Woodland Bridal Photoshoot
Photographer: PEARL Photography by Elena
Dress: Dream Dresses by P.M.N
Bridal Bouquet: Colibri Blooms
Hair: Hair By Alise
Make up: Off Black Arts
How to Run your Unplugged Wedding
Styled Shoot at Winter Green Weddings
A note from the photographer:
“We’ll shoot rain or shine!” is what I remember telling Diana, the wedding planner of Passionate Weddings when we started organizing a styled shoot at Winter Green Weddings venue in Buckley. The Pacific Northwest winter didn’t let us down either. Blue skies and sunshine teased us the day before the shoot, only to rain throughout the entire shoot. Thankfully, everyone was prepared for it, and the venue has just a beautiful space indoors as it does outdoors.
Winter Green Wedding’s owners, Mark and Kylie, are the sweetest couple. Mark and his father built the log home and barn, now turned wedding venue, themselves. The craftsmanship and care that went into the buildings is astounding. Not only that, but it sits on acres of beautiful land. Some of the land is manicured grass — perfect for outdoor ceremonies and yard games, while most of the land seems to be forested and wild. Mark and Kylie were such a joy to work with that I’d recommend them to anyone looking for a rustic barn venue.
Since it had been raining all day, the model, Leslie Williams, and I couldn’t wander too far from the barn in fear of dirtying the Maggie Sottero dress we had out on loan from The Wedding Bell. I love the shots we got near the forest, but I’m looking forward to exploring more on a drier day.
Vendor credits:
Venue: Winter Green Weddings
Photography: M. Laine Photography
Planner: Passionate Weddings
Model: Leslie Williams
Gown: The Wedding Bell
Hair and Makeup: The PNW Bride
Calligraphy: She Said Yes
Flowers: Flora Blume Design
Cupcakes: Hello, Cupcake
Rentals: Cort Pary Rentals
Globe, maps and luggage tags: Mia Nicole Design Co.
Rentals: The Meaningful Details
Drapes: Linen Sensation
Cake: Linen Sensation
Jewelry: Roxy and Lola
Fern & Moon styled shoot
A note from Fern & Moon:
Inspired by couples creating new traditions, this shoot celebrates the unconventional bride. The location, in the desert of Eastern Washington, has particular significance for the designers of Fern & Moon. Three years ago our original unconventional bride Karen Merrifield (Co-founder of Fern & Moon) got married here! Her wedding, and her decision to let go of certain trends and conventions, sparked the idea for Fern & Moon. It only seemed right to return to the desert to shoot another unconventional couple, Mimi and Tanner.
With My Garden Overfloweth (Paterson, WA) providing a stunning bouquet, and Anna Miller styling modern hair and makeup we had a peachy, golden colour palette to rival the desert setting. Mimi and Tanner brought items that felt like "them", from sneakers to a paisley shirt, so their style and personalities were reflected in the images. The most beautiful part of the day was seeing their personalities and love shine through in the images. Each couple is unique, and every couple deserves a chance to celebrate what's meaningful to them.
Models and real-life couple: Mimi Roberts and Tanner Badden
Photography: Karen Merrifield, Co-founder Fern & Moon
Wardrobe Styling: Keira Danniels, Co-founder Fern & Moon
Floral Design: My Garden Overfloweth
Dresses: Fern & Moon
Hair & Makeup: Anna Miller
Five tips for fabulous wedding make up
It’s time to start envisioning your wedding look. Whether it is a smoky eye or a natural dewy look or a red lip, here are some tips for making sure your wedding make up is better than you ever dreamed it would be. This is a guide to finding the right products, prepping your skin and refining your look.
1. Know your skin. Some products are going to glide onto your skin and sit there like they were made for you. Some products will clump, separate or just look bad, not because they’re bad products, but because they may not be compatible with your skin. My first recommendation? Samples. You want to be trying products before you invest, so you know how they work with your skin. It’s easy to read reviews and find a dream product and drop a large part of your make up budget on it, but what if you get the product and it doesn’t work with your skin? Try products from every price range, because some less expensive products can really impress. If it works with your skin and brings you closer to that newlywed glow, then it doesn’t matter what the brand is or where you bought it.
