It’s no mystery why we fell madly in love with this Versailles inspired wedding upon first glance. The timeless gilt decor, tastefully woven throughout burgundy + pink blooms and amber candlelight, heralds a story of enchanting romance… we’re already eager for the next installment from the planner + designer behind these marvelous scenes, The Gilded Aisle. Bold orchids accented by delicate sweet pea and drippy amaranth were fitting show pieces for the fireplace mantle, ornate stairwell and shiny gold table in particular. Ashland Addison is definitely one to keep your eye on! After all the storybook moments of the day had come and gone, the visual poetry from Lisa Blume and Lynette Boyle remains an everlasting portal into these treasured Versailles inspired wedding moments. We feel humbled to share their brilliance with you below! On y va?
From the Planner & Designer, The Gilded Aisle: Since international travel has been delayed for many couples this past year, I wanted to bring a little bit of Europe, more specifically France, to this shoot. Our inspiration drives from The Palace of Versailles focusing in on its glorious details and romantic theme. Our color palette includes a great deal of gold, similar to that of Versailles, as well as pinks and burgundy to portray that feel of romance.
When you think of The Palace of Versailles you think of elegance and sophistication with great attention to detail, which not only is represented in this shoot but in my style as a wedding planner as well. Through the details of the marbling and landscape of the venue, I wanted to feel as though we were transported to another era, while adding a refined and graceful yet contemporary feel to the bride. The stunning florals, constructed by the wonderful Ashland Addison Florist, give a nod to the famous Versailles Gardens and make use of vast greenery as well as incorporating many bold colored flowers such as purple phalaenopsis orchids, burgundy amaranthus, dark blue delphinium, and pink garden rose. After my first meeting with Veronica of Ashland Addison Florist, I knew immediately that we were about to create something truly special and what their team created was beyond what I could have imagined.
I had grown up close to the shoot’s location, The Armour House at Lake Forest Academy, and since becoming a planner I have always dreamed of what I could create in the space because it is truly a breathtaking venue. The Armour House demonstrates beautiful features such as a glossy pond, an elaborate staircase, and crown molding throughout the space. You will see in the images of our intricate escort board, that it was designed to emulate these hand-carved moldings found in the venue.
After creating the initial vision, the wonderfully talented photographers Lisa Blume and Lynette Boyle joined me to collaborate on the shoot and help capture all the elegant features. Lara from Old North Film Company joined shortly after, who filmed the shoot so beautifully and created stunning video content consisting of every bit of detail. Our wedding table began with gorgeous rentals provided by Ellie & Rose, located in Chicago. Their stunning white and gold table was the perfect size to include all the glorious items we envisioned to be placed on the tabletop. To complement the table, we included gold chairs with luxurious back detailing and white cushion covers.
The table place settings were crafted by the fabulous team over at Kenzy Gifts, located in Lake Forest, IL. I knew before coming to Yasmin, the Owner of Kenzy Gifts, that I wanted to utilize Arte Italica’s Vetro Gold plates because to me, it screams Versailles. We used Arte Italica’s Bella Bianca beaded white dinner plate to break up the gold in the charger and salad/dessert plate as well as tie in the white marble detailing of the vinyl table cover provided by Inkredible Dance Floors.
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We softened the dinnerware by adding the Arte Italica Sofia glasses with dainty white lace engraving on the glass. To tie in some of our burgundy and rose colors seen in the florals, we added Kim Seybert’s Dip Dye Napkins in berry & plum as well as Kenzy Original Verona Tea/Drinking Glasses. Ashland Addison Florist topped off the table with gold votive candles and candlestick holders with a light pink candlestick.
If court life continued to exist today, we have a feeling this aesthetic would fit the bill quite perfectly. Gilt decor elements are everything, and this Versailles inspired wedding is an exquisite lesson in the art of timeless sophistication. See another take on the Versailles aesthetic (this time incorporating teal and ruby jewel tones peppered throughout a landscape of lucite) in this real wedding feature next!
Wedding Vendors:
Planning: The Gilded Aisle
Venue: Armour House at Lake Forest Academy
Lead Photography: Lisa Blume Photographer
Additional Photography: Lynette Boyle Photography
Florist: Ashland Addison Florists
Stationery: Inquisited
Rentals: Ellie & Rose
Tabletop Rentals: Kenzy Gifts
Table Vinyl: Inkredible Floors
Cinematography: Old North Film Company
Cake: Cake Chicago
Makeup: Shannon O’Brien Makeup Artist
Hair: Fearless & Bella
Dress: Mira Couture
Bridal Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Ring & Earrings: Barbara Parker Fine Jewelry
Model: Paige Model & Talent Agency
Cocktail: Rye Remedy
Macarons: Tous Les Jours/ Duverjer
