What to Wear to Your Engagement Session | Ellen Ashton Photography | Dallas Wedding Photographers

I am so excited to share this weeks finds with you! I love this series of “what to wear to your engagement session” because so many of you have reached out to express how helpful it is! Here are this weeks finds! Be sure to click the images if you like what you see so you can shop the post!

YOU NEED THIS DRESS! I am literally in love with it! It is PERFECT for a garden, city, estate or anywhere engagement session! Anyone who wears it will feel like the bell of the ball! It’s amazing and you need it!

I love this classy, casual look! It’s got a fun pop of color with the earrings and I am here for it.

I don’t which of you needs to hear this, but.. BUY THIS DRESS! Ugh, it’s DREAMS!

This Outfit would be perfect for a casual look! It would be perfect for a garden or nature location!

I really LOVE this look too! It’s maybe a little more fancy/casual side but I love it for a city session or maybe even at an art museum setting.

Another absolutely perfect outfit! I would die if one of my brides showed up to her engagement session wearing this look! It’s such a fun dress! It’s perfect and you need it!

LOVE a nurtural outfit! They photograph like a dream! This causal look is perfect!

Maybe it’s the hapless romantic in me, but I love it when brides wear dresses to their engagement session! This outfit is so unique and beautiful! Any girl will feel amazing during her photos wearing it!

What to Wear To You Boudoir Session | Dallas Wedding Photographers | Ellen Ashton Photography

Ladies! I am so excited to share with you some of my favorite finds to wear to your boudoir session!

A lot of my brides are private people, so I wouldn’t dream of showcasing their beautiful boudoir images without their permission.

With that being said, I understand having your photos captured in such an intimate setting can sometimes feel intimidating and vulnerable. But, have no fear, this post is here to help you feel confidant walking into your boudoir session!

What Should I Wear To My Boudoir Session?

For a bridal boudoir session, I think it’s great to wear something that makes you feel beautiful and confidant! Getting your hair and makeup professionally done for your session is a must in my opinion. It helps you feel more confidant which will no doubt translate into your photographs. I LOVE robes for boudoir sessions. There is something really romantic about a long robe dragging the floor or gathered up on the bed that is truly so dreamy and romantic to me. A lot of my boudoir work is romantic and more on the suggestive side rather than forthcoming. I am a huge believer that God makes women and their bodies special and it’s something to be celebrated not exploited. So, I really love outfits that are not too out there but rather romantic and soft. When my brides apply this approach to their outfit choices it inspires me, makes them feel amazing, and results in beautiful imagery you will be proud of!

Complementary Colors

I photograph women of all different shapes, sizes, and colors. As I have mentioned in several of my posts,s it’s so important to wear colors that are not only complementary to your skin tone, but that will look good in photographs. Stilled imagery AKA pictures don’t always show up the same in person as it will on camera. So, it’s important to wear colors that are not going to mess up the integrity of your photographs. Orange and neon colors are by far the colors you want to avoid. Bright colors act as light reflections and that’s not a good thing. Soft, neutral colors always photograph with such beauty. A lot of women like to wear black as well for the boudoir sessions and that is just fine! But remember, that less black is more. Too much black will create muddy shadows that are not always pretty. I’ve listed a lot of examples below that I think will photograph lovely and match a variety of skin tones.

What Should I Bring To My Session

I have created a really good list of things that would be great to bring to your boudoir session!

1. An Heirloom or Your Wedding Vaile

2. One of your soon to be hubbies Shirts

3. A bouquet of flowers or loose blooms

4. A couple of sets of outfits

5. A long amazing robe

6. Baby Wipes (for your feet so you can they don’t get yuck walking on the floors. no one wants black dirt on the bottoms of their feet in their photographs.)

7. Both of your weddings rings if you have them

8. A playlist of songs that make you feel relaxed and confidant

There you have it, ladies! I hope this blog was helpful to you!

Much love,

-E

SEE SOMETHING YOU LIKE? CLICK THE IMAGE TO SHOP THE LOOK! HAPPY SHOPPING!

Lainey's Bridal Session | Robert Carr Chapel | Ellen Ashton Photography | Dallas Wedding Photographer

Alceia & Matthew's Engagement Session | Dallas Arboretum Engagement Session | Ellen Ashton Photography | Dallas Wedding Photographer

Believe it or not, this day was extremely cold! Regardless, these two took the chilly weather and wind like champs! We had an absolute blast photographing these two! I absolutely can’t wait for their Wedding in October!

