When you assemble a talented team of artisans to create a uniquely beautiful design, a rare kind of magic happens. Wedding vendors who have participated in styled shoots know what I’m talking about.

Few things are more exciting than collaborating with a collective of professionals who are all pursuing their craft with excellence. After being a part of many styled shoots, I’ve noticed the key to a successful styled shoot rests in the hands of those you work with.

I recently had the honor and privilege of working with some of Minnesota’s finest in preparation for a styled shoot for non-traditional brides. When Minnesota Bride approached me about planning and executing an editorial shoot for their Fall/Winter 2023 issue, it felt like a wonderful opportunity to flex our creative muscles.

Why styled shoots?

Unlike a wedding day—which focuses on telling the story of each couple—styled shoots give us an opportunity to showcase the best of our abilities and talents. Think of editorial shoots as an invitation to break down traditional boxes and create a visual masterpiece.

During a styled shoot, we aren’t influenced by clients but rather by our inspirations and ideas. We have the chance to bring our own vision to life while working with vendors we may not have had an opportunity to collaborate with before.

Editorial shoots are about more than getting the shoot published (although that’s a wonderfully appreciated perk). It’s also about creating designs that reflect our personal style and capabilities. It’s the kind of work we’re proud to put our name behind and add to our portfolio.

Behind-the-scenes of our Minnesota Bride feature

After enthusiastically accepting Minnesota Bride’s invitation, I began with a vision for the styled shoot. I wanted to bring natural elements together to create something textural and unexpected.

In choosing creative partners, I immediately connected with Dani of Studio Fleurette—an essential member of our vendor team. Together, we stretched each other’s imaginations while nailing down our theme: bringing the outdoors in. Then we chose Mosaic in downtown Minneapolis as the minimal, industrial-inspired backdrop for our shoot, giving us a blank slate to build from.

From there, I worked to find other vendors who shared our vision. My goal is to never inhibit anyone’s creativity which is why I encourage each vendor to execute their own ideas. We trust each other as fellow artists.

The day of the styled shoot always comes together smoothly because every vendor walks in and does their part. You can tell everyone is excited and thrilled to be there. We all have fun, laugh, and help each other out while also doing our own things.

This particular shoot was unique in that I later learned it would represent Minnesota Bride in its 30th-year anniversary celebration. We were honored to have been featured on WCCO News.

Our favorite details

I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about the stunning floral installations and arrangements. Dani felt it was important for the florals to be sustainable and environmentally conscious. Many of the featured wild grasses were foraged from a past family trip while others were foraged from Dani’s gorgeous property in Wisconsin.

By looping and braiding the grasses in the bridal bouquet and the tablescape design, Dani gave us different textures and natural elements to work with. The lovely hunter-green and beige silk ribbons from Silk & Willow completed the bridal bouquet.

The only thing more stunning than Dani’s designs were the intentionally captured photographs from our dream photographer partner, Marit Williams Photography, and the videography from Blush Film Co. I especially loved the detailed photographs of the minimal, romantic invitation suite created by Hunter Wright Design Co.

To complete the tablescape, I chose ceramic stoneware instead of porcelain dishes for a natural look. We also created table numbers from broken tiles for an unexpected flair. From handmade pottery glasses to stucco-inspired linens, the design was all about making guests feel like they were outside. We had fun hand-selecting rentals from Collected & Co. and Linen Effects.

For added consistency, Leah of Ink Sweets baked a stunning wedding cake with a carefully crafted marbled, stucco-like texture. As a focal point, she used rice paper to create movement and intrigue.

Continuing to move in a non-traditional direction, we chose a Tara LaTour ensemble with a bandeau top, puffed sleeves, and a statement-making train provided by a&bé bridal shop. Featuring a gorgeous floral pattern of sage greens and bright pops of yellow, we felt like this was a modern alternative to the traditional white dresses we often see in styled shoots.

Highlighting the model’s naturally curly hair allowed for a more relaxed style, which brought more volume and beautiful dimension to the look—thanks to Cristina Ziemer Beauty. For the perfect finishing touch, the diamond-accented turquoise ring from Max’s Jewelry gave the neutral palette a splash of color.

Regarding food design, I thought the intentionally designed individual charcuterie boards from D’Amico Catering were divine. It’s an elevated version of the French classic. Unique ideas like this only result from giving vendors creative freedom!

I’ll remember this styled shoot fondly for quite some time—not only because it was featured for Minnesota Bride’s 30th-year anniversary but also because of the memories we shared while expanding our creative boundaries.