Part One of the Natural Beauty Inspiration Shoot, as seen on WedLuxe Magazine.
When photographer Anne-Marie Bouchard and I began planning this shoot, we shared a common vision: a design with simple and organic elements, soft lines, and classic elegance in a setting of natural beauty. Using neutral colors accented with soft gold, grayed jade, and plenty of lush florals, we created a romantic, fresh environment filled with soft, organic details that tied the whole design together.
Our team of vendors could not have been more gracious and inspiring, and our vision came to life very quickly and easily. Our venue, Le Belvédère, is an extraordinary eco-friendly venue perched on the edge of a cliff in Quebec’s Wakefield, and it has the most beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding rolling hills. It was the perfect backdrop for our shoot.
A new friend of mine recently told me that cotton-inspired wedding decor is a thing now… and frankly I was a little shocked that I hadn’t seen anything involving raw cotton before in a wedding. So I looked it up – Green Wedding Shoes posted a great styled shoot here, and while they made it work, I’m not so sure how I feel about a full cotton-inspired wedding. Thoughts?
Ceremonies are generally very under-decorated. Most of the decor budget goes towards the reception, but I personally think it is important to set the tone during the ceremony. The couple should always be the main focal point, but it is lovely to see some beauty wrapped around them as they are announced husband and wife for the first time.
Outdoor ceremonies are usually quite beautiful, but all the open space and beautiful scenery can dwarf the alter sometimes. Sarah & Chris’ ceremony is one of the most impressive alters that I have ever seen. The Vermont rolling hills in the background are breathtaking, but the alter stole the show. It was a perfect staging. Kathleen Landwehrle, the photographer, has more to say about the couple and the wedding itself:
Sarah and Chris had a relaxed playful day with a wedding party of athletic family and friends including Olympic mountain biker Lea Davison fresh back from London. The Trapp Family Lodge overlooks Vermont rolling hills and the town of Stowe. Sarah wore a beautiful lace gown with a long satin sash her bridesmaids helped wrap into a bow. Her bouquet was a wonderful accent with pinks and soft yellows. She spent most of the day relaxed in her bare feet. Chris and his groomsmen wore tan. Chris lined his jacket with a camouflage accent as a proud member of the Army National Guard. Prior to the ceremony the couple shared a first look and were able to tour the Trapps gardens and even meet the Scottish Highlander cows while taking wedding portraits.
The ceremony was held in the Wedding Meadow as the sun lowered towards the Worcester Mountain range. Following the ceremony was a cocktail hour tucked in a birch tree cove. The evening concluded with a soft lit tent reception. The ceiling of the tent was lined with colorful paper lanterns. Japanese words accented centerpieces guiding guests to their tables. The Trapps Lodge catered and the onsite gardens provided the floral decor.
While looking for a perfect Valentine’s Day post to publish, I found this incredibly styled “Valentine’s Day Friendship Fete” post on The Everygirl. The floral arrangement is one of the nicest I have ever seen. I am not a fan of red, so when I hear that there are going to be red roses in a bouquet, I usually cringe. But really, this one is a stunner. And how insane is that cake!!! I want one! Here’s the original article from The Everygirl:
Chances are at this point in your life you have a few truly remarkable women in your life and their friendship means the world to you. So instead of focusing on the romance between you and your significant other this February 14th, why not celebrate the relationships with your best girlfriends! Over the past few years of my adulthood, I’ve learned how valuable friendships are and how refreshing it is to get together with my nearest and dearest just to celebrate one another. With that the idea of an annual holiday party, appropriately called a Valentine’s Day Friendship Fete, was born! And if you’re the kind of chick that loves playing hostess and planning parties, this is a perfect opportunity to do just that without too much stress.