Wedding Planner: Grit and Gold Events Co.

Florist: Max Owens Designs

Bride & Bridesmaid Getting Ready Outfits for 2021 | Ellen Ashton Photography | Dallas Wedding Photography | Bride and Bridesmaid Pajama Sets

BRIDE AND BRIDESMAIDS GETTING READY OUTFIT

SHOP THE LINK

One of my favorite parts of a wedding day are the “getting ready photos.” So often my brides are searching high and low for beautiful and unique pajama or getting ready sets for her and her maids. Courtney knocked it out of the park with her fabulous cactus pajama set! Probably one of my all time favorites! Her wedding was a southern dream and these fun pajamas were absolutely perfect and showed her fun loving personality.

Who doesn’t love a classic pajama set? I know I do! What I love about this timeless look is that her maids can wear this comfy set any time of the year!

Steph picked the most perfect jumpsuits for herself and her maids as they got ready at the four seasons resort in Punta Mita Mexico. THEY WERE SO FUN! As much as I love a classic set, I truly always adore something unique and playful to change up the norm!

Something that I have been loving in 2021 is the pajama shirt with a monogram! It’s so classy and sweet! It’s always such a personal and thoughtful touch when my brides get their maids personalized sleepwear.

How perfect is this custom tee?! It fit Erin’s personality perfectly! It defiantly made for an adorable photo opt, and a witty T’shirt for her maids to wear after the wedding day!

In the last few weeks several of my brides have reached out to me asking for recommendations on where they can find cute pajamas set! So, I decided to share all the fun and classic set’s I’ve found to hopefully make your search seamless! Trust me when I say that some of these sets took an incredibly long time to find… I am talking pages deep on Etsy! haha. I hope you enjoy the sets I found and will get amazing photo opportunities with them!

CLICK ANY IMAGES BELOW TO SHOP THE LOOK!

Robin & Carlo's Water Gardens Fort Worth Wedding | Grit and Gold Event Co. | Ellen Ashton Photography

Robin and Carlo’s wedding was such an amazing one! There was so much love that was shared on this special day.

Honestly, I love small, intimate weddings. There were so many special touches about their wedding day. From the blessing of the rings to the tear steaming down Carlo’s face as he danced with his mother this wedding had an amines amount of love throughout the day. I loved this intimate ceremony right smack in the middle of the city in fort worth. It was truly just an incredibly special day that I feel so blessed to have been apart of.

VENDOR TEAM

Photographer | Ellen Ashton | Floral | Moss Floral | Planning & Design |  GRIT & GOLD | Invitations | Pretty Post | Ceremony Venue | Fort Worth Water Gardens | Reception Venue | Fort Worth Arts Center | Catering | Awesome Catering | Linens | May I Serve You | Chair Rental | Bleu Luxury | Cake | Loft 22 | DJ | Jason Esquire  | Transportation | Premier | HMUA | Instinktive Hair Couture | Flower Girl + Maids Floral | Woodbine 

Camera Equipment to Bring To You Honeymoon | What to Wear on your honeymoon | Ellen Ashton Photography | Dallas Wedding Photographer

This weekend it was the internet was screaming for me to make a “honeymoon must have” list for all of you beautiful brides to be!

Honeymoons are a time for you and your new husband to connect, relax and enjoy each other. But often I see my brides taking photos with their husbands while away on their romantic getaways and I keep thinking to myself “I should make a list of photography items they should take with them.” So, this is it!

Below I have listed some photography equipment that ranges from iPhone cameras and equipment to a great point-and-shoot sony camera. Your honeymoon is a once in a life time opportunity and I want you to be able to capture the memories in a way they deserve to be remembered! In addition, I’ve added some fun items that I think would make great photo opportunities or just cute outfits for your honeymoon photos!

I hope this post is helpful to you as you plan your honeymoon!

Kelli & Mason's Wedding | Perkins Chapel Wedding | Room on Main Wedding | Shannon Rose Events | Ellen Ashton Photographer

AS SEEN IN BRIDES OF NORTH TEXAS

I met Kelli & Mason with their amazing wedding planner Shannon Rose at a coffee shop and we instantly connected. I loved hearing from them what they envisioned for their wedding and day and watching it unfold the day of! Shannon did such a great job on the design! Perkin’s Chapel and The Room on Main came to life with all the love that was shared on their wedding day.

