CELEBRATING OUR PARISIAN PICNIC CONTEST ENTRIES: A GALLERY OF CHILDHOOD MAGIC

"There's a certain magic in Paris when spring arrives. It isn't just a season, it's a mood, a palette."

While we eagerly await Shari Ford's selection of our Spring contest winner, we find ourselves utterly enchanted by each and every submission to our Parisian Picnic contest. What began as an invitation to capture childhood dreams "à la française" has blossomed into a breathtaking collection of moments that would make even Monet reach for his brush.

From sun-dappled garden parties adorned with delicate macarons to whimsical scenes worthy of a storybook illustration, princesses and little princes have created their own impressionist masterpieces in our smocked and embroidered dresses. 

In the spirit of celebration, we've decided that every single entry deserves recognition. Each of these photos captures something uniquely magical. Rather than wait for a single winner, we're honoring every participant with their own special award.

So pour yourself a cup of tea, enjoy a macaron or two, and join us as we wander through this gallery of childhood enchantment. From France to the Netherlands, the United States and as far as Japan, each image is a love letter to the simple joys that make life beautiful : picnics in the garden, the rustle of a beloved dress, the quiet contentment of a perfect spring afternoon.

Read each mum's words and learn all about the meaning and delightful details behind each picture.

Most Royal Entry

Princesses Jasmine and Milana from North Carolina by Julie Matev marvellously captured in a grand and majestic castle setting.

For my contest entry, I embraced a romantic Parisian style, weaving together delicate, elegant details to paint the charm of a spring day in France. I chose soft roses and pastel strawberry macarons to bring sweetness and sophistication, setting them against the timeless beauty of tulips in full bloom. As a backdrop, the majestic Biltmore Castle added a fairytale feel. 

I chose these dresses because of their gorgeous embroidered details that add such a refined touch. The soft blue and white colors paired with dainty floral patterns make them feel absolutely fitting for the occasion.

Most Poetic Entry

Princess Jane from Virginia by Mariel : An image which tells the most beautiful story without words.

It was one of those tender spring days when our garden felt like a dream - dogwoods were in full bloom, their blossoms luminescent in the sunlight. I knew I had to capture Jane beneath their branches - where everything feels a little more magical. There she sat, in her favorite dress from Paris, surrounded by her beloved baskets and treats. Magic lingered, childhood captured, embodying the endless wonder of being five - in the heart of spring…

Most Joyful Entry

Princess Hattie from Tennessee by Meredith : A French picnic perfectly capturing the true essence of French joie de vivre.

We took photos of Hattie in her "twirl dress" as she calls it. She has asked about wearing her dress every day since we unwrapped it. Whether we win or not, this photo is so special for us as it was taken in our neighbor's beautiful garden where I often sit and drink wine while Hattie plays. 

The cut flowers are from my garden as are the blackberries! (turns out blackberries are not a good idea for a photo shoot, I had to edit out some blackberry stains!) Hattie is a charcuterie gal who loves great ( fancy) cheese! Our mini cheese board is handmade by another elderly neighbor and was gifted to us this last year. The Longchamp scarf was brought back to me by my mom when she visited Paris when I was in high school. My mom read me that Madeline book as a girl and for years I dreamed of visiting Paris and pretending to be her! 

Most Impressionist Entry

Princess Gabrielle from the Netherlands by Jennifer and the photographer Tatyana : Dreamy pictures with subtle details echoing the Impressionist style.

Gabrielle loves picnics where she can jump in the grass, pick flowers, twirl in her dresses, dance outdoors and enjoy her very French « gouter ». The idea was to show this authentic pleasure of Gabrielle in a dress that she adores and that resonates for her with freedom and joie de vivre, all wrapped in a feeling of timelessness thanks to the chic blue gingham that accentuates her blue eyes and reminds her mother of the innocence of childhood in France. This very special outing took place in the rose garden where Gabrielle’s mother read in the shade throughout her adolescence and the magic happened. The jam tartines, fruits and tartlets were savored under Gabrielle’s beloved ombrelle. Thank you for sharing this moment with us!

Most Romantic Entry

Princess Caroline from Florida by Kendall : A sweet pink tea party exuding delicate romance.

Watching my daughter’s imagination blossom through her childhood has been so beautiful to witness. One of her favorite things to do is play tea party with her dolls and stuffed animals. Caroline loved setting up her bunnies with her great grandmothers special tea set in our garden. Her pink dress is one of her own birthday traditions. Picking out a special dress from Charlotte Sy Dimby is something we look forward to every year.

Most enchanting Setting Entry

Princesses Stella and Lola from New York by Danielle : The most magical outdoor backdrop.

The girls wore their Purple Rapunzel inspired Charlotte dresses. They are particularly fond of this shade lately! Bimbom Bunnies sitting up nicely made great companions! 