THE DECOR
No matter how intricate or seemingly simple any party’s décor is, women always notice and appreciate the details, so remember to incorporate your own into your Valentine’s Day party. For this shoot, I was inspired by a nostalgic Valentine’s Day color palette of reds and pinks. I then infused those together with Kate Spade inspired details like colorful confetti, blown up heart shaped balloons, and oversized fabric bows on the chairs. At each guest’s place-setting was a note card that served as a modern girl’s Valentine where party goers would be encouraged to write down reasons why they feel blessed for their friendships with one another. Inexpensive but feminine patterned plates from Anthropologie dressed up the tablescapes, stemware that most women have in their kitchen cupboards were used for drinks and locally rented linens and napkins like the ones I used, can be draped over any kitchen or dining room table. Simple, inexpensive but still thoughtful party favors, embellished with a tag that reads, ‘Some X’s and O’s and a new hue for your toes!’ were waiting for each girl to pick out. What girl wouldn’t love to head home from a night in with her friends with a few sweet macarons to snack on and a brand new Essie nail polish to use at her next pedicure.
THE DRINKS
Have flutes of pink sparkling champagne or pink lemonade mixed with raspberry vodka waiting for guests as they arrive to your home. Some other suitable drink options? Mimosas, mixed with a touch of grenadine. Or frozen strawberry daiquiris! For an extra festive punch you can rim the glass with red sugar crystals or even pink and red hued sprinkles. Don’t forget to garnish with a fun straw or fresh fruit like raspberries, strawberries cut in half to resemble hearts or even frozen cranberries. Give a little toast to your girlfriends once they’ve all arrived and let them know how thrilled you are to be spending a special night together with them. For the wine loving friend with more mature taste buds, have a bottle of merlot or pinot noir on hand. Be sure to have lots of ice water on hand too, so guests can get home safely post party!
THE FOOD
If the thought of cooking a three course meal for a group of girlfriends seems daunting, especially for the hostess with a busy work schedule, keep it simple without skimping on the sophistication. Try sourcing out a gourmet cheese and charcuterie market in your area where you can stock up on delectable and shareable treats. Try a variety of soft, spreadable cheeses that go incredible well with fresh French baguette slices and herb infused honey, (I’m a fan of Fromage Blanc, which is a full flavored cheese native to a farm in my area) and hard, salty cheeses like aged Gouda and Parmesan-style Sar Vecchio. Paired together with pickled olives, out of the box chutneys and a selection of cured meats, your guests will literally feel like they’re being wined and dined from the comfort of your home. Even better, picking everything up the night before and laying out your serving platters for each item will save you time and make serving and presentation a breeze on the day of. On the invitation for the event, give some indication of what you plan on serving so guests can decide if they will need a snack prior to arriving at your get together.
THE DESSERT
We women love dessert, so something incredible and sinfully sweet should follow the main course. In this shoot, I decided to go with an unfrosted chocolate cake created from a colleague and friend’s bakery, but with three layers to keep the balance between casual and grand. If you’re the hostess and you want to try your hand at creating your own cake, you wouldn’t need to stress about perfectly frosting a cake like this! Add a few fresh and color appropriate blooms on the top of the cake for a playful touch, and display on a cake pedestal where it can stand out and shine on its own. If your guests are still craving some sugar when the party ends, they can sneak a bite or two out of the macaron favors you’ve gifted to them! You can pick the macarons up ahead of time from your favorite local bakery. Call ahead to put in your order and see if your macarons can be dressed up with fondant X and O’s for the occasion.
Here is the inspiration behind the new branding. More tweaking to come. If you take a peek at Satin and Snowflakes’ Facebook page, you can get a better idea of which direction the site is going in. Tell me what you think!
This gorgeous styled shoot was submitted to me from Becky Veasey, notable wedding photographer based in Edmonton, Alberta. This is by far the most gorgeous Fall bouquet I have ever seen and hope that all you lovely Fall brides can use this as a great source of inspiration. I think all my Ottawa brides will remember the DIY peach wedding that I styled for Erika & Eddie back in June, so it was nice to see a different interpretation of how to incorporate the fruit into decor. Thanks for the submission Becky! Here’s a little more from the photographer’s blog:
Sigh. Did you hear that? That was my heart singing. Meet two people, who I without question love with all my heart. These are two people, who literally, would give you the shirt off their back. Their love for one another is so intense and passionate, it makes you just a wee bit jealous.
