Fall Country Wedding Photoshoot- Behind The Scenes
On a cold winter day like today, it’s nice to reminisce on warmer times like this fall country wedding photoshoot. In October, 2016 me and a group of talented vendors got together for this shoot.
This shoot began with an idea and design concept put together by me and photographer, Ally Papko. With our vision board, we approached other wedding vendors to see if they would like to participate. We were happy when everyone agreed, and our vision came together on that October day. Every vendor’s personality and creative flare made this shoot truly special.
Florist
I met Deanna Rogers-Murray of Deer Dutch through Instagram. I was blown away by the care she put into her floral arrangements. Every detail is specially placed to create a breathtaking bouquet or centerpiece.
Adding to the excitement, just days before the shoot she launched her new website http://www.deerdutch.com/. If you haven’t already, take a peek at her website. Deanna was a treat to work with. Her bubbly personality added to the atmosphere the day of the shoot.
Baking
Aynsley Rosin (Co-Owner of Sweet Impressions Bakery) creates the sweetest treats. We have been friends for a while, and I was so excited to finally work with her. She went above and beyond taking our vision and bringing it to life. Have you seen that cake? Not to mention the chocolate covered apples!
When Aynsley cut the cake, I swear I have never seen anyone move as fast as all us girls. We all wanted to try a taste. Needless to say, we all died and went to sugar heaven.
Make-up
Mhei Alcos of La Estetica Beauty was wonderful to work with on the shoot. She created the perfect sultry eye, and luscious lip for our model.
She was very professional, and sweet. How cute are these photos Ally captured of Mhei?
Hair
Krissy Lamirande is an incredible hair stylist! After looking at the style of wedding dress for the photoshoot, she was able to suggest and create the perfect hair-do.
After seeing the amazing job she did styling our models hair, I booked an appointment with her of my own. It was the best decision I have made. She is kind, personable, and truly listens to what you are looking for.
Model
Lainie Payjack is truly a stunner with a heart of gold. We grew up in the same neighbourhood, and have known each other for quite a while. There was no one else I would have wanted to model in this shoot, she absolutely killed it!
Photography
I could not be happier that Ally Papko contacted me to create a styled wedding photoshoot. We became friends a couple years ago working on a mutual friend’s wedding.
Her style of photography paired perfectly with the style of shoot. It had a modern Snow White feeling. I can’t wait to work with Ally again soon on a wedding or photoshoot.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL ALBUM
Top 5 Rules of Wedding Etiquette
-
Call Family First
Your family knows you better than anyone (except maybe your husband to be). Make sure they feel included in your engagement by giving them a phone call first to break the news. If your fiancé is traditional, it’s likely that he would have already asked your father for his permission beforehand. They might have known the engagement was coming and it may surprise you to know that they counselled your now fiancé more than you would have expected. Don’t leave out any of the details, these are memories to keep for your entire life.
After family knows the details of your engagement, it’s time to perfect your ring selfie. Maybe give yourself a quick manicure and take a few photos OR click the link below for some engagement announcement ideas.
CLICK HERE FOR ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT INSPIRATION
-
Send Paper Invites
Once you have carefully worked out your wedding budget with a wedding planner, it’s time to send out invitations. Everyone’s budget for stationary is different, but one thing should stay the same, always send a paper invitation to guests.
Couples with a medium or larger budget for stationary can look into hiring a local boutique stationary designer. With a local supplier, you are able to see samples of the product before placing your order. This allows you to make sure every detail is perfect whereas reviewing proofs online can cause you to miss smaller details. Couples with a more restrictive budget can look into online printing services like VistaPrint (http://www.vistaprint.ca/). Online printers have improved significantly over the past couple of years and I am consistently impressed with the quality and speed of the work. There are now choices for premade templates, paper thicknesses, gloss and custom finishing / cutting.
-
Do NOT add your registry in the Wedding Invites
This is one major faux paux that many couples make when sending out their invitations. Then how should guests find out about the registry you ask? Your registry can be linked on your wedding website, shower invitations or communicated in person.
-
Unplugged Wedding
Social media is a wonderful tool for letting guests know about your wedding. You want guests to share in the excitement of your big day, but ensure they are present by having an unplugged wedding ceremony.
