A pink twist on French weddings at a Canadian venue with “herstory”

climbing white roses

This stunning French-inspired shoot focused on timeless, old-world European architecture and the soft, ethereal beauty of the landscapes. The iconic Hycroft Manor in Vancouver, British Columbia is an absolute hidden gem, originally built in 1911 and having hosted many elite guests, including the Prince of Wales. It was the perfect backdrop for an inspiration that moved away from the typical blues of French wedding design and instead played with cotton whites, sand, dusty rose, sage green, and pale pink. Keep scrolling to see how Nicole Sarah Wedding and Melissa Dawn Event Designs brought together each of these elements for a seamless wedding design.

historic wedding venue

A venue with "herstory"

After being abandoned for two years, a group of women with the University Women’s Club of Vancouver bought a piece of the land that included Hycroft Manor at a time when women were not allowed to hold a mortgage. After the purchase, they worked to restore the beauty of its timeless Edwardian architecture, lush gardens, and classic French interiors, through hard work and generous donations.

torn edge wedding invitations

blue wedding shoes for bride white shoes for bride

Structured, elegant bridal design

Bride Alexis glowed in a structured, elegant gown by designer Alena Leena that featured detachable puff sleeves and a high slit in the front of the dress. This look for the ceremony and early reception reflected the polished look most couples prefer for this part of the event. But as the evening progressed, Alexis changed into a romantic, flowing gown by Monique Lhuillier. This look was more ethereal while again featuring removable sleeves. Both gowns were provided by the incredible Blush & Raven bridal boutique in Calgary, Alberta.

satin detachable sleeve wedding dress off the shoulder puff sleeve wedding dress

Effortless French bridal style

The seemingly effortless beauty of French women guided the bridal looks with chic swept up hair shifting into loose flowing waves cascading down her gown. Both looks - courtesy of Jasmine Hoffmann and Vtrendmakeup - were timeless and perfectly romantic.

light pink and white rose bouquet

Soft blush silk ribbon

Alexis's petite bouquet was full of light-colored florals wrapped in a soft blush silk ribbon that perfectly complemented the groom's boutonniere.

light pink boutonniere classic black suit with bowtie

A climbing floral installation

Kkot Floral Design worked their magic to create a gorgeous floral installation that played with different heights and climbed the stairs to create the ceremony backdrop. Leaving the pillars mostly bare, only a delicate piece of greenery climbed up one side for an ethereal look.

low profile centerpieces

Low profile centerpieces

The reception table design featured small centerpiece arrangements in white ribbed vases that lined the center of the table, balancing out the tall tapered and pillar candles atop gold stands and white ceramic holders. Lush, low lying floral arrangements adorned each end of the table adding to the romance of the design.

deilcate greenery for centerpieces

place setting with bow gold flatware for placesetting

Gold flatware and sand ceramics

Gold flatware was mixed with white and sand ceramic dishware from Sie Collection YVR with a gorgeous lace linen overlay and floral-patterned mauve napkins from BBJ La Tavola. Each setting was adorned with a luxurious satin bow for a modern touch on the old-world French inspiration. Floral-printed menus with a delicate vellum cover by The Social Page Design Studio doubled as place cards. The variety of textures and colors instantly elevated the overall look and feel of the tablescape.

ground flower arrangements for cake table

Florals surrounding a balcony cake table

More romantic ground florals from Kkot Floral Design surrounded the cake table by The Cake & The Giraffe on the Juliette balcony creating a magical setting reminiscent of a fairytale.

delicate floral accented wedding cake light pink and white wedding cake

How to pull off European wedding design

Nicole Sarah highly recommends playing with textures within your color palette. Linen, lace, vellum, raw edged paper, and ceramics can all enhance your wedding design, giving you and your guests an exquisite evening to remember. Also, be sure to carry certain elements throughout the day - each piece on its own is stunning, yet each piece together creates a cohesive, elegant look.

Hycroft Manor wedding