Garden style Archives • Branching Out Event Florist

When Alexandra Dillard, editorial director of Chicago Style Weddings, asked if Branching Out-Chicago would like to participate in the magazine’s fashion editorial shoot, the answer was a definite YES!!! and we would bring the garden!

Our inspiration was to combine florals with fashion in a fun, romantic, yet inventive way. The day of the shoot was amazing, collaborating with some of the best vendors in the business. Alexandra was a master at styling, as she and her team pulled from endless racks of gowns and tables of accessories.

Room 1520 was the perfect canvas with its white brick and natural lighting. Anamaria Vieriu Photography captured it all and Jennifer Tello with Amorella Events created content from the day. The team from Patty McGuire Hair and Makeup was on-hand keeping the models looking camera-ready at all times.

First up was our flower meadow; a summer garden in full bloom in which the bride could pick her favorite stems. The groom wore a floral pocket square. Our garden style graced the magazine covers, as well as being featured throughout the editorial pages.

The next look was a romantic garden party; urns bursting with blush, burgundy, and pale green flowers and flowering branches. The bridal bouquet was an assortment of unique flowers in shades of pink. To complete the look, we created a fresh flower lapel for the groom.

Spring flowering branch arrangement for wedding ceremony

spring flowering altar arrangements for wedding

flower-lapel-and-spring-flowering-garden-urns.

To bring in some brightness and color, we designed a bouquet and arrangements of roses in shades of pink, fuchsia, and orange.

shades of pink bouquet and wedding decor

Wedding ceremony backdrop in shades of pink

flower tower in shades of pink for wedding ceremony

Shades of pink wedding bouquet and decor

For a touch of whimsy, we made a flower curtain with fresh tulip stems.

bride surrounded by wall of hanging tulips

We are thrilled with the results and honored to have been a part of Chicago Style Weddings Magazine.

Vendor team that made it all happen:

Publication: Chicago Style Weddings Magazine

Location: Room 1520

Photography: Anamaria Vierio Photography

Styling: Alexandra Dillard

Hair and makeup: Patty McGuire Hair & Makeup Artists

Floral: Branching Out Chicago

Content creator: Jennifer Tello with Amorella Events

Models: Aryss Gaden , Rune Model Management; Greta Meyle, The Rock Agency; Santo Perez, The Rock Agency; and Cici Rindy

Gowns: Bella Bianca Bridal Couture, Bri’Zan Couture, The Crystal Bride, Here Comes the Bride Bridal Boutique, Kathryn’s Bridal, Dimitra’s Bridal Couture, Grace + Ivory, Laury Bride, Love Story Bridal, Volle’s Bridal & Boutique, White Satin Bride

Jewelry: Rolland’s Jewelers

Menswear: Formally Modern Tuxedo, Generation Tux

Shoes: Kailee P.

Accessories: Aveil

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.