Two ways to ensure guests are not on their phones during your ceremony are having a cute framed sign at the end of the aisle asking guests to please stay off of their phones or having the officiant explicitly remind guests to turn off their phones.
Phones off will make sure that guests do not become paparazzi, and get in the way of the photographer. A good wedding photographer is not cheap and having guests in their seats allows them to move around freely and capture every special moment.
-
Thank You Notes
A simple thank you card goes a long way to make guests feel special and appreciated for joining you on your wedding day. As tempting as it may be to type your thank you cards, it’s important to have them hand printed. This shows that you took extra care and love into thanking guests. It also allows you to personalize each letter. Make reference to something they did or gifted you. Common etiquette is to send thank you cards between one and three months following the big day.
CLICK HERE FOR MY TOP 5 TO-DOS, BEFORE THE I-DOS
Wild Hearts – Styled Wedding Photoshoot
What I love most about my job as a wedding planner is that I get to use my creative mind to design the wedding day of a couples dreams and coordinate innovative photoshoots to help other vendors do the same. On October 1, 2016 I had the privilege to work with six amazing Winnipeg wedding vendors on my Wild Hearts wedding photoshoot.
Designing/coordinating a photoshoot is very similar to the planning I do for my full wedding and month of wedding coordination clients. Creativity, strong communication, and organization goes into coordinating a one of a kind image that speaks to others. It makes me so happy when either a wedding vendor or couple love an idea so much that they want to make it a reality!
All wedding photoshoots start with a vision. Pinterest and a little wine are great to spark inspiration and get the creative juices flowing. From viewing one photo on my Pinterest home feed, I felt that spark of inspiration and decided to bring in other elements. These included; the venue, florals, photography, hair, makeup, food, drink, the dress, décor, and model. As the seasons were changing from summer to fall, I wanted to have the shoot take place outdoors. Outdoor photoshoots have their challenges; weather, light, wind etc. Although the risks were high, everything came together perfectly on the day of the shoot.
After crafting a vision, I contacted vendors that I believed would be a good match. First was the photographer, Diana Shaw Photography. This girl works her butt off to capture beautiful images. One moment she will be kneeling, and the next climbing on her ladder to get the perfect shot! Her imagery is soft, light, and captures the subject’s personality. She is a natural at making a model feel comfortable.
The Floral Fixx was an obvious choice to work with on the photoshoot. Their work is full of whimsical detail, and never disappoints. When I originally contacted Julie at the Floral Fixx, she was so pumped to be involved. With just a few photos, the Floral Fixx brought my vision to life. The horse (Magnum) rocked a beautiful wreath made by her team of greenery and a touch of tiny pink flowers.
Kim of Colour Me Artistry was also a no brainer to include in the shoot. Her style fit my vision perfectly. Looking for dramatically seductive eyes and a bold lip? Then call up this gal! Kim’s makeup added that va va voom to the shoot, and took it to the next level. Her fun loving, bubbly personality also added to the fun on set.
The stunning dress from Stella’s Bridal tied the shoot together. DeeDee from Stella’s Bridal has an incredible eye for wedding trends. When I initially approached her about the shoot, this was one of the first gowns she suggested. The dress, Nicole by Maggie Sottero was a jaw dropper and looked insane on the model Hadera.
Gorgeous, doe-eyed, flawless. Just three words I would use to describe the model Hadera Short. As an aspiring model she was perfect for the shoot. She was incredibly natural and confident in front of the camera. Who else would be better to rock a stunning backless gown?
For the décor and food, I wanted to stick with warm neutral colours. The rustic Singer sewing machine table acted as the base for the dessert table. Atop the table were delicious Tall Grass Prairie cinnamon buns, and caramel corn. I drive a sedan… and let’s just say that the Singer sewing machine table was a pain to transport, but it added that extra raw feel with the iron Singer logo and pedal. Memo to me, next vehicle I purchase should be an SUV!
Shoots like this could not happen without an incredible group of vendors. This group of babes took my vision and made it a reality! Please go “like” their pages on Instagram and Facebook.