“Are we in Paris?” was the first thing that came to mind upon discovering that The Olana, a French inspired estate, existed. It’s one of the quickest concepts for any styled shoot that has come to fruition on my end, and our Dallas wedding planners couldn’t be more thrilled to share the end result with you.
This baroque estate sits on forty acres and was built as an homage to the Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte in Paris. With its marble floors, hand-carved detailing and rich wallpaper tapestries, we wanted to do a full shoot that would try and do the space justice.
First, we started with a boudoir shoot of the bride, that had free-flowing greenery climbing up the walls of one of the suites. In this room, there is a variety of hand-carved wall trims, framing gold-flecked, damask wallpaper. This greenery was then repeated in the lap pool area of the estate. Having both these areas highlighted with lush greenery and blooms brought about a sense of movement and fragility to the spaces that helped accentuate the femininity and elegance of the bride.
The grandeur of the estate needed an elegant and regal figure to represent the couple that was envisioned. To present this image, the styling was paramount and we had two different hair and makeup looks, along with outfit changes for the couple to depict that.
The first at the ceremony was a demure portrayal, with the bride’s hair in loose waves and subtle, more natural makeup. Here, the bride wore a delicate, flowing gown with intricate floral detailing on its sheer long sleeves. That pattern is repeated throughout the dress, that complemented her bouquet and organic arch perfectly! The groom wore a three-piece suit with a gray pattern.
At the reception, we kicked things up a notch and wanted to bring outfits that you don’t typically see often at a reception, but one that we think really showcases the personalities of the couple! While the groom looked dapper in a salmon suit, the bride wore a jumpsuit (all the better to move in) that we paired with a flowy, sheer coat.
We wanted the tablescape to be a good contrast against the estate and had a whimsical take on it, with a velvet pink table linen, paired with lush centerpieces and a variety of desserts. To tie the elegance of the location to the setting, however, we used minimal plateware and stationery, that balanced well with the stone slabs of the estate.
For other inspiration shoots we have planned and designed for, see below:
