Vogue-Inspired Surprise Elopement

Italian Vogue Elopement

The total girlie-girl in us is ALL ABOUT this insanely romantic, total dream of an editorial created by Debbie Lourens Photography + Green Goddess Flower Studio in Cape Town, South Africa. Ladies, imagine your guy not only proposing to you (WEE!) but asking if you’d marry him in a secret elopement that very same afternoon! Well, that’s the premise of the super sweet story the ladies dreamt up + are sharing with us today. Let’s hear more about it from Coral of Green Goddess:

The couple are stylish Americans who were going out for lunch in the city of Cape Town, whilst on a visit to South Africa. The romantic groom has planned a secret elopement and hired a photographer to capture the scene. The ‘groom’ asks the ‘bride’ to dress up and they wander through the streets of Cape Town supposedly on their way to lunch. When they enter a square, he has arranged for a wedding planner to be waiting with some cards saying ‘will you marry me’. He lifts her up onto a stone plinth in the square, then she looks down at him as he shows her the cards asking her to marry him TODAY! There is a Yes and No option – she says Yes of course! Then he presents her with a gift box (decorated with flowers) and inside is a flower ring (allowing the stylish bride to choose her own ring later). They rush off to the church and get married – the planner has bouquets, bouts and stationery (saying they eloped) all ready for them including a selection of bouquets for the bride. Then the lunch turns out to be a small reception planned for them with a small dessert and cookie bar and martini tray. After lunch, they wander through the city some more looking at the amazing architecture and reveling in their special moments.

Italian bouquet

Italian elopement invitation

black tulle skirt

The team wanted the shoot to have the feel of a sexy 1950’s/1960’s Vogue magazine spread. So, nods to the fashion + details of the era are seen throughout the shoot and in the bride’s beautiful get-up by Gavin Rajah Couture.

Italian inspired cascading bouquet

Italian Vogue Elopement

ombrella with flowers

Italian Vogue Elopement Italian Vogue Elopement

Such pretty images + we LOVE that floral-adorned umbrella!

umbrella + initials

artist palette of flowers

boutonniere

Italian Vogue Elopement

ring box

will you marry me?

proposal

Girls, can you even imagine?!!

will you marry me?

proposal

Italian Vogue Elopement

Italian Vogue Elopement

We think Marnel Toerien Makeup Artist and Hairstylist channeled the look of vintage Vogue just perfectly for the bride.

gold globe candle holders

black laser cut charger

black laser cut charger

white bud vases

cocktail

cake and cookies

And don’t all of the cakes, petit fours + cupcakes by Pastry Parlour look almost too good to eat?! So pretty!

cake and cookies

Italian cakes

Italian Vogue Elopement

Debbie, Coral + the rest of the team wanted to create something non-vintage, non-lacey, and non-traditional, but still very beautiful + desirable. We think they pulled that off like the pros that they are! Pin away, friends! We definitely will be :)

photography: Debbie Lourens Photography // venue name: The Daddy Cool Bar at the Grand Daddy Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa // event design: Green Goddess Flower Studio // planning: Green Goddess Flower Studio // florals: Green Goddess Flower Studio // hair stylist: Marnel Toerien Makeup Artist and Hairstylist // makeup artist: Marnel Toerien Makeup Artist and Hairstylist // stationery: Secret Diary Designs // bride's outfits: Gavin Rajah Couture // groom's outfit: Fabiani // jewelry: Kays Antiques // cakes: Pastry Parlour // petit fours: Pastry Parlour // cupcakes: Pastry Parlour // iced biscuits: Sugar Doodle // macaroons: Sugar Doodle

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