Spring Awakening | Styled Wedding Inspiration Shoot

Originally published on Red Oak Weddings, I’m so excited to share this inspiration shoot!

This styled wedding was so much fun to plan and photograph. I worked with my good friend Stephanie Williamson to bring this vision to life. Themed on early spring, we incorporated some wintry elements, rose gold metals, and black berries. It was a truly unique collaboration that took place at The Inn at Millrace Pond. This venue was a perfect backdrop, with clean simple space, beautiful wood floors, and historic vibe. A couple of my absolute favorite aspects of this styled shoot was the DIY escort card wall made of ribbon (I mean honestly, how cool is that?!?!) and also the florals!!!!!! They were sooo gorgeous – between the incredible flower crown and the succulents in the bouquet, it’s safe to say I was in love! And can we talk about the groom’s style for a second? His look was put together from items he already owns – so on point! Kristen and Andrew were super sweet and really troopers! It was FREEZING…like 20 degrees…but you’d never know it! They totally trooped the outdoor portraits like champs! 🙂

From Steph:  Living in the Northeast, it’s no secret that the winter months can be quite brutal. However, the magical moments during transition between winter and spring when there’s a rebirth of fresh air, golden light in late afternoon and incredible blooms created by Mother Nature are what I love so much about this region. We wanted to capture the true essence of romantic, simple beauty between two people in love during a season when anything seems possible.

The Inn at Millrace Pond and it’s surroundings really sparked our desire to keep most of the elements very natural and refined. Since the house was built in 1830, complimenting the original wide plank hard wood floors, the delicate details of the doors and the incredible light that streamed through the windows was really important. From there, we dreamt up a muted color palette mixed with rose gold metallics to add a modern flare.

One of the main focal points was the copper metallic escort card wall. Not only can it be a fun DIY for brides, but it can also double as a photo booth backdrop once all of the escort cards have been removed! We loved the flexibility of using copper ribbon to create an eye catching design that was as easy to put up as it was to take down. The simple grey escort cards with white calligraphy kept the overall design clean and simple.

No spring design is complete without berries! When the ladies from Marigold & Grey mentioned adding blackberries to the welcome gift for a touch of freshness, we loved the idea and decided to incorporate them into other areas of the shoot. They truly complimented our color palette and the time of year so well and were perfect to style some of the smaller details with.

Because temperatures in early spring months can be very iffy, we wanted to find dresses that were light and airy but realistic if it got a little chilly. The first look was absolutely stunning combining a modest crop top that showed a peak of midriff with a Cinderella dream skirt made of layers upon layers of tulle. The second look was an elegant, lace a-line with cap sleeves and a low v back. We paired it with a faux fur wrap for cozier outdoor moments.

For the tablescape, we really wanted to evoke a laid back, comfortable design. With this in mind, we forgo the standard table and chairs and opted for a beautiful, low table with sheepskin fur pillows. We layered Moroccan rugs underneath to create a truly cozy nook. Antique glasses, simple white dishes, rose gold silverware and navy blue napkins added to the romantic, simplistic style we envisioned. This tablescape wouldn’t be complete without the Bellame Ribbon table runner and lush garland created by Louisa Amabile Testa.

This shoot allowed the love of two people to shine through, complimented their love with romantic, fresh, beautiful details and truly captured the meaning behind the quote “I have found the one whom my soul loves” written ever so beautifully on the banner by Allison from Allison Dee Calligraphy.

Bride & Groom: Andrew & Kristen Arra
Bridal Attire: I Do I Do Bridal Salon
Hair & Make Up: Tamana Azami
Venue: Inn at Millrace Pond
Printed Materials: Ribbon & Ink
Ribbon: Bellame Ribbon
Flowers: Louisa Amabile Testa
Welcome Gift: Marigold and Grey
Cake: Cafe Pierrot
Calligraphy: Allison Dee Calligraphy
Rugs, Pillows, & Bar Cart Rentals: Patina Rentals
Wedding Rings: Point No Point Studio
Jewelry: TARA 4779
Event Design & Styling: Stephanie Williamson