Garden Style Design for a Style Shoot

How we created a Garden Style Design in the dead of winter.

We were honored to be a part of the Fox Valley Styled Bride photoshoot. Beth at Element’s Preserved wanted a spring look that incorporated her fabulous vintage columns. Now mind you, there was a foot of snow on the ground and the temp was in the single digits! My southern girl heart was longing for the lushness of a garden in full bloom.

Hmmm, vintage columns, a venue bathed in natural light. I knew that the wonderful Janet at Dish and Decor Vintage Rentals would be bringing her amazing collection of vintage china and glassware to the shoot. How could I make this special?

Did I mention that this was for a friendly competition of 5 wedding venues in the Fox Valley? No? Well, it was, so I knew It had to be different and amazing.

The idea came to me to create the garden-style ambiance of a formal luncheon in the abandoned garden of an antebellum mansion. The perfect definition of shabby chic!

First off, was to create a climbing rose bush run amuck, up the column, and off to the wall it went! Next, we juxtaposed that with an almost formal arrangement in a vintage compote that had spent many years in our “garden”.

We used those same climbing vines to enhance a structural column at the venue and the wall behind Beth’s antique setee.

Our original plan for the farm table was to do a series of arrangements in gold compotes in keeping with the formal vibe in our abandoned garden. At least that was the plan until I spied 3 perfectly old cement urns sitting on the floor. Bingo! A perfect juxtaposition to Janet’s china and glassware.

Take the talented model Anna Page and put her in a gorgeous gown from The Crystal Bride and you have everything the talented and creative Mary Rose needed to capture a perfect early summer day in our indoor garden style set up.

I hope you enjoy these images of my abandoned garden style wedding.

Instagram for all the participants below gallery.