Spring Wedding Shoot: Featured on Elizabeth Anne Designs!

I'm SO excited to finally be able to share with you this amazing, romantic and girly styled shoot that I got to be a part of recently. It is featured today over on Elizabeth Anne Designs! I partnered with the following vendors and the combined talent of this amazing team birthed this spring wedding inspiration concept!

Concept, planning & integration of a gazillion details: Jen Thye of Imoni Events
Florist: Petal Pusher
Venue: Royal Palms Resort and Spa
Invitation & paper suite: Celebrations in Paper
Models: Graham & Stephanie
Dresses: Mariee Gallery
Make-up: Sarah Sanmarco
Hair: Sara Alaine Wareham
Linens & Coverings: Wildflower Linens
Equipment Rentals: Pro Em Rentals
Menswear: Mr. Formal
Cake-pops: Cuteology Cakes

I haven't participated in many styled shoots in the past. And I have mixed feelings about them. I don't think images from styled shoots should be used by photographers to show what they can do on a wedding day. Styled shoots and wedding days are two different beasts entirely. BUT I do think styled shoots have their place. I think they are a great way to inspire couples who are planning their weddings. And for me, I specifically want to inspire brides & grooms to make their weddings uniquely about THEM. I want them to feel complete freedom to put their own personalities and the things they LOVE into making their weddings unique. I think sometimes brides see something and copy it, and in this way, many weddings end up looking alike. But I love it when couples feel inspired to do something different that speaks to who they are. Enter the concept behind this styled shoot.

Our bride & groom were a real-life already-married couple, but the shoot was built around two characters who inspired the details and direction of the "wedding". Peyton and Dean met each other while in diapers and grew up as best friends. Things began to change their senior year of high school when the lifelong best friends began to cultivate a romantic relationship. Their relationship endured long-distance through college as Peyton attended Ole Miss and Dean played football for Washington State. The couple's combined interests of painting, cooking/baking, fly fishing, and wood working were incorporated into the details of their wedding.

We're so thrilled with how the shoot came out and hope that it inspires future brides & grooms to put their personalities into their weddings!

I love the intimate setting of this outdoor reception at the Royal Palms. The textures and colors were a feast for the senses:

The place cards paid homage to the couple's alma maters: Ole Miss for the girls and Washington State for the boys:

I couldn't get over this gorgeous linen provided by Wildflower Linens. It had the look of wood but was luxurious and soft. And how cute that the napkins were made into bows!

The spring flowers by Petal Pusher were so soft and romantic:

The favors were little salt & pepper shakers:

I love this sweet ceremony vignette:

Instead of traditional cake, the guests were served cake-pops: individual cake servings in push-pop form! What a unique and fun idea from Cuteology Cakes! This little cart was decked out with the cake-pops and super-fun tins with flowers and signs pointing to the couple's love for baking.

There were cake-pops for the boys with fishing poles on top and ones for the girls with painting boards -- again, incorporating some of the couple's hobbies. And I love the wood stand they are displayed in!