Balletcore, a trend that draws inspiration from the world of ballet, is making waves in the wedding industry. This elegant wedding style embodies a feminine allure, characterized by soft, flowing fabrics, pastel hues, and elements that evoke the grace and poise of a dancer. If you’re looking to infuse your wedding with a sense of refined beauty and timeless romance, in other words, a romantic wedding theme, balletcore might be the perfect inspiration for timeless romance.
What Is Balletcore?
At its core, balletcore is about embracing the delicate, ethereal aspects of ballet. The aesthetic includes anything that allows for movement and comfort while maintaining a graceful, polished look. Think layers of tulle, soft pinks, elegant flats, and understated yet sophisticated accessories. Balletcore is not just a fashion trend; it’s a lifestyle that emphasizes the balance of form and function, beauty and practicality.
How to Incorporate Balletcore into Your Wedding
Incorporating balletcore into your wedding starts with the right color palette and textures. Soft pinks, blush, cream, and touches of formal black are quintessential to the look. Fabrics like tulle, lace, and satin are key to achieving that ballet-inspired elegance. Consider a wedding dress with a tulle skirt, a form-fitting bodice, or delicate rosette details that mimic the elegance of a ballerina’s tutu.
Accessories play a vital role as well. A floral crown adds a touch of natural beauty, while ballet flats or satin-wrapped heels ensure you remain comfortable while exuding grace. Keep your makeup light and natural, focusing on a fresh, glowing look with soft pinks and peach tones.
Behind the Scenes: Planning a Balletcore Styled Shoot
We’ve been thinking about balletcore for a while, as we flex our creative sensibilities, so when Erin Winter contacted us about a styled shoot inspired by ballet, and with a dress in mind that featured layers and layers of tulle, we were in before you could even utter the word arabesque.
Planning a styled shoot around the balletcore theme involves a thoughtful blend of creativity and attention to detail. The vision for the shoot began with selecting a key piece – a pink dress with soft layers and flowing silhouette provided by the Lillie Mae Collection – that embodies the essence of balletcore. Aurora, as the dress is called, is a breathtaking gown with a ruffled bodice and voluminous silhouette of sheer and ethereal pink tulle. A cascading full skirt and delicate layers radiate opulence and lend a dreamy and romantic feel, while the way the material catches the light creates a luminous magical quality. The second major element was choosing a venue. Thinking of the artfulness of the shoot, and vision of Degas and his dancers let us to the L’Enfant Gallery, an art gallery in Georgetown. It was the perfect setting, bringing together art and life.
Floral elements are crucial in bringing a balletcore theme to life. A luxe and regal floral crown, designed with blush and pink blooms, added a touch of elegance. When it comes to staging an event, we love to experiment, so when Erin mentioned wanting to explore the movement of the dress, we immediately thought of wearable floral pieces. Almost like tattoos, the floral pieces adoring the model’s arms and hands introduced a unique, organic element that tied the natural world to the grace of ballet. These details help to create a visual story that was both romantic and refined.
We designed, in fact, two bouquets. The first was full of dance-y, floaty bouquet of delicate sweet pea in pinks and whites paired with pink tweedia – textures that reflect the fluidity and movement of ballet. We don’t have video but each movement of the bouquet captured the essence of dance. The bouquet’s soft structure and flowing lines made it a perfect representation of the balletcore aesthetic.
As a counterpoint, we also designed a more traditional garden bouquet, in soft pastels and greenery with a matching circlet of flowers for some exterior photos. The dress easily lent itself to a traditional, garden style. Pale pink garden roses, white scabiosa, light blue delphinium, lavender clematis, light blue tweedia, blush lisianthus and jasmine vine with delicate pink buds present the textures of romance.
Balletcore is more than just a trend; it’s a celebration of grace, movement, and understated beauty. Whether you’re planning a wedding or simply looking to incorporate elements of balletcore into your personal style, this aesthetic offers endless possibilities for creating a day that is both elegant and unforgettable. By understanding the core elements of balletcore and how to thoughtfully incorporate them into your wedding, you can create a celebration that is as timeless and graceful as the art of ballet itself.
Photographer: Erin Winter Photography
Venue: L’Enfant Gallery
Model: Dani Moya
Florals: Petals Edge
HMUA: Artistry by Lucy
Gown: Lillie Mae Collection