2. Treat your skin. Listen, compatible make up can only go so far if you’re not taking care of your skin. Look at our previous post, 4 Ways to get your skin glowing for your big day, for some skincare guidelines. To recap that post: wash your face consistently, get a quality moisturizer that is compatible with your skin type and mask, mask, mask. Great skin is attainable, but it takes consistent effort. If you can create a skincare regimen for yourself and stick to it, you will most likely need less make up on your big day and the make up you do wear will sit better on your skin.
3. Try things. You never know until you try. Recently, I discovered the world of exfoliating moisturizers. My skin has never been softer, but it wouldn’t be if I hadn’t tried something that sounded a little off-the-wall. Always read reviews and the product description to make sure the product will be compatible with your skin type. For example, if you have skin that airs on the oily side, make sure you’re avoiding heavy moisturizers and stick to more intense cleansers. If you have dryer skin, avoid heavy duty cleansers in favor of light cleansers and heavier moisturizers. Get samples and order minis so that you can try a little of everything. Figure out what works best for you specifically; don’t gamble on what works best for everybody else.
4. Research and experiment. Find make up looks that you like and watch tutorials on those looks. Find make up artists and beauty bloggers you trust and let them teach you their technique. Find artists with similar skin types to yours and you’ll be able to glean some recommendations for products to try as well. Try different looks with different products you like, but keep an open mind. Maybe that one highlight wasn’t great on its own, but looks really good when layered with another highlight.
5. Test runs. Try out different looks. You might have an idea of what you want your make up to look like, but you want to try a few variations to really hone in on what you want. Take pictures with good lighting of each variation and write down what you did differently and what products you used with each look. This way, you can compare the variations side by side and decide what makes you look as fierce as possible.
Even if you are hiring a make up artist, it doesn’t hurt to be able to tell them what products you like and specifically what look you want. A make up artist may be able to take the looks you created and bring them to the next level. A make up artist can only work with the skin you bring to the table, though, so make sure you are taking care of your skin and pampering your skin in the months leading up to the big day. It doesn’t matter if you are doing your make up yourself or hiring a professional. You want your skin to be at its very best, so the most important part of wedding make up is to be consistent with your skincare.
Real Wedding! Diana and Preston
From the photographer: Diana and Preston's wedding at the Carnation Tree Farm is one of my all time favorites. It's difficult to put into words how touching it was. Between Diana's first look with her father and brother, the couple's tea ceremony and toasts of remembrance at the reception, I was sniffling and shooting through blurry eyes more than once.
The most precious moment of all was Diana and Preston's first look. Preston was so eager to marry his best friend, that his excitement was contagious. He had the best reaction to seeing Diana, and you can't help but smile with him!
Photography: M. Laine Photography
Florals: Monroe Floral
What is your something blue?
Scottish Wedding! Sarah and John
From the photographer: This wedding was fantastic. It was Scottish inspired, as the bride and her family are Scottish. It was very eclectic, but in an elegant, creative and beautiful way. There were so many details. It was a small untraditional wedding; they had Pendleton Wool Blankets that were embroidered on the back of the chairs, which every guest got to take home, the bride's cloak was also made of Pendleton wool, as well as the grooms vest. It was in a lodge located in Leavenworth, Washington; a German inspired town that looks like you are in the Bavarian Swiss alps next to in orchard in the fall.
Photos by Danielle Louise Photography
Styling and florals: J9bing
6 alternatives to traditional floral arrangements
You want to wow with your bouquet, so why not choose something other than roses or lilies? Floral alternatives are on the rise. The following are alternatives to traditional floral bouquets, but any of these options could be used with traditional flowers as well. Add something unique and special to your wedding theme with a creative approach to your choice of flowers.
