Art Nouveau Inspired Parisian Elopement | Paris, France

Featured on 100 Layer Cake.

At some point in time, any girl may dream of getting married in Paris. Nothing is more romantic than the idea of jetting off to France in the spring with your loved one, spontaneously getting lost in the winding streets, dining in eclectic cafes, and saying your vows in the City of Lights. Although these are all moments, they become memories that fuel a desire to return to Paris after having left. Hemingway said it best when he wrote: “Paris is a city, yes, but also an experience that one holds onto long after one’s Parisian visit has ended.”

The Art Nouveau movement was at the heart of the inspiration for the shoot. Considered a style of modern art and architecture, it’s best known for promoting art and design as a part of everyday life. Art Nouveau upholds that no object is too utilitarian to be beautiful. This is exemplified in Laure Lalliard’s floral designs and styling of the day. From the floral embellishments on the high-top bar stools and the mini-floral arrangements adorning each wine glass, to the highly elaborate mosaics covering the cafe walls from floor to ceiling, every detail was purposeful and embodied this stylistic ideal.

This elopement shoot took place at a Parisian cafe in the 1st Arrondissement called Poulette, known for its light and airy architecture and Art Nouveau signature aesthetic. The tile work served as a perfect starting point for the color inspiration for the shoot. All across the walls, you’ll see muted greens and yellows with pops of living coral and periwinkle. Laure embraced these colors when designing the tablescape and selecting the florals for the day. She used sweet peas, hellebores, clematis, several varieties of ranunculuses (including cappuccino - very appropriate for a cafe elopement), anemones, sweet violet, Iceland poppies, and eucalyptus.

The highly-embellished custom invitation suite from Atelier Prezburger added a touch of sophistication with the beautiful hand-drawn monograms in a shade of teal that perfectly complimented the groom’s suit jacket. The handwritten love letter was a romantic addition to the suite.

Instead of opting for your typical bouquet, Laure wanted to create something unique that would match the personality and aesthetic of this fashion-forward bride. She designed an arrangement more closely resembling a high-fashion couture handbag than a bouquet, with a gold hoop handle and asymmetrical composition for a modern touch. She also perfectly framed one of the mosaics with hanging floral arrangements made of eucalyptus and a variety of these fresh blooms. She took an asymmetric approach to this design as well and chose florals that would blend seamlessly into the tile, making it appear as though it was part of the mosaic.

The table places were set with chargers that complemented the sweet violets and eucalyptus, coral napkins that matched the mosaic, gold cutlery, and charcoal blue ceramic plates, all set along the high-top bar of the cafe. This setup up feels most authentic to the Art Noveau inspiration and what a real Parisian elopement would look like: minimalistic but inspired and purposeful.

The bride’s edgy and eclectic style is exemplified in the two dresses she wore. The first, a Viktor and Rolf gown with a dramatic, over-sized bow on the back. The second, a stunning Sylwia Kopczynska two-piece ensemble, feature a lace long sleeve top with matching lace bottom and an overskirt with layers upon layers of tulle. This outfit took a more playful approach to couture for this fashion-forward bride. As for jewelry, she wore long gold-treaded earrings with multi-colored stones. Instead of opting for a single ring, she wore five stackables - each ring slightly different from the next. The Mrs. Box provided five velvet ring boxes, one for each ring. Her glamorous white stilettos had a modern feel with the lace-up front and satin body. The illusion lace added a romantic touch. Matching her edge, the groom wore a teal suit jacket with a monochromatic tie, shirt, pocket square, and pants.

For the portraits, we started in the cafe, which embodies the side of Paris that is more spontaneous than the typical Parisian romance.  We then explored the winding streets of the 2nd Arrondissement, keeping true to the authentic Parisian ideals that inspired the shoot.