Kelli and Mason are truly some of the kindest people and working with them to capture their gorgeous wedding day was a dream. I always enjoy shooting on the wedding day and watching and listening to all the laughter and fun that the clients family and friends are having in their honor. One thing is for sure, everyone who was in attendance loves this sweet couple and it was so fun celebrating them!

Planning & Design: Shannon Rose Events

Photographer: Ellen Ashton Photography

Ceremony Venue: Perkins Chapel

Reception Venue: The Room on Main

Wedding Planner: Shannon Rose Events

Videographer: Cinema Story Wedding Films

Florist: R Love Floral

Hair + Makeup: Grand Slam Glam

DJ + Lighting: Royal Dukes Band

Catering: CN Catering

Cakes: Sweet Somethings by Ashleigh

Dress: Posh Bridal

Dress Designer: Enzoani

Caitlin's Creative Chateau Bridal Session | Houston Tx | Ellen Ashton Photography

Rehearsal Dinner Dresses For 2021 | Ellen Ashton Photography | Dallas Wedding Photographers | What Should I Wear To My Rehearsal Dinner

REHEARSAL DINNER DRESSES FOR SPRING 2021

If there’s one thing I love, it’s helping my brides find amazing dresses for their rehearsal dinner. What most of my bride don’t know, is that before I was a wedding photographer I use to be a fashion blogger photographer. I have always really enjoyed fashion, and of course love sifting online for dresses that are one of a kind. Every girl deserves to feel amazing on her wedding day, but she also deserves to feel like the bell of the ball at her rehearsal dinner as well. I have selected some of my favorite “little white” rehearsal dinner dresses for spring 2021.

Enjoy!

-E

LIKE WHAT YOU SEE? CLICK YOUR FAVORITE DRESS TO SHOP THE LINK!

Top Wedding Shoes for 2021 | Ellen Ashton Photography | Dallas Wedding Photographers | Wedding Shoes for 2021

Wedding Shoes for 2021

Styled by: Grit & Gold Event Co.

Truth be told, I have always loved shoes. Since I was a small child I’ve appreciated and been attracted to beautiful and unique shoes. I remember seeing the red glitter flats at the store and begging my parents for them. My mom would say “what would you wear them with those?” All my four-year-old self could think was; “It will look great with my leopard coat!”

I remember the first time I photographed a pair of my brides’ wedding shoes that were multi-generationally worn. Her mother and sister wore them first, and now it was her turn. I remember styling the shoes and thinking, “wow, this is so special!” I didn’t even realize families passed down wedding shoes. I looked at the brand of shoes, and of course, it was a well-known designer brand. It was such a beautiful thing to behold!

At weddings, it is my job to document the day. Photographing and styling heirloom keepsake images is something that really brings me joy, and I’ll tell you why. I never knew what my mother’s wedding ring, shoes, or anything aside from her dress looked like. I can remember looking at my parent’s wedding album and feeling like things were missing. Things I really wanted to know… like what her shoes looked like. So, every wedding day I carve out time while the bride is still getting her hair and make-up done to document rings, shoes, invitation suites, and anything of sentimental value that my client may want to remember or to show their future children and grandchildren one day. Out of all the things I style for my clients, shoes are hands down my favorite!

Everyone wants different things from their wedding shoe. Some want comfort, a statement piece, some are designer shoe collectors, and others want a good quality brand to pass down as a family heirloom. With that, I am excited to give you the insider scoop of why picking the right wedding shoes matters.

1. The Statement

Styled by: Grit & Gold Event Co.

Having a fun pair of shoes that matches your style and personality is a great way to showcase a personal style. Often times brides want to spoil themselves on their wedding day. Think about it like this- getting married is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It’s a way to feel like a queen and wear something special that maybe you wouldn’t otherwise. I am a big believer in “when you feel good you look good.” Having pretty feet makes a girl feel good. You are worth the price tag of a beautiful pair of shoes!

2. Getting Published

Most of my brides have dreamed about their wedding days since they were children. What girl wouldn’t want her wedding published in a magazine or even an online wedding blog? Something that my Ellen Ashton brides have done well through the years is have amazing taste in shoes, and it definitely helps to have a unique, fun, or classic wedding shoe. I just about died when I saw my bride had a matching set of Jimmy Choo heels and flats for the reception. Touches like this really help set your wedding day apart. It allows for a more one-of-a-kind experience rather than a cookie-cutter one. Small details like wedding shoes can very well set your wedding apart.