Succulents Yes, it is finally time for millennials to start getting married, and they bring with them the trend of succulents. A succulent bouquet is a modern trend that will surprise your guests and won’t wilt like a traditional floral arrangement. Color-wise, a succulent bouquet is usually very green, and is a great option if it complements your general color palette. Succulent bouquets are beautiful, sleek and modern. Succulents are a low maintenance centerpiece for the reception, require little water and won’t stop looking fresh throughout the day. This idea will leave you with a home full of plants after the fact, or you can let guests bring home the arrangements as wedding favors. Herbs and wheat For a different look, try non-floral naturals. Herbs can create a very different and natural looking bouquet. These bouquets call to mind a farmhouse wedding in the country. Another option in the same vein is wheat. These bouquets look rustic and natural, as well as being very neutral in color. A bouquet of herbs and/or wheat is an non-traditional approach that will also give your wedding a taste of nature. Using herbs and wheat gives your wedding a more sustainable feel, and will really add something special to the right venue. Use herbs and wheat to take your outdoor wedding or rustic barn wedding to the next level. Fruit There are many ways to incorporate fruit into your bouquet. A subtle option would be berries or grapes while a less subtle choice would be lemons, oranges or pomegranates. Citrus may look best in a bouquet cut open, while a pomegranate must remain whole to protect the dress from red stains. Figs are a beautiful fruit, especially when cut open as an accent in a floral bouquet and pair well with white flowers and blackberries, or other purple colored fruits or vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are increasingly being seen on wedding tables. We aren’t talking about those huge and colorful pineapple and strawberry bouquets, we are talking bouquets and centerpieces that look like they came straight out of a cornucopia. Rustic fruit is on the rise. Cotton Cotton looks beautiful in a bouquet, and is far more original than baby’s breath as a white accent. This is a unique look that will give your bouquet an ethereal vibe. This is also a lovely and simple centerpiece option and general décor choice. Cotton stems look lovely in mason jars, but also in empty wine bottles. Add twine or burlap for a rustic look, or use glass and silver toned plants like lamb’s ear, dusty miller or lavender to create a more delicate aesthetic. Books and paper flowers This might sound a little out there, but how many literature loving brides would love to walk down the aisle accompanied by their favorite and most beautifully bound books? What book would you carry with you down the aisle? These book bouquets can take many forms. Handmade paper flowers made out of book pages are one option, but others include looping a ribbon through a single book and carrying it like a purse, with flower accents attached, or tying a few books of descending size into a stack with accents of ribbon and plants. Have each bridesmaid carry a styled book of beautiful binding that is important to you as the bride, or have everyone carry paper flowers. Old books make an interesting centerpiece, and it will make your wedding stand out. Stack books under compact or simple flower arrangements to give them some height. Old books add to a vintage aesthetic. Another option for centerpiece books is folded books, which are an artful way to imply you are opening your life to a new chapter. This theme of literature and words can really carry your wedding and opens many doors for general decorations, invitations and even wedding favors. Feathers Feathers are a nice accent that can be added into a floral bouquet or combined with other non-floral alternatives. Different types of feathers will add to your aesthetic in different ways. Long, dark feathers will add drama and intensity, while small light colored feathers will lighten a bouquet’s aesthetic and add a delicacy to the look. Consider your venue when you consider feathers. Feathers may add to the rustic outdoors feeling of your wedding, or could add some vintage elegance depending on how you tackle your feathery bouquet. Many of these options can stand alone as a bouquet, but feel free to mix and match as well. Fruit would look lovely with herbs and succulents, just as a succulent decorating a book would be a lovely surprise bouquet alternative. Using these options as accents in floral bouquets and centerpieces is also a possibility. Incorporating many of these alternatives will take skills and tricks like using hidden wires to secure fruits into a bouquet form, so it might be best to hire an experienced florist when trying for more complex mediums. If you plan on doing some or all of your arrangements yourself, make sure you are researching the execution, consulting a florist at the very least and leaving yourself plenty of time to practice. Ask your florist what alternative mediums they are comfortable with and go from there. Botanikal in Bellingham provided us with our featured photos of alternative floral arrangements. Find other Pacific Northwest florists here. |
Arrangements by Botanikal in Bellingham
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Celebrity wedding highlights 2018
Trains, tiaras and diamonds, oh my!