Stella and Lola picked their Eiffel Tower themed tea set to create a Parisian aesthetic. We had prepared cookie dough cakes, crackers, grapes, strawberries and blueberries in our picnic basket. 

We enjoyed our French feast in a picturesque lookout spot in Cornawall on Hudson with a breathtaking view overlooking Hudson River. This scenic postcard like location is a beloved one for photos.

This contest was a wonderful reminder to cherish the magic of childhood, to nurture little one’s creativity and imagination. We had a magical playful moment which felt almost out of time and space. In our fast paced life, we get so easily caught up yet it’s these memories which truly fill our hearts and souls.

Most thoughtfully curated tableau Entry

Princess Ingrid from Utah pictured by Katherine : Chosen by much love and care, every detail of this picnic has its meaning.

Paris holds such a special place in our hearts. We discovered L'île aux Fées and Charlotte sy Dimby while I was pregnant, and we have been dear friends ever since! 

Ingrid is wearing the quintessential French dress...every detail is perfection, from the elegant lace at the neck right down to the toile de jouy lining the inside of the sleeves, from which the gorgeous bird embroidery is derived. It was also the perfect choice because birds are symbolic to our family--we have called Ingrid our little chickadee since before she arrived! 

The colors of the scene were inspired by the delicate palettes of the French impressionists, especially Monet, and of course no French tea party would be complete without croissants, macarons, and especially madeleines, which are one of Ingrid's favorite treats!

Most Dreamy Storybook Entry

Princess Claire from Tennessee pictured by Kari : a fairytale ambiance transporting us to another realm.

Wisteria is said to symbolize love and devotion, making the cascading blooms the perfect backdrop for a spring picnic. Claire had so much fun eating the macarons and reading her Notre Dame de Paris book acquired during our last trip in 2009 that she barely even noticed that I was capturing her photo. My mother in law helped me set up the picnic at an abandoned property close to her home. We had lots of laughs that day taking a risk for the perfect photo. I was absolutely certain this was the ideal spot and I am beyond happy with the photos. 

The softness of the bluebird dress added the touch of childhood innocence and enchantment for Claire’s own storybook moment. 

Most Authentic French Picnic Entry

Princess Emma in France pictured by Hiroko : Pictures bringing genuine Parisian picnic culture to life.

Most Elegant Dress Showcase Entry

Princess Reese from North Carolina pictured by Corinne : A highly elegant picnic beautifully highlighting the dress details. A true fashion show.

I wanted to create a special outing with my daughter, Reese, so we planned a French-inspired picnic, just the two of us, at a beautiful local horticultural garden. I brought along the wicker picnic basket and blanket we use for family picnics, lots of yummy macarons, and some fresh flowers to make the scene feel extra magical.

I chose the Charlotte Sy Dimby dress for her because the lovely blue brings out her eyes so beautifully. The whole afternoon felt timeless and sweet, and I tried to capture it all with the soft, dreamy quality of a storybook.

Most Serene Moment Entry

Princesses Yui and Hana from Japan pictured by Mari : Under the cherry blossoms, this charming scenery captures pure childhood contentment.

Most Radiant Entry

Princess Bella from London pictured by Melissa : Photographs that seem to glow from within and shine as bright as the sun.

My golden girl in her golden dress! I always love when Bella wears yellow because she sparkles like the sun!

Most British Entry

Princess Bella and prince Noah from London pictured by Melissa : Photographs blending a classic French aesthetic with a chic British touch.

The cutest two matching in blue in their secret garden in London! Just a hop skip and a jump from Paris! I loved the idea of the beautiful arched green ivy background with the kids sipping out of their wild strawberry china in the center. Blue hydrangeas to match with the lovely blue and white stripe smocked outfits. Sunflowers because they are the designers favorite and complement the beautiful picnic blanket!

Most Harmonious Color Palette Entry

Prince Hugo in Paris by Olivia, mum and founder of SugarCoats wedding cakes : The most harmonious and beautiful color composition.

We set up our picnic blanket in a beautiful, peaceful park called Jardin des Mille Roses. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect—the roses were all in full bloom at this time of year. I’ve been coming to this park since I was pregnant with Hugo, and it’s now become part of our morning walks. For our little picnic, I made iced biscuits inspired by the colors and checkered pattern of Hugo’s outfit. It was also the beginning of strawberry season in France, and no spring picnic feels complete without them!

Most Whimsical Entry

Princess Nova and Prince Lemmy from the Netherlands pictured by Samantha and Denise : Entries that transport us straight into a fairytale.

Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to participate in the photo contest again.

It was quite a challenge to find the right day because of the weather. But we got lucky, on the day of the picnic although it was very windy, the temperature was perfect.

It was fun (and challenging) because little Lemmy had his eyes only focussed on the French delicacies haha! We had a great time and I am very grateful for Denise and her patience with the children.

