chic and timeless french-inspired bridal portraits at The Ivy Hotel

The one portion of a wedding day that always gets condensed and rushed, is the time we have allotted for bridal portraits. Having the opportunity to collaborate with Christine McFarlane Events (and the entire vendor team listed below!) on a photoshoot highlighting bridal portraits in some of the most iconic downtown Baltimore locations with European influences and timeless architecture as the backdrop, was a DREAM!

the details of the chic bridal look we were going for…

A classic, timeless color scheme of dove grey, pale pink, and creamy ivory established the palette for this shoot. With three Charm City locations, came three different looks. For the bride’s beauty, we wanted a versatile, classic look. Beauty by Jacs left our bride with a fresh, natural glam face for makeup, and Vintage Veils created a modern take on the classic French twist for her hair.

portrait location 1: the courtyard of the Ivy Hotel

While on-site at The Ivy Hotel for most of the shoot, every corner of this boutique, luxury hotel is better than the next. With a beautiful private courtyard covered in ivy, lined with boxwood trees, and anchored by a fountain, this courtyard is the prime spot for a luxe, intimate wedding in the heart of downtown and Baltimore’s Mt. Vernon neighborhood. BHLDN’s modernized ballgown with a standout back detail provided a simple yet chic look. As a dog-friendly hotel (25 lbs or less), Pierre, the french bulldog, was the pup of honor and wore a grey suit for the ceremony and a blush bowtie to party on.

Walking the streets in Paris, you’ll stumble upon an open air market with various flowers for sale sitting pretty in their vases on a flower cart. We wanted to create this same experience for our guests with the escort card display. Set in front of an ivy covered walk, Everyday Rosé Events created a stunning display with a petite white table and french market vases filled with roses, carnations, hydrangeas, astilbe, astrantia and more! Tied to each stem is the guest’s place card designed by Wild Hearts Calligraphy, and tied to each flower canister is the table number for where they are to be seated.

portrait location 2: City Hall

Did you ever notice that Baltimore’s City Hall is reminiscent of the US Capitol with its central dome and symmetrical wings on either side? It’s also full of French architectural elements in its design, making it the perfect backdrop for portraits on the front lawn! We chose a combination of BHLDN’s sleek and simple ivory strapless sweetheart Paige gown with a lace embellished cape. The drama of the cape veil is fit for a French queen! Everyday Rosé Events created an overgrown, organic shape and hyper feminine color palette of blooms for the bride full of soft, feminine romance.

portrait location 3: midtown and the Ivy Hotel’s london cab

One of my favorite aspects of the care The Ivy Hotel takes in accommodating guests needs is access to their historic london cab for portraits, and as a getaway car at the end of the night - they will provide private car service to the harbor or most destinations within the city!

The black and white tiled conservatory room at the Ivy filled with plants, a roaring fireplace and floor to ceiling windows overlooking the courtyard, offers a warm, inviting atmosphere to mingle with guests. The magnificent central staircase ascends three stories bringing you past stained glass, hand-carved wood railings and gold and ivory walls lit from a skylight above. It’s the perfect way to mark the end of an intimate celebration and retreat to your suite with a glass of bubbly in hand! We garnished the blush champagne flute with a tasty macaron. For a send off look for our bride, we went with a dazzling, art deco inspired number for a bit of shine and accessorized with glamorous statement earrings.

So, you don’t need to buy a plane ticket and fly over the Atlantic to pull off a French wedding! With these design concepts, the right amount of time built into your wedding day and a keen eye, you’re bound to find France closer to home... :)

vendor team:

Planning: Christine McFarlane Events
Venue: The Ivy Hotel
Florist: Everyday Rose Events
Gowns: BHLDN
Model: Diana Johnson
Invitation Suite: Wild Hearts Calligraphy
Makeup: Beauty by Jacs
Hair: Vintage Veils
Wedding Day Dog Care: Furever & Fur Always