Chronicles of Narnia Themed Elopement

What would it look like if Queen Jadis were to get married? This styled elopement from Photography by Kelsey Rae and Jade & Joy Events answers that very question! The design is inspired by The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, particularly the point when Edmund first encounters the Queen in the forest!

A Chronicles of Narnia themed elopement in Chevy Chase, MD

The Inspiration

The venue was Woodend Sanctuary and Mansion, and its wooded areas and tall grass were perfect for the natural yet regal look we wanted to achieve. We loved focusing on the details, from the turkish delight to the lamppost inside the envelope for the invitation suite. The snow on the ground was a welcome bonus that really made it feel as though the day was one the White Witch would have chosen for herself.

We wanted our look to be moody and luxurious, yet accessible, so we focused on rich colors and warm details like fur and velvet. The bride’s hair was inspired by Tilda Swinton’s hair in the film adaptation of the story. The color of her locs is unique, and the style is queenly. The final result was the most fabulous Chronicles of Narnia themed elopement we’ve ever seen! Because of the detailing our vendors so elegantly inputted into the shoot to follow the theme, and the moody warmth cascading through each photo, we believe this shoot perfectly aligns with the both unique and traditional brides.

The Flowers & Cake

The flowers are a mix of rich moody colors and soft delicate creams and blush tones. We really wanted to highlight the depth of this freeform bouquet, yet stay true to the warmth that many brides love. To accomplish this, the florist tied in orange tones to bring some “sunshine” to the arrangement.

We had so much fun designing a cake that we felt would align with our theme, yet bring a unique perspective to those wanting to mix moody and light tones. Our vision was to incorporate the naked, bare feel of the cake with elegant and detailed marble designs. The hand-painted marble tiers perfectly contrasted the naked middle tier of the cake. Finally, Charm Decor Cakes added one last twist by utilizing a different geometric shape for the top marble tier juxtaposed against the naked tier below.

The Attire

We were inspired by the White Witch’s gown in the Chronicles of Narnia: Lion, Witch, & The Wardrobe film, and wanted to stay true to a more regal look. Some key elements that we were looking for were glamour, structure, and delicate lines. The final result was a dress that we think perfectly matches a more modern version of this gown. This beautiful A-line ball gown has incredible detailing on the bodice, with a multi-layered and multi-toned tulle skirt that adds dimension and grace to the bride.

Special Details

To continue with the theme of the Chronicles of Narnia, our calligrapher personalized the invitation suite with the creation of a map of West Narnia. This map accurately depicts the specific scene that we wanted to accomplish, with Edmund’s first meeting with the White Witch. Highlight the lamppost, Mr. Tumnus’ dwelling, the wardrobe, and the White Witch’s castle, Grove Lettering Co. hand-painted each element of the watercolor map and utilized a vintage stamp for the rest of the suite.

She continued these unique elements in her creation of the wooden Chronicles of Narnia sign that was displayed on several photographs, highlighting both the couple and the crown.
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The Tablescape

Our goal for the reception tablescape was to create a more modern take on a Renaissance feast, similar to what Edmund encounters during his meetings with the White Witch. We used fur to add warmth and dimension to the table, and finger food items, such as the charcuterie and cheese plates. Color was another important element of this feast table, with the cake heavily contrasting the fur on the opposite side. We included fruits, both open-faced and not, berries, chocolates, and herbs as other fun items that we would want to eat ourselves. Finally, the Turkish Delights, though quite hard to find, were the last piece de resistance for our theme. Culminating the completed table was our menu, hand drawn as a map of the feast, with arrows corresponding with the item placement on the table.

We think brides would love to try a more unique take on their menus, such as this one, for a reception. Though reception tables do not all have to be feasts such as this, combining elements such as herbs, chocolates, fruits, and finger food items can add so much more fun and interest to a reception.