3. COMFORT

Styled by: Grit & Gold Event Co.

Styled by: Grit & Gold Event Co.

While some of my brides would rather have style over comfortable, I do have quite a few brides who want both fashion and comfort without going the flats route. Kitten heels are a great way to not compromise on either. These sweet mauve Valentino kitten heels (photo on the left) were quite possibly the sweetest things I’ve ever seen. If comfort is important to you, have no fear! It is possible to have both!

4. VERSATILE

Not too long ago, I walked into the bridal suite and was greeted by one of my sweet brides. She handed me her wedding shoes to photograph and I LOVED them! They weren’t what you would typically think of when you think of wedding shoes, which was partly why I adored them so much. As I was telling her just how amazing her shoes were, she told me she wanted something that she could wear over and over and enjoy for years to come. So there you have it. If you want wedding shoes that you can enjoy for years to come, have at it! There is absolutely nothing wrong with buying a pair of shoes you love and planning to wear them on the weekly.

5. SOMETHING BLUE

I’m not sure, but I have a feeling that the “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” might perhaps be the oldest of all the wedding traditions. Don’t quote me on that, but still, having blue shoes as your “something blue” is really fun.

6. HEIRLOOM

Believe it or not, wedding shoes are becoming the new family heirloom. I kinda love this in a lot of ways. Some of my brides choose to invest in bridal shoes that will stand the test of time. They hope that one day their daughters or grandchildren will be able to wear or have these beautiful shoes as a keepsake. I have seen some of my brides purchase classic shoes and others fashion-forward that will one day tell the times of the era. Either way, this is becoming a tradition that I love! Believe it or not, I have kept my own wedding shoes in a safe place for my own daughter to enjoy one day.

Knowing what your reasoning is for the purchase of your wedding shoes will hopefully allow you to see the true meaning behind the purchase. Whatever your reason it is, I have found some really fun options for you in 2021.

CLICK THE IMAGES TO SHOP THE LINK!

Holiday Gift Guide For Him 2021

It never fails. Men are the hardest to buy for in my opinion. So, I got together with my husband and we made a holiday gift guide with gifts for him! Enjoy! If you see anything you like you can click the images to purchase! Enjoy!

Little White Dress Finds | Rehearsal Dinner, Bridal Shower & Bachelorette Party Dress Inspiration | Ellen Ashton Photography | Dallas Wedding Photographer

Welcome to this weeks “little white dress” finds! Every girl needs an amazing look for her rehearsal dinner, bridal shower or bachelorette party! Click the photos to buy the dress!

What Should I Wear To My Engagement Session? Ellen Ashton Photography | Dallas Wedding Photographers | What You Should Wear To Your Engagement Session

“What should I wear to my engagement session?” Well, you’re in luck! I have an answer for you!

This is by far one of the most popular questions I get asked by my clients. It is in fact a very complex question that has several key components. Knowing what to wear to your engagement session and if your outfit matches your shooting location; to me, is probably the most important thing to consider. Of course, you should wear something that makes you feel like a million bucks. Every girl deserves to look like she walked out of a magazine, but finding the right outfit can feel like a huge undertaking. So, I am here to help! Before I give you some helpful tips on what to wear, let’s cover what you shouldn’t wear.

WHAT YOU SHOULDN’T WEAR:

Bright colors. What some brides don’t know, is that bright colors can be reflecting. Which means, if you have on a bright pink dress, or a neon top, the sun will hit the bright color and reflect onto your skin, turning your skin the color of your clothes. Horrifying, right? No one wants to get their photos back and have their skin be completely thrown off by the color of their outfit. So, a good rule of thumb is to avoid, bright and neon colors.

WHAT COLORS SHOULD I WEAR?

Colors that are more muted, dull or complimentary are super important. I always tell my clients to consider the shooting location, what makes them feel the most beautiful and confident, and what looks best with my photography style. You can never go wrong with blues, creams, greens and neutral tones. However, I do love it when my brides have an eye for fashion and adventure, and incorporate that into their look. I am not afraid when my brides choose something more on the colorful side for their engagement session, but please keep in mind that color and bight colors are very different when photographed.

OK, GREAT! BUT WHAT DO I WEAR?

