Fairy tales are full of drama, romance, and magic so it’s not a surprise to me that this kind of literary work would one day be translated into a wedding theme. But what made this feature stand out is that it didn’t just touch the good parts but rather, the good and the wicked. The princess and the villain. The field of flowers and the swamp. And despite the counterparts sounding so unappealing, this album’s stylist gave us an album filled with so much beauty and elegance. There are so many ideas to get from this – there is an abundance of stylistics and details. Enjoy browsing through this album guys!
Photographer
This gorgeous Canadian styled session features something of a fairytale theme, with one part devoted to the pretty, sweet & charming elements of a storybook wedding, another part going over to the dark side featuring a bit more of the wicked elements we love in the romantic fairy tales of old, and finally a location the time forgot with an abandoned Victorian mansion and a bride that looks like she is forever lost in a haunted ruin. The locations include the Arboretum, tucked inside the grounds of the University of Guelph, in southern Ontario, and a private estate in Cambridge, Ontario. Upon “first look” or should I say walkabout, we loved everything these locations had to offer. Tranquil little gardens, romantic tree lined laneways, blossoming trees and even the fields filled with dandelions. Plus dark wooded areas with swamps & rickety boardwalks, alive with imaginary villains & heroines. Rusty wrought iron fenced enclosing overgrown gardens, and a spectacular house falling into ruin.
Our goal was to inspire brides to think outside the box and find a place that was unique and make it exactly what they wanted. Inspiration for the shoot came from a quaint circular garden with weathered wooden benches all around its edges. Adding a twist of romance, each bench was dedicated to a loved one passed. Also peaking our interest was an old wooden boardwalk that literally weaved and wobbled over the water amongst the trees. The mystery of where it leads gave you the ominous feeling like you could walk right in… and we knew right away that the theme needed to be ‘Enchanted Forest’. Our stylists created three vignettes to capture everything the locations had to offer. The gorgeous mix of purples and added splashes of pink, peach, green, teal, grey and gold created a romantic charm and mystery to all the natural elements surrounding this shoot.
The Romantic Side
Afzia from Style & Elegance worked her magic along with the stylists to create the romantic table scape. It sprung to life when two tables were snuggly placed between weathered benches inside the garden. Layers of white linen, scalloped satin overlays and ribbons blended the feeling of light. Natural elements of moss, roses, orchids, peonies, ferns, fiddleheads and even a set of antlers created the stunning centrepiece. Small mercury glass vases turned upside down and strands of pearls were twisted into the florals along with tiny vintage mirrors to create a touch of whimsy. Antique China from one of our stylist’s grandmother’s collection was layered on top of a vibrant purple charger that blended well together. Our wedding planner’s own gold flatware added that touch of sparkle to the place settings. Pillows were placed upon the benches for our bride and groom sit upon.
Rebecca from High Gloss Weddings created a beautiful bouquet filled with pink peonies, purple freesia, hyacinth, white tulips, delicate orchids and green hydrangeas. She added natural elements of ferns, moss, feathers and birch bark to tie the look together. She also provided a lot of the decor pieces making this shoot come to life with beautiful style.
Tracey from Little Details created a whimsical invitation suite of shimmery gold with whites and purples to compliment the romantic vignette. A deer head motif was used to blend the natural elements. She also created a unique seating chart out of an old garden accessory and menu cards that were placed on each plate. For the mysterious side, she created a watercolour inspired invitation and a sign that hung from the vintage side table.
Jen from Sweet Treats by Jen designed us a beautiful cake infused with the woodsy romantic feel complimenting the theme of the day. For the romantic side of the forest, she created a simple three tier square cake with gold swirls. Adding a little moss, flowers and a miniature gold birdcage to adorn the top pulled the look together. By chance, this cake found it’s home on an old wooden table tucked into an archway. A gold sequined fabric was draped behind the cake… sparkling when the sun came out. She also created a whimsical 3 tiered round cake embellished with a bark design in gold twisted all around the sides. This cake had a lot of fun from sitting atop a hedge, to swing in the garden, to taking a walk on the wild side.
Our bride Claudia wore her own gown. A beautiful white ruffled strapless gown with a sweetheart neckline and a bodice adorned with pearls and crystals. An inspiration to future brides for sure! Her handsome groom and true love looked smashing in his grey suit and bow tie. Sonia of Sonia Ryan & Co. was our makeup artist for this inspiration shoot. She did a fantastic job of giving Claudia a romantic look using a soft creamy colour palette. Michelle our hair stylist did Claudia’s hair in loose ringlets and added a little bit of elegance with a crystal hairpiece from our stylist’s, Rebecca, collection.
