French Estate Inspired Wedding

Imagine walking into a wedding and instantly feeling like you’re transported to a French estate in the early 1900s. That’s precisely the vision bride Marissa had for her wedding day, and she was able to achieve it thanks in part to the floral design by Narcissus Florals. As always, Redfield Photography captured every moment of the day brilliantly!

From the bride, Marissa: I wanted our guests to feel as if they were transported to a French estate/vineyard in the early 1900s. Some words used to describe our wedding would be: Vintage French manor/vineyard, Soft provincial elegance. The mansion was a country estate of the Vanderbilts dating back to 1887 and still maintains much of its original design with huge stone pillars, breathtaking veranda and stone fountains and gardens. I knew in the summer months the lush green grounds and gardens would provide enough pop that I could keep my theme colors very neutral and clean. I loved the ability to use the vintage marble/stone of the mansion to contrast a softer flowing reception area. I felt it was the perfect backdrop to create the elegant and refined vineyard/estate style.

I would say we were looking to capture a natural feminine look with some vintage touches, we used candlelight, soft neutrals and flowing fabric in our tent to really complement the vintage feel of the mansion+ grounds that were used throughout our ceremony and cocktail. I wanted all neutrals to contrast against the lush green canvas (of the mansion grounds). Super soft feeling for the tent with the white and flowing fabric that was brought in and a soft candlelight for the lighting. I am a candle fanatic and wanted to replicate the feeling on a grander scale. We used over 500 candles/lanterns to create a soft glow for the evening.

Any advice for couples planning their weddings now? My advice for couples planning now: stay calm. You rack your brain on the tiniest of details and at the end of the day, having the time of your life is all that matters. So don’t sweat the small stuff. Enjoy the process, make decisions as a couple.