The Beautiful
& The Damned
Featured on Green Wedding Shoes and Ruffled
Inspired by the film “Black Swan,” we wanted to create an editorial that was moody and romantic, with swoon-worthy details and striking bridal looks. In Swan Lake, the white swan is beautiful, but fragile and demure, whereas the black swan is malevolent, and effortlessly seductive. With these qualities in mind, we chose to feature not one, but two breathtaking gowns by London-based designer Millia London. The first gown is a stunning blush number with ruffles galore, which we paired with voluminous loose waves, rosy lids, and a flawless black liner for an ultra-femme look that packs a punch. In contrast, the second look is all about drama, featuring a sensational black tulle gown, feathered brows, and a gorgeous braided up-do.
The Design
The rest of the editorial was also designed with juxtaposition in mind: luxurious velvet linens paired with textured stoneware, gold accents intensified with black hardware, and two wildly organic, and opposing bouquets designed by Da Fiori Design. Elegant calligraphy and textured paper goods by Papier Handmade Finery completed our design with romantic quotes, vintage prints, and an exquisite wax seal.
Two Cakes are Better Than One
Cake by Nicole nailed the concept with her two creations, the first being a soft and delicate white cake with shards of fondant and bleached skeleton leaves, finished with a cascade of white skeleton hydrangeas. By contrast, the monochromatic black cake showcases a beautiful textured stone finish, adorned with black skeleton leaves.
Although there are two sides to every story, we wanted to interweave the two narratives of Swan Lake into one visual story — one where beauty is exaggerated, imperfect, and unconventional.