It might not have racked up new box office records, but Sophia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette set off style shocks that are just beginning to peak.
And while fashion moguls everywhere took note of the gorgeous costumes, over-the-top settings and pop princess post-modern sensibilities, it’s the wedding scene that’s primed to make the most of them.
A lavish, once-in-a-lifetime party, dripping in fab frocks, luxurious linens, towering florals and diamonds? La Reine would approve.
Marie Antoinette-style wedding magic.
C R E D I T S: Top to Bottom, L to R: Calligraphy Lady invitations; Spring 2007 gown by Monique Lhullier; Peony bouquet with pink satin wrap; Parisian theme linens. Cream rose pomander; satin wedding dress for dogs at Poochie Heaven; beaded napkin ring. Pink silk bamboo fan at FavorIdeas; pink diamond ring; Scarlett Johansson for Louis Vuitton.
Versaille Theme Cheat Sheet
The Inspiration: Marie Antoinette (duh!). And: Scarlett Johansson’s Louis Vuitton ads.
The Motto: More is more.
The Metallic: Gold, gold and gold. Silver, too. Mix them up, but nothing says grand like gold.
The Venue: A grand ballroom with airy, light decor. Look for sandy-colored patterns on the walls (damask, toile), enormous chandeliers, over-the-top molding and drapes-and-valance combos that would crush you if they fell.
Colors: No white (way too modern), and no jewel tones. Focus on the immense range of neutrals on the pastel end of the wheel for your base: porcelain, biscuit, pale pink, peach, oyster, pearl. Accent with frothy, feminine colors that aren’t oversaturated: salmon, dusty rose, coffee, celadon.
Textures: Silky damasks in two or more layers. Don’t use the same combinations at every table. Do use complementary colors. Other must-haves: feathers (look at vintage shoe clips, hair embellishments, fans, centerpieces, boutonnieres, bouquet collars). Chunky, vintage-style jewelry (chandelier earrings, sparkling chokers). Satin ribbons for lovely necks, bouquet wraps and stationery. Roses and peonies in your rich neutral palette (above).
Must-Have Touches: Gold chargers, luxury napkins folded into fleur-de-lis, silk fans opened on a plate with a handwritten guest tag woven between the spokes, rose topiaries on the tables, corded or braided edging in ivory or gold, letterpressed gold monograms, parasols, satin bows, gloves and ruffles.
Marie Antoinette-style wedding magic.
C R E D I T S: Top to Bottom, L to R: Feather fan, Wisconsin History Museum; Fringed damask from ClothConnection; Crystal wedges by Christian Lacroix. Feather-flower shoe clips, Frou-Frou Collection; Kirstin Dunst still from Marie Antoinette; Antiqued “Grace” earrings, Teleecouture at Etsy.
The Fab Finds: Antoinette-worthy gown by (who else?) Monique Lhuillier. Vintage earrings at Etsy. Crystal wedges by Christian Lacroix. Feather-flower shoe clips at Frou Frou Collection.
Spinning It: Diminutive royal pooches were part of the family. No Antoinette wedding’s complete without a very small, demurely-accoutred canine companion.
The Viennese pastry table was a constant court fixture: let your guests nibble sweet nothings throughout the night.
Don’t Stop There: add champagne fountains with rose petals floating in the basin, and chocolate fountains for the verticality. Pile your sweet treats on towering tiers. Get the best ostrich-plume pen you can buy to go with a watered silk guestbook. “Key to my Heart” bottle openers are prettily vintage and wink at the Dauphin’s favorite pastime. A pink diamond ring eludes most of our budgets, but affordable pink sapphire accents are oh-so-Marie.
The Punk Touch: Hot pink signature cosmos, bouquet wraps, table cards. Pink Chuck Taylors for the kid attendants to change into at the party.
Fun Watch
A quick glimpse of some of the film’s great visual excesses, set to the tune of Material Girl.