The romantic look for this side of the shoot was simply beautiful. While our stylists set up the mysterious side, our photographers Anne, Carla and Megan along with our planner Afzia spent time exploring the Arboretum taking advantage of the beautiful surroundings with the bride and groom.
The Dark Side
From the romantic side we travelled down a beautiful tree lined laneway and into the swamp to the mysterious side of the Enchanted Forest. The perfect spot for a little something different. At the edge of the boardwalk was an enclave of tall grasses, fallen trees and roots covered in moss and, of course, the water. Our stylists created a quaint little whiskey and cigar bar using a vintage hall table topped with moss, a crystal decanter, vintage glasses, old cigar boxes and a deer skull. Rebecca also created a two beautiful floral arrangements filled with the flowers of the day in darker shades. The vase was placed on the table and an amazing vintage birdcage was hung in the trees. They also placed a settee amongst the grass a beautiful spot for lounging.
Purple, teal and grey ribbons were hung across the boardwalk to create a curtain effect and an old barn door leaned against a tree. The best thing about this vignette was the boardwalk! Our photographers made full use of this natural element and the images say it all!
Brenda our bride wore her own beautiful ball gown with it’s twisted ruffled design at the bottom, it paired perfectly with this side of the forest. She was fearless throughout the day and even went barefoot when needed. Sonia our makeup artist created a sleek and sultry look with darker shades of grey. Hinting at the romantic side, she used soft colour on her lips. Michelle our hairstylist let Brenda’s dark locks fall in big loose curls on her shoulder and the other side was swept up with a sparkly clip.
The Ruined Mansion
Lost in its own forest in the centre of town, this once stunning property intrigues all who pass by, and was the ideal location for this bride- who looks like time forgot her as well as the estate. Bride Trudy wore her own gown, encrusted with pearls & sequins, and a vintage hair style by Savija Ellis with makeup by Rebecca at High Gloss Weddings completed the look of this old time bride. Stunning flowers continued the theme of deep purples and reds with feathers, beautifully created by Kerrie-Anne at The Floral Factory.Décor was easy with all that the property provided. Rebecca from High Gloss weddings and Tracey from Little Details and Afzia from Style & Elegance wedding Co-ordination incorporated moss, antlers, flowers and vintage touches such as old cigar boxes and antique furniture. Feathers & flowers in deep shades of red, purples & silvery blues added elegance to the rusty wrought iron fences and overgrown statuary. Backdrops of bricks, ivy and archways were put to good use, and the blooming Forget Me Nots seemed a perfect touch for a forgotten bride at a forgotten house.
Décor was easy with all that the property provided. Rebecca from High Gloss weddings and Tracey from Little Details and Afzia from Style & Elegance Wedding Co-ordination incorporated moss, antlers, flowers and vintage touches such as old cigar boxes and antique furniture. Feathers & flowers in deep shades of red, purples & silvery blues added elegance to the rusty wrought iron fences and overgrown statuary. Backdrops of bricks, ivy and archways were put to good use, and the blooming Forget Me Nots seemed a perfect touch for a forgotten bride at a forgotten house.Both vignettes were beautifully photographed by our 3 photographers – Anne from Anne Edgar Photography, Carla from CGE Photography, and Megan at Anne Edgar Photography.
Both vignettes were beautifully photographed by our 3 photographers – Anne from Anne Edgar Photography, Carla from CGE Photography, and Megan at Anne Edgar Photography. A great group of ladies came together to create this Enchanted Forest inspirational shoot. Everyone had a hand in styling and executing this shoot.
Vendors
Photographer: Anne Edgar Photography
Assistant Photographer : Megan at Anne Edgar Photography
Photographer: CGE Photography
Floral Designer: Floral Factory
Beauty: Pino’s Salon
Make Up Artist: Sonia Ryan and Co.
Bakery: Sweet Treats by Jen
Event Designer: Little Details Stationery
Event Planner: Style & Elegance Wedding and Event Coordinaiton
Event Venue: The Arboretum University of Guelph
Event Planner: High Gloss Weddings
Florals & Make Up: Rebecca at High Gloss Weddings
Venue: University of Guelph – Arboretum