Pop quiz! How many countries, including our USA celebrate Independence Day? If guessed well over a hundred you’d be right but still shy of the true number which is roughly 194 countries around the world that celebrate their liberation from occupation by a foreign power! Not all countries celebrate with the same level of fan fair that we Americans do, however, one of our nation’s allies, France, comes a close second! Known as Bastille Day, the french celebrate their day on July 14th of each year filled with tradition just like us, incredibly yummy food and of course fireworks! As today is our Independence Day, you might be wondering why on earth I am rambling on about the French! When this super gorgeous lil styled inspiration session landed in my inbox, it was too perfect, too cute NOT to share on such a wonderful red, white & blue day! Today we celebrate not just our independence but that of all those around the world that are equally as free. There is so much to love here from tasty beignets, old french maps used as place settings & dessert table dressing, chalkboard bunting, & wonderful summer bridal style! Your going to love each pretty little touch & patriotic flair!
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What Storyboard Likes…
Printed Goods: I am a sucker for a great wedding invitation suite. There is something so put together, so sophisticated about a complete package from start to finish. The beauty in this red white and blue wedding invitation suite is in its simplicity & open airy white spaces. Nothing is rushed, cramped or hurting for breathing room anywhere in the design. The lines are clean, crisp & precise resulting in a beautifully modern suite. Color is used to precision here, allowing white to fully take the lead with pops of red & blue. My favorite piece of all might be the addition of the simple red & white striped ribbon which adorns the place cards. Such a lovely whimsically fun touch!
Summer Bridal Style: I have no idea if it is possible to be both laissez faire AND sophisticated but our bride most certainly is encompassing both! Dressed in a super cute short lil lace number, I can easily see more modern, less traditional brides going crazy over a look like this. This sort of hot dress is perfection for daytime summer weddings. There is a sophistication in the lace & scalloped halter neckline with a bit of spunk coming along from the short hem of the dress. The choice of the sockbun perfectly suits the joy de vivre feel our bride is going for, again something polished yet with whimsy. The addition of long pearl strands intertwined certainly gives off an old world feel all the while feeling fresh & young in their numbers game of layers. The overall look is refined yet playful, ready for a gal who wants to certainly be wonderfully put together on her day, but isn’t a fan of pompous and circumstance.
Pretty Little Details: I have always loved vintage maps. There is something both intriguing & romantic about them in their colors & design. I adore the choice here of utilizing old Paris maps to craft a much more interesting dessert table as well as place setting for our guests. Such an easy touch that immediately adds a level of sophistication simply by its association with the past! Another sweet details that I am totally crushing on is the chalkboard tag bunting which greets our guests as they come to the dessert table! Again a simple yet elegant touch & the choice of writing in lower case school font is perfection!! A few other little details help bring a french feel such as the hard sided petite travel case, thick striped blue & white throw as well as the board of old french vintage wine posters. Little touches that help bring a theme full circle without over powering!
A Note From The Design Team…
Since summer is here, it was no brainer to use the Bastille Day celebration as the stage for this fun shoot. Paris is a city with a great blend of contemporary and vintage classic architectures. We translated that concept via our modern, square serving containers and sleek, clean cocktail forks blended with vintage touches via our decor elements. The same goes with the stationery suite. Letterpress invitations with clean, modern design balanced with a personal touch from the calligraphy on the envelope and scalloped escort cards which add a touch of whimsy to the suite.
What’s a party without a dessert table? Rich red velvet cake with buttercream frosting, mini beignets and blueberry tartlets decked our dessert table. Lavender macaroons complete with cute “merci” mini tags served as guest favors. We opted to use gorgeous Parisian theme artisan papers from Paper Source to line the tables. We modpodged a couple of those papers onto canvases to make vintage looking paintings to add to the decor.
Our signature drink is the “French Kiss”, which is not only gorgeous to look at, it is also very tasty and summery. The key to creating the layers is to pour slowly and in the right portions. Here’s our recipe:
Bottom Layer: 1/2 oz Creme de cassis
Second Layer: 1 1/2 oz Alize Liqueur (3 x the amount of Creme de cassis, very important or it’ll blend)
Top off with Club Soda/Seltzer Water
Garnish with fresh mint and raspberries
Our bride wore a short, flirty yet elegant lace dress which is perfect for a summer wedding. As the night goes, she changed into an elegant evening gown for her dinner reception. Elegant sockbun styled hair, natural shade make up and pearl jewelry complete her look.
Though the shoot was designed as a wedding inspiration, the elements of decor and the theme itself is more universal. We hope to not only inspire brides, but also for those looking for inspirations for their summer parties.
Vendor Love
Venue: Abington Art Center | Dresses: Page Six | Jewelry & Shoes: Stylist Personal Collection | Make Up: C.E. Facial Artistry | Baked Goods: Aux Petits Delices | Cake: Ciao Bella Cakes | Calligraphy: Write Away For Your Calligraphy | Concept, Styling, | Decor & Floral: PAPERTINI | Event Coordination & Stationery: Trilogy Event Design | Letterpress Printing: Paravano Printing | Photography: Peach Plum Pear Photography