Girl, I got you! If you are anything like me, you are busy! You don’t have time to go galavanting around to all kinds of stores or even have the energy to browse online for THE PERFECT outfit after a long day of work. So I have spent quite a while looking for the perfect dresses for you to look through! I SO WISH when I was getting married that someone would have just sent me a link to all the perfect outfits. As a little disclaimer: My thought process for this post is to share dresses for brides desiring a more formal or dressy look for their engagement session. Soon, I plan on having a shopping guide for a casual engagement session look as well!

YOUR OUTFIT CHOICE SHOULD REFLECT YOUR SHOOTING LOCATION

Once upon a time, early on in my career, I did a destination shoot with one of my clients. It was stunning! However, the outfit choice was not a fit for the shooting location. Don’t get me wrong, it was beautiful! However, It was then that I realized how important it is to educate my clients on what style fits best depending on location. So I have come up with some examples for you to visually see.

Disclaimer: Some of the examples listed could be used for different locations! It’s important to be creative and think outside of the box. Doing so will give you a one of a kind experience and make your engagement session unique.

GARDEN LOCATION

Being a Dallas wedding photographer, a lot of my brides LOVE having their engagement session taken when all the beautiful flowers are in bloom. Here are some really great examples of dresses that would work perfectly in a garden setting for Spring 2021.

Below are outfits that feel whimsical, classic, romantic and even a little fashion forward. Gardens are a beautiful choice for a shooting location, but it’s important that you don’t get lost behind all the beautiful scenery. So, these are some fun dresses that I found that if a client of mine showed up in, my heart would literally explode from joy.

LIKE ONE OF THESE OUTFITS? CLICK THE IMAGE TO SHOP THE DRESS!

DOWN TOWN OR CITY LOCATION

Art museum’s, historical land marks, and city scape views are always some of my clients favorite locations to have their engagement photographs taken. I am 100% a lover of travel and history, so I love it when my clients want to go to the city they met in or maybe one of their favorite spots in downtown. I also ways love it when my brides wear outfits that have elements of structure, high fashion or something classic. I personally draw a lot of inspiration from architecture and fashion, so I am always down for a city shoot! These styling elements just makes for some stunning photos!

LIKE ONE OF THESE OUTFITS? CLICK THE IMAGE TO SHOP THE DRESS!

EPIC VIEWS & OPEN FIELD

Being a native Texan that grew up in the Scottish countryside I have a deep love for locations filled with nature. Im talking, open fields with talk grass, Joshua trees, the rolling hills in Malibu or the gorgeous tree groves of the south… Regardless of the nature location that you choose, there are a lot of ways you can go with it! From casual fun to long flowing dresses, I just love the different outfit options that can fit this type of scenery.

LIKE ONE OF THESE OUTFITS? CLICK THE IMAGE TO SHOP THE DRESS!

ESTATE & EUROPE

Estate photoshoots make my heart SING! On occasion, brides want their engagement session captured somewhere like Paris; which is rich in architecture and gorgeous photo opportunities, and some want their engagement photo shot at the estate venue they booked for their wedding. Y’all, I LOVE an over the top engagement session. While I usually shoot both a dressy and casual look for my clients at the engagement sessions, I live for the drama of the over the top look.

LIKE ONE OF THESE OUTFITS? CLICK THE IMAGE TO SHOP THE DRESS!

Who knew there were so many things to consider when deciding what to wear to your engagement session?! I hope this post is helpful to you! If you have already booked for your photographer for your wedding day, and have your engagements already scheduled, it’s not a bad idea to reach out to them and get their feed back based off their photography style and expertise.

In my opinion, the best thing you can do when selecting what to wear for your engagement session is selecting clothing that makes you feel beautiful and confident! Get your hair and make up professionally done and really enjoy this special, once in a lifetime moment. When you feel good about yourself, it really shows in the images. You are worth that!

