I try to stay as topical season wise as I possibly can and as such have been forced to turn down some lovely winter weddings & styled shoots.  There is always a ‘however‘ right?!  Such is the case with today’s beautifully styled late winter wedding shoot in Washington State. From the wonderfully rustic setting to the vintage pieces that craft the decor, it was just too hard for me to let this beauty slip through my fingers, wrong season and all!  Washington photographer Amanda Lloyd Photography took the helm, wanting to kick off 2013 in a big way with a gorgeous styled late winter session with rustic vintage touches & mother nature in her finest ranging with everything from warm sunshine to pouring rain, then heavy snowfalls!

“Zong Her of Her Couture was so amazing and provided gorgeous veils, amazing flowers, and got me in touch with Dianne’s Delights in Seattle who provided the seriously adorable cream colored ruffed cake, complete with a burlap banner style cake topper. The “dream team” as I call them were fabulous! I collected all the fun vintage pieces from the Old Main Street Spanaway Antique Mall and all the unique wood pieces, including the chevron cake plate were make by a local wood shop called “from the wood shed” in Spanaway.  Let me say that the weather for our shoot was total CHAOS! It was sunshine, then pouring rain! Then, we decided to head up to Summit at Steven’s Pass for an insanely gorgeous snowfall! It was DOWNPOURING snow! Dyan and Daniel were complete troopers and totally rocked the shoot! The weather was typical of Washington, and I loved every bit of it! I’m so over-the-moon in love with images and can’t wait to share them!”

Vendor Love

Venue: Family Cabin in Skykomish | Dress Boutique: David’s Bridal | Men’s Attire: Men’s Warehouse | Bakery: Dianne’s Delights | Handmade Goods Designer: Her Couture, From The Wood Shed | Photographer: Amanda Lloyd Photography

From the looks of things on Pinterest of late, there is a serious sugar craving going on for ceremony backdrops that defy traditional setups in place of the more unique, creative & awe inspiring.  Personally I adore the idea of not just unique ceremony locations but an intriguing collection of elements to craft your very own signature look.  I really feel that creativity in weddings is reaching a gorgeous design crescendo of late with seemingly nothing off limits.  Vintage doors, window frames, books, lanterns, bicycles, ribbon, garlands, pinwheels, you name it, are just a few elements that have taken to decorating the ‘I do’ spot these days.  I wish this was something that was making such waves only a few short years ago, as I certainly would have loved to have gone this route myself!

Such wonderfully creative and at times innovative ceremony backdrops are the subject of this weeks Why It Works Wednesday!  I recently spotted a gorgeous gem of a backdrop on Ruffled {Which I realize last week’s WIWW also came from Ruffled!}, photographed by the amazing One Love Photo, with a strong bohemian vibe to the set up.  There are so many absolutely terrific elements to this ceremony spot, I am super eager to jump into things and bring to life why this wondrous installation works so well!  Let’s get to it shall we!

 *Photograph by One Love Photo

Sorry for the giganto photo, but I felt it was really important to view this suspended picture frame backdrop in its full glory, as large as the site will allow, so that you can properly take in the full effect!  Upon first glance it may seem like a very busy backdrop {this is not always a negative!} in truth there really are only 3 pure elements being played with here: picture frames, floral arrangements & string.  The first that we will discuss, and most certainly the focal point of the design are the frames.  Keeping with the current trend in weddings to mix-match, each frame is uniquely its own, with none repeating.  The key here is to pick small details that relate them to each other well enough to present a harmonious aesthetic overall.  Be it a style of craving, a detail within the pattern itself you name it. While design elements are indeed a part of why each frame was chosen, if you look back at the set up again, you’ll notice that each frame’s color is a beautiful tone, which also compliments its nearest neighbor.  Last but not least, to keep the flow of the design, each frame is its own size while the shape is kept the same, again an element that ties them together in their uniqueness.  Varying the frame’s in the size department keeps it fresh and interesting, each with its own reason to be looked at.

