Chinese Heritage and Parisian Grandeur at The Westin Paris Vendome

Angela and Sylvain's Chinese-French wedding at The Westin Paris Vendome paired a tea ceremony with ballroom vows and Tuileries portraits, captured by Olya Kobruseva.

By Elena Moretti | Published 3 October 2023 | Photos by Olya Kobruseva

Chinese Heritage and Parisian Grandeur at The Westin Paris Vendome

Olya Kobruseva

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Photographer

Olya Kobruseva

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Angela and Sylvain celebrated their marriage at The Westin Paris Vendome, overlooking the Tuileries Garden in the heart of Ile-de-France. From a morning tea ceremony to vows beneath gilded chandeliers, the day wove Chinese heritage and French elegance into a seamless celebration captured by Olya Kobruseva.

Photography

Olya Kobruseva

Venue

The Westin Paris – Vendôme

Region

Ile-de-France, France

Couple

Getting Ready

A detail shot of a strapless ivory ball gown wedding dress hanging from a white hanger in front of a large window in what appears to be a Parisian apartment or hotel room. The dress features a sweetheart neckline with structured bodice and a full, voluminous skirt with a subtle textured or jacquard fabric and a tulle underlayer. The window behind the dress shows a classic wrought-iron Haussmann-style balcony railing and the facade of a neighboring building, placing the setting clearly in Paris. The image is backlit by bright natural light, creating a soft, high-key look with a grey curtain visible on the right edge of the frame.

Black-and-white getting-ready portrait of a groom seated on a velvet upholstered sofa in what appears to be a hotel suite, putting on his dress shoes. He is wearing a white dress shirt and dark trousers, with one polished oxford shoe already on and the other being fastened. The room features a sculptural table lamp, side table, and a bed partially visible in the background, rendered in soft mid-tones with gentle contrast. The shot is a full-length portrait with a relaxed, candid quality.

A black-and-white close-up detail shot of a bride getting ready indoors, captured from the waist down. She is seated and wearing a full-skirted white bridal gown with a voluminous skirt, and is in the process of fastening a strappy heeled shoe with a decorative buckle detail at the toe. Her hand is visible wearing a silver bracelet-style watch and an engagement ring. The image uses soft mid-tones with bright highlights on the satin fabric of the dress, creating a clean contrast against the darker background.

Photo: Olya Kobruseva

The morning began with a traditional Chinese tea ceremony in the hotel's elegant suites, where red and gold accents set the cultural tone for the day. Angela prepared surrounded by family, the room alive with ritual, laughter, and the careful layering of bridal details. Hair and makeup reflected both modern Parisian style and the bride's Chinese heritage, creating a look that carried through every moment.

Ceremony

Black-and-white image of a couple making their recessional walk through a guest-lined aisle inside an ornate ballroom or grand hall, with white confetti or paper butterflies filling the air around them. The bride wears a strapless ballgown with a long veil and carries a full, loose bouquet, while the groom wears a dark suit with a bow tie and boutonniere. Guests on both sides — including bridesmaids in floor-length gowns holding bouquets — clap and cheer, with some holding white glow sticks or cannons. The interior features high ornate ceilings, arched paneled walls, and a large lit candelabra chandelier overhead, suggesting a classic Haussmann-era Parisian venue. The image is a medium portrait shot with high contrast black-and-white tones, capturing motion and celebration.

Black-and-white portrait-style shot of a bridal party processional taking place inside an ornate ballroom or grand hall, identifiable by a chandelier, decorative molding, and patterned carpet aisle. The bride leads the procession wearing a satin slip-style gown with spaghetti straps and a front slit, carrying a round bouquet, while approximately six bridesmaids follow behind her in light-colored floor-length gowns. All members of the bridal party, including the bride, are wearing black decorative masquerade-style eye masks, indicating a masquerade-themed wedding. The image is shot at medium distance from a low angle along the aisle, with guests visible on the left edge of the frame, and shows high contrast between the light gowns and the dark masks and background decor.

The couple stands face-to-face during an indoor ceremony vow exchange, with the groom in a charcoal grey suit holding a microphone while reading his vows, and the bride smiling up at him while holding his hand. The bride wears a strapless white ball gown with a champagne-gold sash at the waist and a long cathedral veil, with her hair pulled back. They are positioned in front of a large floral installation featuring ivory dahlias, peach roses, burnt orange blooms, deep burgundy florals, and autumn-toned foliage arranged against draped blush and ivory fabric panels. The floral arrangement extends on both sides, creating a rich autumnal color palette of terracotta, rust, deep red, and gold tones. This is a medium portrait shot capturing both figures in full from a slight side angle.

Photo: Olya Kobruseva

The ceremony unfolded in the Westin's ballroom beneath crystal chandeliers, where vivid tones of red, yellow, and peach honoured Chinese traditions of joy and prosperity. Vows were exchanged before family and friends in an atmosphere of regal intimacy, the mirrored panels amplifying the warmth and colour of the space. Cascading floral arrangements by Land of Dreams framed the couple as they sealed their commitment.

Bridal Portraits

Close-up portrait shot of a bride holding her bouquet toward the camera, with the bride softly out of focus in the background wearing a white high-collar dress. The bouquet is the focal point and features a rich mix of red roses, blush garden roses, red poppies or tulips, mauve dahlias, burgundy foliage, dusty pink waxflower, small blush carnations, and deep red anthurium-style leaves, creating a bold red-to-blush palette with dark burgundy accents. The stems are wrapped and tied with a soft blush pink ribbon. The overall floral style is lush and garden-inspired with a rich, romantic color palette.

