Today, I am thrilled to share that we have been featured by Magnolia Rouge! This past autumn we spent two days at the glorious Château du Grand-Luce creating absolute magic with our dear friend Rachael Ellen Events. For Victoria and Lucas, an international couple living in Paris, it was all modern haute couture with the most gorgeous black wedding gown. Keep reading for the full story and for all of the gorgeous Chateau Grand Luce wedding photos!
As told by Rachael, “Unlike many châteaux in the Loire Valley, Château Grand-Lucé has an undeniable Parisian air. Although it is in the country, there is a sense of chic modernity and romance that one experiences walking the streets of the city of light. This château is one of the only works untouched by the destruction of the French Revolution and remains to be a perfect example of neoclassical architecture.
For the color palette, I wanted to create a feeling of undeniable luxury while maintaining a sense of classicism. Black, gold, cream, and soft grey perfectly fit the bill. Aileen of Plume created a stunning invitation suite with handmade paper and gold calligraphy. The strong color palette gave just the right amount of chic modernism while the gold foil and textured edges evoked an old world sensibility. Vellum accents with wax seal details furthered the juxtapositional design. Our styling was once again paired by this mix of feelings – over the top Parisian pumps paired with antique French texts.
The combination of chic Parisian sensibility and timeless French architecture inspired us to create a similar juxtaposition in our editorial. We wanted to create something that felt modern yet classic, chic yet romantic, and French yet forward thinking.
Our beautiful bride wore a stunning black ostrich feather gown. This color choice created a fashion statement – which we are seeing more and more brides lean towards. Brides don’t have to be bridal – they can opt for an iconic fashion moment instead – especially when getting married in the most fashionable country in the world. Our groom wore a velvet black tux – the perfect combination of French luxury and modern sensibility. Her sleek hair and classic makeup proved to be the perfect combination for this look.
The tablescape was inspired again, but the combination of modern and antique. I wanted it to feel Parisian yet fresh. I opted for the soft grey tones of a Parisian sky – greys, blues, neutrals, and a touch of black. The florals were monochrome and featured a mix of modern and classic elements. Dried lunaria balanced the traditional white roses while the organic nature allowed the look to have an air of romance. A mix of ivory and grey taper candles created a modern look while the antique china and brass candle holders anchored the design back to the antiquity of the château. Modern flatware and chairs juxtaposed the background of the classic french chateau architecture.
Overall, my inspiration for this design was for the bride who adores French romanticism but is naturally drawn to a more modern, chic aesthetic. The French countryside doesn’t have to mean vintage or antique – take a fresh spin on the countryside sensibility that seems so obvious – bring a touch of bold Parisian fashion to the Loire Valley for an unforgettable french wedding celebration.”
Chateau Grand-Luce Wedding Photos: Molly Carr Photography | Planning, Design, Styling, & Florals: Rachael Ellen Events | Venue: Château du Grand-Luce | Paper Goods: Plume Calligraphy | Jewelry: J. Brooks Jewelers Gown: Millia London | Hair & Makeup: Jen Lagers | Tuxedo: The Black Tux | Linens: BBJ Linen
The perfect meld of classic and modern and so très chic! Well done, my friends!