Alessandra de Osma and Prince Christian of Hanover got married in Lima, on March 16. This couple had a two weddings, having a civil ceremony in London months before the Peruvian church wedding of March 16, according to Harper’s Bazar. Jorge Vázquez designed the lace gown, which featured a high neck and long sleeves. De Osma’s veil matched the length of her train, which was long, and needed to be carried by her half-sister in law, who wore a black and pink mini-dress also according to Harper’s Bazar. Alessandra de Osma wore the gorgeous and famous Hanover Floral Tiara, which has been worn in several other Hanoverian weddings according to Town and Country Magazine. The groom wore a dapper 3-piece suit according to Hello Magazine.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry wed on May 19 at Winsor Castle. The Duchess of Sussex wore a dress with an epic train and veil much in the tradition of royal weddings this year. According to People, the Duchess of Sussex wore for a tiara the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau, made in 1932, but the detachable broach at the center of the tiara dates back to the late 1800s and belonged to Queen Mary before the tiara was passed down to Queen Elizabeth. At the ceremony, a simple welsh gold band was slipped onto Meghan Markle’s newly royal finger, as is tradition according to Town and Country Magazine. The engagement ring was a different story. Town and Country Magazine reported that Prince Harry designed the custom ring himself, and sourced the main stone from Botswana, and the two other stones came from Princess Diana’s jewelry collection. Each part of the ring seems to hold significance for the couple.
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank wed at Winsor Castle on October 12. Princess Eugenie wore an open backed dress famously showcasing her scars from her battle with scoliosis. She did not wear a veil with the intention of not covering up her scars. However, this break with tradition was perhaps rectified by her wearing of the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik tiara, which served as a gorgeous and colorful addition to her wedding outfit. Queen Elizabeth II loaned her granddaughter this diamond and emerald beauty for the wedding says Today. Today also stated that this tiara is rarely worn publically by royals, so the choice surprised many. Most unique tiara of the year? Hands down Princess Eugenie.
Princess Ayako and Kei Moriya wed on October 29 at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo. The Japanese princess officially lost her royal status that very day, as she chose to wed a commoner according to Japan Times. She wore traditional court attire, which is traditionally very colorful. Princess Ayako’s hair was done up in an ancient style for noblewomen. It seems that the affair was very traditional, and Japan Times reported on many well wishes for joy and a happy household.
Duchess Sophie of Württemberg and Count Maximilien of Andigné wed at the Castle of Tegernsee on December 13. This couple was another who had a civil ceremony some months before the wedding, opting for a later, more lavish public affair according to Daily Mail. Duchess Sophie’s train and veil were also quite long, and her dress featured a boat neck and three quarter length sleeves. Duchess Sophie wore in the way of family heirlooms a beautiful diamond tiara, and an impressively intricate lace veil according to Brides.com.
The royal weddings this year were all affairs to remember. From the outfits to the settings, these weddings have set trends that we will see long into the New Year. Long trains, full length veils and colored stone accents have taken their place among 2018 wedding trends, but will surely carry over and continue effecting trends for a long time to come. Even royal brides are beginning to break with tradition in favor of personal style, and that should inspire us all.
Let's talk dress
There are some famous weddings that have broken this tradition over the years. Elizabeth Taylor, for example, did not wear white to several of her weddings. She wore emerald green in the ’50s, yellow in the ’60s, and a rainbow gown in the ’70s. More recently, jewelry designer Caitlin Mociun wore colorful stripes to her wedding in Puglia in September this year. In short, the whole palette is yours to consider when it comes to color.
There are also happy mediums between rainbow and white. Portia De Rossi famously fudged the white rule with a pale pink gown in 2008, and Gwen Stefani wore an ombré white to pink gown in 2002. Put your own spin on this tradition.
Detachable trains are a convenient option that will help your dress to be more practical during the reception. Another option is a train that pins up in the back for the reception. Drama in the dress is great for the ceremony, but make sure you will be able to enjoy your reception without worrying about being stepped on.
Let us know what your dress looks like with the contact form below!