A bride photographed from behind stands on a Haussmann-style apartment balcony in what appears to be Paris, her hands resting on a dark wrought-iron railing with ornate scrollwork and floral motifs. She wears a long-sleeved ivory wedding dress with a sheer lace back panel and flowing chiffon skirt, her dark hair styled in a low bun. The shot is framed by open white French doors, with the cream façade of a classic Parisian building visible and softly out of focus in the background. The image is a full-length portrait with bright, airy natural light and a clean, classic bridal aesthetic.

This is a black-and-white portrait of a groom standing on an outdoor balcony or terrace, leaning against a dark metal railing with his hands clasped in front of him and his gaze directed off to the side. He is wearing a dark suit jacket with a white dress shirt, open at the collar with no tie. The image has bright, high-key tones with soft contrast, and Haussmann-style rooftop architecture with mansard roofs and arched windows is visible in the soft-focus background, suggesting a Paris city setting. The composition is a medium portrait shot.

Photo: Olya Kobruseva

Olya Kobruseva captured Angela against the hotel's ornate interiors, where gilded mouldings and mirrored panels created a luminous backdrop. Her gown caught the light in the grand corridors, each portrait balancing the architectural strength of the Westin with the softness of the bridal styling. The images moved between intimate close-ups and wide compositions that revealed the full scale of the setting.

Couple Portraits

A couple shares a kiss during an outdoor portrait session on a Parisian street, leaning against a vintage cream Ford Mustang. The bride wears a minimalist white long-sleeve midi dress with a sheer back panel and a front slit, paired with nude heeled sandals and her hair styled in a low updo. The groom wears a navy three-piece suit with a white dress shirt and a deep red bow tie, finished with black oxford shoes. The setting features classic Haussmann-style building facades in the background, giving the shoot a modern, city-chic aesthetic. The image is a full-length couple portrait with a soft, light editorial tone.

This is a black-and-white couple portrait taken outdoors in front of a grand Haussmann-style building with arched windows, wrought iron balconies, and topiary trees flanking the entrance, consistent with a Parisian plaza setting. The groom stands behind the bride with his arms wrapped around her waist; he wears a dark suit with a tie, while the bride wears a strapless ballgown with a full skirt, a long cathedral-length train, and a long veil worn down her back. Both face the camera with soft, composed expressions. The image has bright highlights and mid-range contrast with the bride's gown and veil rendered in bright whites against the light stone pavement. The composition is a full-length portrait shot with the architectural facade softly blurred in the background.

A black-and-white close-up portrait of a couple during what appears to be a wedding portrait session, photographed outdoors with a softly blurred architectural background. The bride wears a strapless gown and a veil, with her hair in a sleek updo, pearl drop earrings, and a delicate necklace; she looks up at the groom with a smile. The groom wears a fitted three-piece suit with a bow tie and holds the bride's hands, which show a ring on her finger. The image is shot with high contrast and bright highlights, giving it a clean, classic feel, with the couple positioned in a slightly angled portrait composition from roughly chest height upward.

This black-and-white image shows a couple kissing in a vintage convertible Ford Mustang parked on a street in Paris, with the Eiffel Tower prominent in the background. A bridal bouquet is visible resting on the dashboard or door of the open-top car. The image is rendered in soft, high-key tones with bright whites and gentle mid-range contrast. The composition is a wide portrait-oriented shot taken from street level, capturing the full length of the classic white Mustang with the tower rising behind it, framed by bare-branched trees lining the road.

Photo: Olya Kobruseva

The couple moved through the Westin's grand salons and the surrounding Parisian streets for a portrait session that captured the dual spirit of their celebration. Olya Kobruseva used the Tuileries Garden and the hotel's classical architecture as natural frames, drawing out the couple's relaxed chemistry against formal backdrops. Each image held a sense of movement and connection, from quiet moments in corridors to confident poses on the Paris cobblestones.

Reception

Black-and-white image of a cake cutting moment during an indoor wedding reception in an ornate ballroom featuring a crystal chandelier, tall decorative columns, and draped fabric backdrop. The couple stands before a tall five-tier white wedding cake adorned with floral accents cascading down one side, while sparklers ignite around them creating dramatic light bursts and bright highlights in the frame. The groom is dressed in a dark suit and the bride wears a halter-neck gown, surrounded by a group of attendants in formal attire including white bow ties, as well as seated guests at candlelit dinner tables visible to the left. The wide-angle shot captures the high energy of the moment, with guests photographing on phones and the overall decor suggesting a formal, black-tie classic wedding aesthetic with lush floral arrangements lining the foreground.

A reception table detail shot taken inside an ornate ballroom with blush pink walls, gold gilded moldings, and large gold-framed mirrors in the background. The foreground centerpiece is a lush, garden-style arrangement in a white footed compote vase, featuring yellow ranunculus, peach roses, white anemones with dark centers, blush carnations, soft pink blooms, lavender sprigs, and trailing greenery. The table is set with white linens, crystal glassware, water bottles, a red wine bottle, and small bud vases with single stems. In the background, additional round tables with white linens and gold Chiavari chairs are visible, with orange candles as accents, suggesting a classic French Parisian interior reception setting. The overall decor palette is warm peach, yellow, and blush with gold accents throughout the room.

Photo: Olya Kobruseva

The reception transformed the ballroom into a celebration of colour, culture, and French hospitality. Tables dressed with cascading centrepieces and vibrant florals reflected both Chinese symbolism and Parisian grandeur. The evening built from formal toasts to lively dancing, with the couple and their guests filling the gilded space with energy that lasted deep into the night.