Each frame comes with its very own slightly mix-matched floral arrangement, each pinned on a different corner of the frame.  Here again repeaters, while unavoidable all together with only 4 corners to choose from, were kept to a minimum, keeping the visual as interesting as possible.  The blooms themselves are bold colors in striking orange, loud fuchsia, & pale purple.  These color demanding focal pieces stand out strongly against the darker wood and deep green of the surrounding area.  Notice how each arrangement as well, contains leafy stringy greens which serve to make each arrangement more abstract and unusual.  This design serves to connect with a more organic feel, how one could imagine they might be found in nature, as well as supplying a lovely air of whimsy!

The last element to the design is perhaps my favorite!  I am utterly in love how the strings were treated as a piece of the design versus something to be hidden and tucked away.  The beauty of the stringing job in this case is the angle at which they were hung.  Rather then boring ol’straight up stringing, each was tied closer together then the width of the frame creating an intricate lattice work in the open air above the frames.  The overall effect is something that is playful, light and airy.

I adore this backdrop and personally feel that even though it might feel very bohemian, in my opinion it easily translates to just about every wedding genre & theme.  The basic principles of great design, organic goodness & whimsy will carry over beautifully no matter what!  I highly encourage you to head over to Ruffled to view the full post on this wedding, as there are lots of lovely little elements of this wedding to enjoy!

Wedding Location: Seattle, WA / Wedding Photographer: one love photo / Venue: Robinswood House / Wedding Flowers: Ravenna Blooms / Wedding Dress: Milly from Nordstrom Wedding Suite / Bride’s Shoes:Joan and David / Hair and Makeup: Off White / Hair Accessory: Bride’s mother / Bridesmaids’ Dresses:Nordstrom / Groom’s Apparel: Tux Shop / Wedding Caterer: 12 Baskets Catering / Cake and Desserts: The Sweet Side Cake and Pies Alamode / Music: Sonny Byers and Jazz Trio (friend of Bride) / Wedding Favors:JonBoy Caramels

Styled inspiration shoots come and go, but they so rarely feature our wonderful military in their smart dress finest!  This early spring woodsy shoot features a sweet homegrown picnic!  Early strawberries, plush oranges, even a little guardian owl add an organic touch of earthiness and simplicity to the table.  While our groom is indeed sharply dressed in his Navy finest, our sweet bride dons an Allure gown with a simple single row of pearls on her neck & wrist for a spot of elegance.  Not one to stray to far from her down home roots, our bride added a dash of country to this rustic fete, wearing a pair of splendid cowboy boots!  Simple natural touches can easily transform any environment into a rustic playground!

Vendor Love

Dress: Allure – Bridals by Jodi| Table Decor : Sugar and Spice Photography & ModMoxieStudios
Photographer: Sugar and Spice Photography and Design Studio & Tracy Kin of TDK Photography

I gotta tell you, I am in love with the idea of vintage camera equipment, as well as Polaroids, as THE perfect engagement session accessories!  Often times couples feel too overwhelmed by engagement sessions with big themes, lots of props, clothing etc.  Working with some wonderful old school camera equipment, having a good time shooting another with Polaroids, and of course bringing your best attitude, can truly make for a lovely engagement photographs, just as Andrea Garvin & Trent Breci prove here!  California photographer Siegel Thurston Photography uniquely captured some really fun aspects of working with cameras, from viewing the couple within the frame of a medium format camera, to artistic views of Polaroids held in our couple’s hands.  Andrew & Trent ham it up just the right amount to bring the extra zest that makes the session perfection!  With just the right accessory or two your session can be art all its own!

Vendor Love

Venue: Historic Sweetwater Bridge
Photographer: Siegel Thurston Photography

When planning weddings couple’s are faced with the task of sorting out the identity, the theme/feel, of their wedding day.  Anna Johnson & Chris Daugherty were no exception to the rule, they simply thought up a better mouse trap, sampling special elements from each of the vibes that they so enjoy.  The Signature at West Neck  was the first step, providing the perfect elegant and upscale environment  not to mention the golf flavor which Chris so loves!  Then came the picture perfect baby blue seersucker suits that the men wore, along with some proper BBQ food for the guests.  Toss in a few choice nautical elements and you have the makings for the perfect day, and the truest expression of Anna & Chris.  Vibrant hot pink along with calming blues really paved the way for this beautiful spring day wedding and while I personally am a heel girl, I am looooving Anna’s Sperry Top-Sider wedding shoes!  These two are so very clearly smitten with one another, and Amanda Hedgepeth Photography did a gorgeous job featuring that love front & center!

