Styled Shoots

Engagements

follow @arikashelest

Get a taste of wedding days with sneak peeks of my favorite images, tips from local vendors, updates about your favorite photographer, and as always lots of pretty pictures!

The blog

It was an honor to participate in this styled shoot at Chateau Bouffemont, a French chateau wedding venue located just 45 minutes outside of Paris! A good friend of mine put the shoot together, which featured so many talented vendors. A dreamy garden-inspired affair in the heart of the French countryside was the result. Next April I’ll be returning to the venue for a workshop, and I already can’t wait!

Destination Wedding at Chateau Bouffemont

American couples with their hearts set on a French destination wedding will fall in love with Chateau Bouffemont. Its magnificent stone staircases, archways, and manicured grounds are the stuff of portrait dreams. Inside the chateau itself, rooms decked out with classical furniture and draperies take you back in time. However, pastel paint and floor-to-ceiling windows ensure that the rooms never feel heavy. Rather, they exude elegance and fill up with natural light!

For couples’ convenience, the chateau’s many bedrooms are available to host friends and family. In fact, the entire house is rentable for a destination wedding weekend to remember! Avoiding additional lodging and transportation expenses can go a long way when allocating your wedding budget—especially when traveling outside the country. Thankfully, Chateau Bouffemont makes it easy to do so!

Real-Life Love for a Styled Shoot

I was fortunate to photograph a real-life couple for this shoot who traveled in from Germany to model for us! Their chemistry brought so much life to their portraits. Plus, they looked absolutely stunning! The bride wore an off-the-shoulder gown covered in 3D floral appliquės that complemented the garden theme of the affair. Meanwhile, the groom wore a perfectly tailored dark blue tux. More of their work can be found on Instagram!

While I’m based here in North Carolina, I love to travel. And I’m especially happy to break out my passport for my couples! If a destination wedding is your desire, I want to hear from you. Let’s make it happen!