You know those flawlessly styled, effortlessly chic city hall elopements you see on wedding blogs? (Yep, we’ve shared a few!) Today we’re showing you exactly how to pull it off! NYC elopement photographer Sylvie Rosokoff took her two most requested elopement locations—city hall and Central Park—and teamed up with stylist Eva Lopez of Cha Cha Linda to guide us toward a stylish, unforgettable elopement. Sylvie and Eva, along with Tasha of BLOOM BLOOM and makeup artist Haney Evans are spilling their secrets for elevating everything from the dress to the bouquet and more. Whether you’re planning an elopement yourself or just love a good fashion editorial, you’ll love every single detail in BOTH of these shoots!
Based in NYC, Cha Cha Linda is a Latina owned and run women’s evening wear and bridal boutique that features unique and rare designer pieces from 1940-2000 in a highly personalized setting. Founder Eva Lopez’s goal was to bring the intimate and high-end fitting experience, often reserved for the film stars she has worked with, to the fashion forward women of NYC.
Eva says, After a decade of dressing actors for major film and television in NYC, I realized that the attention and care given in those fittings was something every woman deserves to experience. You are the star of the movie that is of your life and, whether you’re shopping for your wedding day or a Saturday night out with your girls, how you decide to craft your looks tells your story. Why not make it one to be remembered?
Building Tess’s look for our whimsical courthouse elopement was so much fun. The idea was to create a burst of sunshine in a stone-grey city where all-black everything is the usual dress code. The dress is a Gene Shelly gown from the early 1960s. Known for his sexy beaded dresses that hug every curve, this particular piece features the dreamiest rainbow of daisies. It is the perfect cure for the winter blues, especially when paired with Kevin’s elegant yet playful mustard velvet smoking jacket.
Think beyond the white dress and black suit. Lean into color! An elopement look can be anything that feels amazing and special! The goal for these two shoots was to inject as much color as possible into these outfits so they would stand out against both iconic NYC elopement locations.
Stylist Eva’s motto? Anything worth doing, is worth overdoing. A short 60s-inspired daisy appliqué veil from Wayfarer Bride sealed the deal!
Opt for vintage. Choosing vintage pieces for your elopement attire ensures one-of-a-kind looks (and photos!), not to mention it’s the more sustainable choice. Eva says, There is no better feeling than when a stranger stops you on the street and asks the million dollar question, ‘Where did you get that!?’ That is because great vintage is timeless. Is it the latest runway look or is it a truly one-of-a-kind piece from 50 years ago? That’s why the key to achieving a perfectly executed vintage look that’s the envy of everyone at the party is to mix decades and incorporate a few modern pieces.
Complete the ensemble with a unique makeup look. Makeup artist Haney Evans created a soft lavender 60s mod-style cut crease eye and soft pink cheeks for Tess’s retro-inspired city hall look.
Don’t discount unconventional photo spots. The subway for an elopement shoot? Such a fun idea for a New York City couple! There are always unique spots your photographer can help you find, even when shooting in iconic spots like these.
Add a colorful bouquet. A statement bouquet is a must for such incredible dresses! Tasha Muresan, founder and owner of BLOOM BLOOM created a bouquet for each look that complemented rather than competed with the looks. That way, both the florals and the dress could each stand out on their own, while still going together.
For the City Hall bouquet, Tasha focused on texture and shape, bringing in fluffy elements like Japanese sweet pea, bright yellow oncidium orchids, and curly-cue snake ball alliums. With touches of hot pink and vibrant greens, Tasha calls the bouquet “somehow both electric and soft”, which was the overall vibe of this elopement!
Make your outfit pop against your location. Eva was all about this 70s rainbow chevron gown, with its flowing sash belt, to contrast against the moody winter trees and ornate stonework within Central Park.
She paired the sequin gown with lilac heels and massive 60s rhinestone earrings. LOVE!
With a dress this dramatic, a funky but glamorous bouquet was in order. Tasha included a few hero flowers like checkerboard printed fritillaria, deep purple hellebore, and a cascading phalaenopsis orchid. The colors complemented the dress perfectly—close, but not exact, so they’re not competing for the spotlight.
The choice to emphasize the magnitude and power of this iconic NYC landmark with an equally astounding piece of vintage was an obvious one. Its sumptuous jewel tones brought out the plum of Mark’s Prada suit against the steely backdrop of Art Deco skyscrapers which nearly fell away while these two danced as if the millions of New Yorkers surrounding them didn’t exist.
Thanks to the talented team below for sharing these stunning looks and tips with us today! Find more elopement tips (and gorgeous photos!) from Sylvie in this post.
Photographer: Sylvie Rosokoff | Dresses, Blazer, Earrings: Cha Cha Linda Vintage | Flowers: BLOOM BLOOM | Makeup: Haney Evans | Veil: Wayfarer Bride