Novella of the Bride…

Anna, a country girl from Northern Pennsylvania and graduate of Penn State University, is an avid crafter, reader, and budding photographer.  She will graduate this year with an MBA from Old Dominion University.  Chris, a native of Virginia Beach who loves all things hockey, surfing, hunting, and golf, attended prep school at Kent’s Hill School in Maine and has a degree in Finance from Lake Forrest College.  Sometimes the one you’re looking for is right there in front of your face… or in the cube next door!  It might have taken us a few years to realize it but the friendship that developed in the meantime was worth the wait.  We can both honestly say… we married our best friend.

Our goal for the wedding was to create an overall feel that was a little bit back yard barbecue  a little bit antebellum manor, and a little bit nautical.  Our outdoor wedding and tented ceremony at The Signature at West Neck combined with lots of seersucker, Sperrys, and stripes gave us just that.  The Signature was Chris’ suggestion.  It’s the only venue we looked at.   It was the perfect combination of my ideas for a “southern manor meets back yard pig picking” and his affinity for the game of golf.  One look at the club house and I couldn’t picture getting married anywhere else.  And they even had pulled pork sliders as a menu option!

We also wanted to make sure to honor our families in the details.  The bridal party was full of family and my (Anna) cousin officiated over the ceremony.  We displayed our parents’ wedding portraits.  I wore my mother’s wedding gown, shortened and sleeves removed, for our rehearsal dinner and my wedding band had been my great-grandmother’s.  Oh, and my dad walked me down the aisle in the exact same suit he wore when he married my mom; it was his idea.

The Signature was Chris’ suggestion.  It’s the only venue we looked at.   It was the perfect combination of my ideas for a “southern manor meets back yard pig picking” and his affinity for the game of golf.  One look at the club house and I couldn’t picture getting married anywhere else.  And they even had pulled pork sliders as a menu option!

Planning a wedding is hard work!  Especially when your family is spread far and wide.  All six of my bridesmaids, including my two MOH sisters, and my mother spent countless hours on the phone, supporting me every step of the way.  My sister Karen was a lifesaver, always there to lend an ear or a shoulder, hunting down blue mason jars, scrubbing labels off Starbucks bottles, tying countless bows, picking up the Krispy Kreme donuts we packaged as favors the morning of the wedding, and so much more.  Amanda Hedgepeth, our amazing photographer and one of the first vendors we hired, was with us from the beginning, capturing it all.  After two e-sessions, two bridal sessions, engagement party, rehearsal dinner, and finally wedding, she became more friend than just awesome photog that she is.  I can’t imagine the last year without her enthusiasm and support.  She was practically my seventh bridesmaid!!

Bride’s Favorite Moment: “When Chris and I looked at each other, toward the end of our ceremony, and we both realized at the same moment that after thirteen long months of planning and hard work and anticipation, we had done it; we were finally married.”

Vendor Love

Venue: The Signature at West Neck  | Wedding Dress: Galina for David’s Bridal | Shoe Designer: Sperry | Hair Stylist: Chez Madeleine  | Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew  | Groom’s Suit: Jos. A. Bank  | Invitation Designer: Wedding Paper Divas  | Transportation: Exotic Style Limousines, Inc, LPR Limos | Music: DJ CANROCK with East Coast Entertainment  | Rentals: Distinctive Event Rentals  | Florist: Fluttering Flowers by Debra Pence  | Caterer: The Signature at West Neck  | Dessert Bar: Sweet Temptations Dessert Café  | Cake: Bonnie Borek {Family Friend} | Photographer: Amanda Hedgepeth Photography