Most Childhood Enchantment Entry

Princess Scarlett and Prince Theo from Texas pictured by Jennifer and her niece photographer : A gorgeous celebration of the beauty of childhood and family love.

We chose to create a Parisian tea party picnic right in our own garden in McKinney, TX. The beautiful oak leaf hydrangeas had just bloomed that very week and we were so excited to have such lovely blossoms in our very own backyard. We just moved into our home in the fall seven months ago so when spring arrived we were pleasantly surprised daily with all the different flowers coming to life in the garden. Hydrangeas have always been a favorite of mine and I wanted to include them in the photos. They made the overall atmosphere sweet, nostalgic, and whimsical. I wanted the photos to evoke a sense of innocence and imaginative play, with a timeless, story-book-like quality that we could capture and remember forever.

Scarlett is wearing the Blue Skies and Roses dress from the May Collection Life is a Bicycle. This dress really stood out when browsing the collection. The beautiful light blue gingham highlights her eyes so perfectly and I knew she would love the pink roses on the smocked bodice. The bow in her hair is the king classic grosgrain in millennium blue by Wee Ones. Their bows are timeless and the color matched so well.

Theo is wearing the Thomas set. I have always admired this set in the solid blue. The classic Peter Pan collar with the light blue buttons is just perfection on him. He looks like a little prince wearing it.

The tea set in the photo is a special one to us because it was my eldest daughter’s Colette’s when she was little. She is almost fifteen now so it was really special to unwrap it from its hat box and let Scarlett and Theo use it to create even more magical memories.

The picnic basket is a vintage one we searched for at an antique store in downtown McKinney with two levels full of vintage items. We often stop in to see what new treasures they have found. I loved that it was large enough for them to sit on. We filled it with blush colored roses to match Scarlett’s dress and white hydrangeas from our local flower shop.

The wooden truck Theo is holding in some of the photos is also a vintage find from an estate sale that he picked out himself.

The hat in some of the photos is by Sarah Bray Bermuda. She has the most adorable Mommy & Me sun hat set called Daisy & Buttercup. I ordered the set three years ago when I found out I was expecting a little girl! We have made so many wonderful memories wearing them together.

The child size wicker table and chair set we used for our picnic was actually a Facebook marketplace find! I love searching for classic timeless pieces that can still be used. The children sit there daily on our front porch to eat breakfast or lunch as we watch the ducks and Canadian geese swim in the pond.

Our family photographer, who is also my niece took the pictures! She has been taking their pictures since they were born in the hospital. It’s always a special day when our Laney comes over.

I wanted them barefoot for these to capture their perfect little hands and feet at this age. Theo is two and Scarlett is three. Time is so precious and they grow up too quickly! Thank you for doing this contest because I will cherish these sweet moments forever!

Most whimsical Wildflower Setting Entry

Princesses Scarlett and Georgie from Texas pictured by Victoria : The sweetest sibling entry surrounded by the prettiest wildflowers, an immersion within nature’s most enchanting blooms.

We took our photos at a nature preserve behind our house called "Twelve Hills." We love walking through there every day to see the wildflowers. It felt perfect for a pic-nic tea party theme. Funny enough, we had just celebrated Stella's 2nd birthday with a tea party, so the blanket we are using in the picture was the tablecloth from her birthday party. The accessories came straight from your beautiful store L’Ile aux Fées. She loves playing with her croissants that we bought in Paris. The dress is absolutely gorgeous and the yellow went well with the wildflowers in the background. We would be honored to be selected!

Most Elegant Entry

Princesses Arya and Ayla from Illinois pictured by Victoria : The most delightful al fresco dining experience.

I wanted to create something simple, but elegant, that transported the girls to Paris since we have not been able to visit recently! We are missing France dearly!

Most Elegant Mummy and Me Entry

Princess Georgina and her Brittany from Colorado. Learn all about this special dress and tea party 

Most Charming Tea Party

Princesses Mary, Annie and Lucy from Indiana pictured by Mary : The most delightful party with heirloom tea set.

It was a beautiful sunny day, so a tea party it was! We dressed the girls in their sweet dresses, adding hair bows, of course. We used their parents' vintage China, as it was the perfect complement to the dresses. The promised macarons and meringues were arranged on plates, and the party ensued. The older girls were so proud to be entrusted with the special china!

Most Enchanting Garden Setting

Princess Riz, pictured by Maki from Japan : A delightful floral Spring backdrop.

Most Timeless Entry

Princess Annabelle, grandchild of Susie from Tennessee pictured by Shari : An image that feels both vintage and eternal.

Thank you to all who took part! Each photograph tells a story of childhood wonder, family love, and that ineffable quality that makes a simple outdoor meal feel like pure poetry.

Shop our dresses

For your next French themed party, we encourage you to read our Parisian tea time article. 

For your family trip to France, read our Paris with Kids blog.