Stay tuned for more engagement session outfit inspiration <3

Much love,

-E

CLICK THE INSPIRATION IMAGES TO SHOP THE DRESS

Alecia's Bridal Session | Dallas Arboretum Bridal Portaits | Ellen Ashton Photography | Dallas Wedding Photographer

This bridal session is seriously some of my favorites to date! Alecia was an absolute dream to work with! Something that I loved about Alecia is her free spirit and her ability to trust her wedding vendor team! After meeting with Lottie from Grit and Gold Even Co, Lottie told her she needed a bridal session, and I am so glad she listed! Bridal sessions are important, y’all! They allow you to see how you photograph in your dress, and allow us to see if there are any additional alternations that need to be made or if you want to commit to your hair and make up look. Honestly, I could go on and on about why it’s so beneficial to have a bridal session! One of my favorite things about this photo shoot is that she brought her adorable bundle of joy Zoe to her bridal session! If I remember correctly, Alecia found Zoe on the side of the road and took her in. Y’all, I AM OBSESSED! Alecia is a natural in front of the camera and a total sweetheart in real life. It’s been such an honor getting to know her throughout her wedding journey!

Wedding Planner: Grit and Gold Weddings

Studio: The Lumen Room

Dress Shop: En Blanc La

Dress Designer: Chosen by one day

Hair & Make up: Ashley McNabb Artistry

Clark Garden Wedding in Weatherford Tx | Shannon Rose Events | Featured in Brides of North Texas | Ellen Ashton Photography | Dallas Wedding Photographers

You guys! I have been DYING to share Kelsey & Stevens wedding! I was waiting patiently because their wedding is currently in the latest issue of Brides of North Texas! It is so much fun to see my beautiful and happy couples grace the pages of such a great publication!

One thing is for sure, weddings like this don’t happen without a incredible team of vendors! Shannon, of Shannon Rose Events did an outstanding job on the design and execution of this event.

Our day at Clark gardens starts off like most wedding days, However when it was time to go in and photograph the bride, Kelsey was so claim and collected! We laughed and joked as we photographed her, and let me just say-WOW. She looked absolutely stunning!

Steven and Kelsey were all smiles on this special day! I had tears in my eyes as they prayed and cried tears of joy together. It was SO SWEET and I am so thankful I got to be apart of it! There wedding day was absolutely perfect! These two deserve all the joy and happiness!

Vendor Love:

AS SEEN IN BRIDES OF NORTH TEXAS

Wedding Planner: Shannon Rose Events

Photographer: Ellen Ashton Photography

Venue: Clark Gardens

Videographer: Cinemstory Wedding Films

Florist: Blushington Blooms

Hair + Makeup: BA Beauty

DJ + Lighting: Everlasting Sounnds

Catering: Abuelo's

Cakes: Creative Cakes by Monica

Rentals: May I Serve U

Photobooth: The Pretty Booth

Ashton Depot Engagement Session | Courtney and Matt's Arbor Hill's Engagement | Ellen Ashton Photography | Dallas Wedding Photographers

We had so much fun at Courtney & Matt’s engagement session! These two were so comfortable with each other and we shared a lot of laughs at their session! Y’all I LOVE IT when my couples show up ready to have a good time!

Courtney and Matt choose to use the Arbor Hills Nature Preserve in Plano and Y’all, it was the PERFECT location for them! All the soft colors from the grass matched perfectly with their outfits! Courtney did an amazing job pairing hers and Matt’s outfits together!

One thing is for sure, after having such a great time with these two at their engagements, it makes me that much more excited to celebrate with and capture their wedding day!

Meredith's Bridal Session | Lumen Room Dallas | Bridal Session | Ellen Ashton Photography | Dallas Wedding Photographers

Meredith is a true beauty overflowing with so much grace. Even more so, her a kind gentle spirit peeks through in the photographs. What I love most about her is how contagious her smile is! Being able to photograph sweet Meredith during this exciting time in her life brings me more joy than I can express. All I could think about while photographing her bridal session was how excited James would be when he saw her for the first time on their wedding day. She is glowing in the gorgeous gown from A&be bridal shop. This precious ray of sunshine deserves all the gorgeous photos! Enjoy!

Wedding Planner: Ivory & Vine Events Co.

Dress Shop: a&be bridal

CHATEAU RAMEZAY WEDDING | FRENCH BRIDAL SESSION | MONTREAL, CANADA |

This editorial bridal shoot is everything I have ever hoped and dreamed for in a bridal session.

In July, Lottie with Grit and Gold and Meagan with Meg B Beauty and myself decided that we would do a bridal session in Montreal Canada, so we all got on a plane and went! 

After the bridal session was over, we knew that we had just accomplished something special, something that we were all genuinely proud of. So, we went out for celebratory dinner. As we strolling the cobble stone streets of Montreal, laughing and living in the moment, I couldn't help but feel overcome with gratitude. This whole trip was magical and such a piece of my creative heart. 

