When I first saw the email in my inbox my heart literally skipped a beat. Jasmine Star is one of those people in the wedding industry whom I not only greatly admire but have always wondered what might happen if we ever got the chance to collaborate. Her email stated that she would be visiting Seattle for a brief respite (she lives in Orange County, CA with her adorable hubby JD and her even more adorable pup Polo), and that she was interested in collaborating together on a styled shoot during her time here. In a little less than 4 weeks time from her initial email, we were on set working creative magic, having loads of fun and soaking in the enjoyment of interacting with a fantastic team of creatives. I couldn’t be prouder of the end result of this shoot…SUCH a positive experience and the images turned out just as I had imagined them! YAY!
When I initially began designing this shoot (I shared my inspiration board a while back here), I knew that I wanted it to reflect an organic vibe and incorporate vintage details in a sophisticated, clean and polished way. I really wanted the shoot to reflect that homegrown, sustainable nature of the PNW, and wanted to inspire brides and grooms to create events that are not only beautiful, but are also environmentally conscious as well. As mentioned in a previous post, the dress (shipped from the UK and designed by artist Martha Webb – isn’t it crazy stunning!! The hand stitched detailing on the bodice left me in total awe) was one of the first inspiration pieces I found and I built the design around it. I loved the idea of keeping the overall colors of the design muted & neutral, while adding a couple pops of color with the burnt orange dip-dyed dress, as well as a deep mustard color to juxtapose the greenery and natural tones.
Through the use of cork (one of the most sustainable products on the planet) I created flower vases for centerpieces, intertwining tapered candles (held up by cork balls I sourced from Canada and then drilled holes into) and vintage amber-colored glass across the center of the tabletop. A hand-quilted table linen was created using cut pieces of vintage fabric and the expert sewing skills of my dear friend Andie Powers of Assemble. I envisioned the linen could be turned into a quilt for the couple’s home after their wedding day celebration again focusing on re-using and re-purposing items after a wedding day. I also really wanted to incorporate plants and herbs that could be replanted and loved long after the celebration was over vs. the more traditional cut stems that wilt quite quickly.
I really wanted to mix up the traditional place setting, using a cutting board as the dinner plate (inspired by my charcuterie experiences in Paris) and by using wood utensils in place of a more traditional place card. A hanging installation over the table was a must, and I’ve just been dying to incorporate macrame into one of my designs. With a BIG help from Mckenzie & her lovely hubby James, we were able to hang the installation the night before the shoot to save time and make sure it was just right…it is definitely my favorite aspect of the design. Mckenzie killed it on the florals….JUST STUNNING! Vintage pieces from my SCOUT. Vintage collection (the bamboo chair, dessert table containers & vases etc.) added that comfortable touch of character that I felt imperative to the design. One of my new treasured traveling companions is my Instax camera and I thought it would be the perfect replacement for the popular photobooth. Oh and that image of Amber sitting on the bamboo chair??? Va-va-voom! So in love! Speaking of Amber, she and James did a phenomenal job and were such a joy to work with. Their beauty definitely became the cherry on top of the design. Thank you both for your genuine smiles, laughter and hard work!
You learn pretty quickly in this industry that surrounding yourself with talented folks is pretty IMPERATIVE – you cannot do it all AND two (or more!) brains are FAR better than one. I think the thing I love the most about what I do, is reflected in those days when I’m amongst people who really ‘get it’ – who want to create something original & inspiring no matter the effort that goes into making it happen AND who are also nice, humble and generous with their time and talents. I had the greatest pleasure of working with a DREAM TEAM on this particular shoot (Mckenzie Powell did all of the floral designs – her interpretation of the vision was SPOT ON…I’m telling you this girl is one of the best in the biz! ; Sally Balt of La Happy did an impeccable job with all of the paper details, her calligraphy is my absolute favorite, with her white handwriting looking so pretty against those wood and craft paper pieces ; the UBER talented Erin Skipley did hair & makeup and I couldn’t believe with what ease she adjusted Amber’s hair & makeup for the various shots…she’s so so good! SUCH an honor to work with her! ; I really wanted to forgo a traditional wedding cake and was over the moon excited that Autumn Martin of Hot Cakes (a brand new dessert spot in Seattle) was generous enough to contribute her organic molten chocolate cakes & toppings as the dessert bar & favors. It didn’t hurt that we got to munch on all her goodies during the day…YUM! ; Cast Iron Studios was the PERFECT spot for this industrial + sustainable styled shoot – their brand new location in Bellevue was a dream to work in and a special thank you to Dave for being ever accommodating of the long hours it took to produce the shoot.
For more images and details of this organic PNW shoot, check out Jasmine’s blog and the feature over on Style Me Pretty today!
**Also, an extra special thank you to my Mom who with her hippie-like precision helped me whip up those macrame plant holders and cork vases in a flash. Your creative talents and craftsmanship continually astound me Mom…thank you for your support! I love you!
concept, design + styling : jenn elliott blake | photographer : jasmine star photography | floral designer : mckenzie powell | paper details : sally balt of la happy | hair + makeup : erin skipley | wedding dress : martha webb | vintage rentals: scout vintage rental co. | custom sewing of table linen : andie powers of assemble | desserts : autumn martin of hot cakes | venue : cast iron studios | talent : Amber Anderson of SMG Models & James Powell
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