Mike and Ashton were married just weeks before this shoot, and sadly I couldn’t be there. Ashton and I promised to one another, or I kind of emailed and begged, but promising sounds much better, that when they were back from the East coast we would work together. I had this small brain baby and thought, that I wanted to show brides how to incorporate beautiful and if not unusual items into their wedding; peaches! You can have a centrepiece that is a statement without breaking the bank. This entire session was DIY (Do it yourself).
The only sad part was Alberta Weather reared her ugly head and we literally shot this entire session in I would say 20 minutes before the massive down pour. The mosquitos were I.N.S.A.N.E – the original location was punted immediately as the clouds loomed in. Condensation was building in my centrepieces. We found the first ‘green’ spot that could be set up and we went to town. I have NEVER shot so quickly in my life. The shoot is so small, but truly, I smile from ear-to-ear looking at the images.
Ashton I love your squishy nose smile when you look at Mike. Mike, I love seeing someone love such a beautiful woman with such insane passion, and showering her with unconditional love. I may know you both outside of photoshoots, but I honestly I am so very happy for you. Oh, crying a little, need to wrap this up, thank you to the amazing vendors who helped put this together. Small, but so proud of what was accomplished.
Now this is how to properly incorporate the Autumn season into your wedding decor. You don’t need to have burnt orange, chocolate-brown or mustard yellow in your wedding just because you are getting married in October. How about incorporating some beautiful gourds into your arrangements? If you can’t find any pale shades of gourds or pumpkins like the ones featured in McKenzie Powell’s enchanting arrangements here, try painting them. This wedding reminds me something right out of the pages of Cinderella. Here’s a little more from McKenzie herself (incase you haven’t noticed, I kind of have a crush on this Seattle-based florists’ designs):
You know what gets me? Kind of catches me off guard? Really friendly grooms. Not that most of the grooms I work with aren’t great, but usually on the wedding day I either a.) don’t really see them or b.) their stomachs are doing flips, so the last thing they care about is how I’m doing. (I really don’t blame them. No hurt feelings here.) But Chris was the exception. He appeared so calm, so happy. Going around to everyone setting up, asking how they were doing, if they needed anything. And it makes complete sense because Erin, his bride, is one of those people you’ll love the minute you meet her. She’s all smiles, beautiful, and sweet. Working with her was a dream. She gave me complete trust and made the entire process a breeze. Plus she’s a designer herself and has great taste. That helps. Oh but then comes her parents… Her dad left a super sweet comment on my Facebook page; her mom sent me a thank you card that brought me to tears. It’s pinned up in my office, and I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to toss it. It’s a good reminder of one of the many reasons why I love this job.
When a man from the catering staff commented on our beautiful gourds and pumpkins, I told him that I had planted the little seeds back in May, cut them from their vines in September, wiped them all down by hand, sorted them, and loaded them onto the truck in 20+ crates. He chuckled with wide eyes, clearly assuming that I must be joking. I was not.
Sean Flanigan captured the day beautifully at Robinswood House in Bellevue. The lovely blue settee is from Vintage Ambiance. Lisa Dupar Catering‘s entire staff was incredible. I can’t say enough good about them. Food-loving perfectionists. Bless them all! And to knock it out of the ballpark, Erin Skipley handled hair and makeup.
Satin & Snowflakes LOVES flowers, but we also love unique and untraditional elements in weddings, which is why we are featuring brooch bouquets today. Made from any type of jewelry (think brooches, earrings, pendants), each item is individually wired and put together to create a truly custom bouquet.
Here are a few reasons why we’re loving this style for any time of the year: By using a sentimental heirloom, this could be used as a beautiful way to honour the memory of a loved one; You can quite literally keep your bouquet forever; It takes “going Green” and recycling to a whole new level!
Whether you’d like to add brooches to fresh flowers or create an ensemble entirely of jewelry, brooch bouquets photograph beautifully and are sure to make an impact on your guests.
Photographer: Tilt Shift Studios / Bouquet designed by Kelsey, a bride in Texas, and her Aunt from various brooches and earrings collected from grandmothers and great-grandmothers.
A beautiful bouquet for a beautiful Saturday.