Enjoy!

Click HERE to see Magnolia Rouge Feature

VENDOR TEAM

Planning + Design | Grit + Gold |  Photographer | Ellen Ashton| Dress Retailer | The Lovely Bride Dallas | Dress Designer | Sarah Seven | Venue | Chateau Ramezay | Furniture Rentals | GALA Design | Tabletop Rentals | Bravo Party | Floral | Les Petites Excuses | Paper | Someday Art Co | Jewelry | Single Stone LA | Silk Ribbons | The Poetry of Silk | Shoes | Harriet Wilde | Custom Veils | Kata Banko Couture | Vintage Sheer Grey Gown | Lace Atelier| MUA | Meg B Beauty |

The White Sparrow Barn Wedding | Ivory and Vine Events | Ellen Ashton Photography

" At the end of each day, I like to acknowledge or jot down a few things that made me smile. On the top of that list today will surely be this slice of garden-inspired goodness from Ivory & Vine Event Co., which ended in THE sweetest real surprise proposal. Fellow wedding lovers, there's even a video documenting it below!—be sure not to miss it after you peruse all of the lovely captured by Ellen Ashton. P.S. Get a load of those Sarah Seven dresses, dreamy right?" -Melissa Baran

From Ivory & Vine Event Co.... This shoot was inspired by the Garden of Eden. We wanted to create an intimate wedding scene surrounded by elements of lush floral, greenery and vibrant pops of color to bring the Garden of Eden to life. The White Sparrow Barn made an incredible backdrop, surrounding us with stunning white walls and a grand space to set the stage.

The vibrant, spring color palette of deep berries, pinks, blush and creams helped to add so much color to the neutral walls of the White Sparrow. Kate Foley Designs created an amazing installation of floral and greenery, climbing the walls of the White Sparrow and evoking the feeling of a lush, hidden garden. From the bridal bouquet to the centerpieces, each element was designed with the intention of elevating natural elements into something elegant.

A few weeks into planning the editorial shoot with our model couple, the “groom” reached out to me asking if I would help plan his girlfriend’s proposal at the end of the shoot. He knew she loved The White Sparrow barn and that she would be getting her hair and makeup done specially for the shoot, and decided that it would be a great opportunity to ask for her hand.

We decided to split the shoot in two different sections, the wedding section and the “day after” portraits which have become popular among many couples. During the day-after section, as the models stood in the center of the room, Jaden got down on one knee and proposed. We opened the barn doors to reveal all of Havyn’s best friends standing there with balloons. She was absolutely stunning as she said “yes” to her future groom!

Ellen Ashton did such an amazing job of not only capturing the intricate details of the shoot, but the emotions of the day as well. Her aesthetic eye helped to bring an entirely different perspective into the space, capturing each intimate moment.

Pink Champagne Paper created a gorgeous stationery suite, with so many fun elements. From the custom map of the White Sparrow hand-drawn on textured paper, to the wax seals and barn drawing, each stationery element helped to tie the concept of the piece together.

We were thrilled to showcase two stunning Sarah Seven gowns. For the wedding portion of the shoot, our model wore the Carlisle gown by Sarah Seven. This piece gave a nod to the Garden of Eden concept through it’s illusion lace detailing and floral pattern design. During the day-after section and real proposal moment, our model adorned a buttery-yellow Sarah Seven slip dress, full of movement.

Whisk Until Sweet provided an incredible cake adorned with fresh floral, dripping chocolate and fruit accents to tie in our concept. This two-tiered beauty was simple, but full of so many fun details.

Each moment of this shoot was so truly unique. This team of vendors put so much thought and care into every detail not only to elevate the design, but to give our couple one of the most memorable days of their lives. It was truly an honor to plan something so beautiful for this couple!

• Planning & Design: Ivory & Vine Event Co.
• Photography: Ellen Ashton Photography
• Floral Design; Kate Foley Designs
• Cake: Whisk Until Sweet
• Stationery: Pink Champagne Paper
• Ribbon: Bellame Ribbon Co. 
• Suit: The Black Tux
• Rentals: Rent My Dust
• Dress Boutique: AandBe Bridal Shop
• Wedding Dress: Sarah Seven
• Jewelry: Trumpet & Horn
• Hair & Makeup: Meagan Bechtel
• Video: Peyton Frank
• Venue: The White Sparrow