There really isn’t a whole lot that is cuter then an adorable bride surrounded by puppies. And dogs with flower-crowns/collars – I mean, seriously, TOO much. Jordan, the Master Stylist and Buyer at The Bridal Collection, came to me with this super whimsical and perfectly spring-summer concept and of course I was completely “in”. Jordan say it best:
“For this shoot, I was inspired by the soft, feminine florals by Erin Ashley Designs and the dreamy backdrop of the Barn at Raccoon Creek. The fresh take on the timeless ivory gowns are evocative of the lighthearted, carefree days of summer. The gowns combine timeless feminine beauty and sophistication with youthful whimsy, so I wanted to put them in a setting that would complement that unique aesthetic. I couldn’t imagine a better summer day than one spent playing outside in the sunshine with a troop of furry friends, except, of course, if we could do all of that in a beautiful gown. Bold pops of color and the rich afternoon sunshine emphasized the fun, romantic vibe of the shoot and gave us flashbacks to those fairy princess-themed birthday parties of our youth. Every bride needs fresh flowers, but what do you give a bride who has canines in the bridal party? Flower crowns. Because dogs in flower crowns is the answer we didn’t know we needed.”
Yep. I literally couldn’t have said it better. It was so fun to have two very different gowns to work with, but that both fit this vibe so perfectly. The first gown by Sottero Midgley (Maggie Sottero Designs) is that dress that you just want to wear every single day for the rest of your life. I have a new life goal of getting my back in shape to wear a dress like this! The light and flowy eyelets design would be just so perfect for that laid-back bride with an outdoor wedding. But who are we kidding, I could see that dress in any setting. And the same goes for the second gown by Victor Harper Couture. It’s a classic ballgown that I can see all dressed up for a modern city wedding, atop a mountain, or in a barn setting like Raccoon Creek. Just like Jordan said, it gives you that feeling of dressing up as a little girl, but with the sophistication of a bride. Perfect.
And guys, those flowers though!! Erin Ashley Design’s bouquet for this shoot is so on trend, and I can’t wait to hopefully get to photograph more of her creations in the future. Every angle of this asymmetrical bouquet was unique and perfect and none of us could stop picturing what we would look like holding it on a wedding day. Leah, our model (who also works at The Bridal Collection!) brought her new puppy along and we had to work hard to not let him steal the entire show. The dogs made the flower crowns a HILARIOUS addition and their faces are priceless when they were put in. They were certainly more practical as a flower-collar, so keep that in mind when you decided to design florals for your pup!
Certainly last but not least, we love, love, LOVE The Barn at Raccoon Creek. When they built the beautiful little white cottage for their brides and groom’s to get ready in, I just wanted to do whatever I could to get more of my couple’s to get married there. Not only is the house adorable, but it opens up to an amazing outdoor ceremony site and to the courtyard of the reception barn. Literally everything you need for your wedding day in one spot. The best. Get married here and hire us to take the pictures please!
Thank you again to The Bridal Collection for including us on this amazing shoot. It was a blast and we look forward to our next collaboration! –Jo