Pretty Chic Blog – TESTSITE

Vintage skeleton keys just have something special about them. Imagine a large, intricate, rusty key, opening the gate to a secret garden… The old, romantic and whimsy keys connote quite a bit of symbolism, not to say the slightly cheesy but very sweet idea of “you have the key to my heart” phrases. (My friend did once get a key as a Valentine’s gift with a poem stating, in essense, the above phrase. I thought it was the most romantic gift one could get, but then, I’m pretty hopeless in that respect). Exactly because of this whole mythical atmosphere, keys are such perfect symbols for weddings.

I think that the first time I saw antique keys being used in weddings was when Jessica Claire used them to adorn her Save-The-Dates. Since then, I’ve noticed quite a variety of the concept – and also as placecards and escort cards, as necklaces, as decorations on gifts…

With all of that inspiration, I couldn’t help but realise that really, vintage keys – there really is something about them…

Oh, and look what I found while cleaning up in the basement the other day! Aren’t they beautiful?

4 keys – 3 of them most definitely antique, if we judge from the amount of rust on them. I have no idea as to what they have been used for. The doors in the cellar have been changed a long time ago, and the keys were hidden on a hook behind a door which is always open. I will compose some stories about what stories these keys must have revealed in times gone by, while I try to figure out what to do with them. Frame them, perhaps? Maybe spray paint one of them in a pretty colour, perhaps turquoise like the key in the top picture, top right… and then hang them up on the wall?

Photographed by Jennifer Skog, USA.

Let’s go to Rome. I love to step into the majestic Pantheon, the larger than life Colosseum, carry a gelato to a piazza and soak in the some by the edge of a refreshing fountain, while observing the elegant Italians… and at night, a walk down the Spanish steps… mmmmmnnn.

The engagement shoot you see here was taken here, in Italy’s fantastic and romantic capital city. The groom, Bram, had decided to surprise his fiancée, Rina, with a couture engagement shoot, by inviting who he knew was his absolute favourite photographer, Jennifer Skog to Rome, where the couple had decided to take a trip from Holland, where they are from. Rina was in tears over the surprise, and had recognized Jennifer immediately when she introduced herself… the day after, beautiful, beautiful pictures had been taken with tomantic Rome as the stage.

I loooooove the evening pictures – there’s something very Audrey Hepburn / Roman Holiday about the whole style and atmosphere, don’t you think?

Ahhh, Rome. I must go back there soon some day. See the rest of the series here.

Thank you so, so much, Jennifer Skog, for sharing these amazingly romantic pictures with us!

Blush pink and gold is so ultrafeminine and glamorous, and completely in trend with the whole vintage vibe which is so dominant these days. I love to pair the palette down with juicy berry pies rather than wedding cakes, decorations made from inexpensive materials such as yellowed pages, garlands of tea-stained coffee filters. I can’t help but think of an intimate wedding or bachelorette party in a boutique hotel or apartment in Paris, with the Eiffel tower round the corner, decadent curtains and glittering chandeliers…

Photographed by Erika Gerdemark, Sweden

While we’re wishing for the warmness and sunlight to stretch over to our side of the globe, we can dream away for a couple of minutes to this gorgeous, Swedish wedding on a hot summer’s day, photographed by supertalented Erika Gerdemark.

I absolutely love the softness and warmth of these pictures. When you collect and research, evaluate and prioritise a good portion of wedding pictures every day, it’s great when someone like Erika makes it so easy to just fall in love, don’t you think?

Let’s start with the groom’s preparations:

This wedding was held on Ekerö just outside of Stockholm on one of the hottest days of 2009. The couple, Linda og Björn, chose to have their wedding at Rastaborgs Slott, a small castle in the countryside in beautiful surroundings.

I think that the pictures that absolutely sold me, were these ones of the bridesmaids in peach coloured dresses. I can just feel the softness of the beautiful dresses in the gentle, warm breeze on such a beautiful day. One of the bridesmaids played the saxophone while the bride walked down the steps to meet her husband in the garden where the ceremony was held.

As per Scandinavian tradition, the guests are allowed to steal kisses from the bridal party whenever the other party leaves the table. Here, the groom returns to find a guest kissing his new wife!

Siiiigh. Anyone else feeling an urgent need to be a this beautiful summer wedding?

See the full wedding series on Erika’s blog, here.