Modern Black & White Wedding Photoshoot: Inspiration

The inspiration for this modern black & white wedding  photoshoot all started after picking up a copy of the coffee table book from Alexander McQueen’s show at the MET, Savage Beauty. I was lucky enough to wander endlessly through this exhibition with my friend Nichole Michel of Coral Pheasant when it came into town, and even at that time, I was largely inspired by McQueen’s Autumn / Winter collection of crisply tailored, fitted, and masculine jackets, skirts, pants and dresses. McQueen once said (and noted by a byline in the book next to images of this exhibit), “I want to empower women. I want people to be afraid of the women I dress.”

In tossing ideas around with our team, we set out to create a story of feminine meets masculine. I drafted up a pinterest board (the first time we’ve used one for our shoot!) and the rest is history.

Modern Black & White Wedding: The Details

We put together a simple color story of black and white, with shades of grey. Everywhere within the shoot you’ll see tailored lines, crisp typography, and masculine details like fitted jackets and top hats mixed with feminine frill of tulle and jewels. The fashion for this shoot was flawless, and leave it to none other than Beth Chapman to source some of the sickest accessories and custom made pieces, like the couture black suit made by Valentino Tailors. My favorite fashion look of the day is a toss up between our frilly tulle skirted dress with sexy black leather gloves, and the tulle skirt mixed with a tailored jacket– no shirt underneath. I also got to play a bit with my own closet here, bringing in my nude Jimmy Choo pumps and my most favorite and best shoe investment ever: my miu miu glitter booties.

Tony of Datura: A Modern Garden created a myriad of unqiue bouquets– everything from an embellished cane, to a whip (hello!) and some floral handcuffs (whew!). What I love most about Tony is that he’s never afraid to cross over boundaries, create something suggestive but beautiful and completely necessary. To me, he is my real life Alexander McQueen.

The Tablescape

Our tablescape might be my favorite yet; simple in color with a lot of textures that don’t seem to compete. I love the sequin black and white chevron linen from La Tavola— the pattern is a sexy take on the stripe, and the sequin gives us our feminine edge. Pinned on top, we boxed out the tablescape with a quilted leather linen from Nuage Designs. Our enormous white containers, smooth with a sensuous shape, held long rectangular boxes trimmed out with black sequin fabric, brimming with white tulips. On the table, we layered plates and things to create dimension; I am especially fond of these curvaceous plates from BHLDN and the “stick” shaped drink stirrers in our white glassware. Even the chairs are sexy, with their hard lines and grey color. At the last minute we decided they needed a pop, so Tony attached some orchids.

Nichole of Coral Pheasant created a luxurious paper story complete with patent leather like printing. Everything about this paper story is sleek, simple, sexy and is an attribute to how delicious typography really is!

And of course, who else could shoot this madness except the effervescent Carla Ten Eyck and company? And don’t forget to peep the behind-the-scenes video by none other than Jim Altieri at the end, with interviews from the designers themselves!

Be sure to pick up a copy of the newest issue of WellWed Magazine to see the gorgeous layout of this photoshoot in their glossy pages!

Credit Reel

Cake: Hope Wright-Martell, A Little Imagination Cakes
Design & Coordination: Candice Coppola, Jubilee Events
Event Rentals: Nuage Designs, La Tavola, Party Rentals LTD.
Additional tabletop items were provided by BHLDN
Floral Design: Tony Palmieri AFID, Datura: A Modern Garden
Tuxedo: Custom Tuxedo by Valentino Tailors, Gowns: David Fielden, Modern Trousseau, Amsale, and Amy Kuschel from The White Dress by the Shore
Corsets: Beneath the Gown
Fashion Styling: Beth Chapman, The White Dress by the Shore
Hair: Terri L. Coon, Timothy Pammemt Salon
Invitations, Menus and Placecards: Nichole Michel
Calligraphy/Placecards: Abany Bauer, Brown Linen Goods
Makeup: Jennie Fresa & Maureen Sullivan of Jennie Fresa Makeup and Skincare Boutiquerie
Photography: Carla Ten Eyck, Carla Ten Eyck Photography
Reception Site: New Haven Lawn Club in New Haven, CT
Cinematography: Jim Altieri, Jim Altieri’s Vintage Cinema