellow center layer, this cake was both romantic and unique. With an impressionist floral design that flowed freely from the second to the third tier and incorporated tasteful splashes of color, this cake was a show-stopper and highlight of the design. As an added sweet treat at the end of the night, guests, were treated to delectable sugar cookies by Katie Grantier, a continuation of the pastel color palette and the intentional effort on behalf of the couple and designer to make this micro-wedding an intimate event where guests felt immersed in the experience.
The tiered wedding dress from A and Be Bridal Seattle had the fullness and movement this fine-art bride dreamed of, while the deep v neckline and blush pink color added just the right amount of whimsy and flair and complimented her pink Anueva Jewelry engagement ring perfectly. The bride chose her favorite pastel blue heels from Bella Belle Shoes to add one final touch of color to her ensemble. A romantic updo courtesy of Lovely By Lauren K and Beauty By Pearls signature soft glam makeup application completed her look.
J’adore! Seriously. We haven’t loved a spring garden wedding mood since these firefly-inspired nuptials. And today’s was at Monet Vineyards to boot! Join us as we give a virtual standing ovation to the dream team of vendors below. We could live in this scene forever!
Wedding Vendors:
Photography: Janet Lin Photography
Planning & Design: Willow & Ivy Events
Make Up: Beauty By Pearl
Floral Design: Lilyput Floral
Hair: Lovely by Lauren K
Cake: Lady Grey Seattle
Cookies: Katie Grantier
Paper & Calligraphy: Cree + Co
Stationery Artwork Collaborator: Art By Elina
Goblets: Balancing Balloons
Rings: Anueva Jewelry
Wedding Dress: A and Be Bridal
Groom Model: Koby Ridgell
Bride Model: Pearl Pullman
Bridesmaid Models: Aly Nordlie, Hailey Morris, Payton May, Angela Ramous
Shoes: Bella Belle Shoes
Photography Assistant/Second Shooter: Katy Hulten
Film Lab: Photo Vision Prints
Venue: Monet Vineyards
