inspiration shoot

Carnival

I've had a dream for a few years now, about doing a styled shoot based on a song. More specifically, "Faithfully" by Journey. Yes, that old 80's song makes my heart melt every single time I hear it. That song about a love affair on the road, made me think, what if it was a carnival couple who met while on the road and then decide to get hitched. They would make their wedding up of things they could find around camp or wherever they happened to be at that moment. For sure, they would make it pretty but it would certainly be eclectic; not just because of where they were but because of who they are. So, inspired after the release of The Greatest Showman, I decided it was time to bring my Pinterest inspo board to life. With the help of some of the amazing wedding pros I've been honored to work with, we set out to make the dream a reality. The new Esperanza Estate made the perfect backdrop for Taylor Event Design to do her magic with florals and event styling along with the incredible collection from A-Muse Decor. Our real couple are seriously beautiful inside and out. They were wonderfully styled by the multi-talented Deon Jefferson. He procured the bride's two gowns from The Pop Up Bridal Shop and the groom's attire was entirely thrift store sourced. "I love how the carnival has always been all inclusive, no matter the race or stereotype. Styling this photoshoot was fun because it allowed me to showcase my versatility. All the rules about a traditional wedding went out the window, which is another reason I loved styling this shoot. As a team, we did what felt right, which paid off tremendously in the end", said Deon. Beauty by Jennyfro Studio worked with the stylist and models to create the carni vibe we were going for. The bride looked effortlessly flawless and I loved the playful look of the dancer's hair and makeup. How amazingly awesome are the Roxana Lynch headpieces the bride wore? Roxana is a creative designer of bespoke hair & body jewelry. She designed the headpieces specifically for this inspo. She also made the little hat worn by our contortionist/dancer Dayanis Mondeja. Everything came together nicely with the unique invitation and other paper goods from Ink & Elegance; The amazing circus themed cake designed by ET Cakes was a perfect centerpiece. Treats from Mojo Doughnuts made an appearance in the evening hours. We were joined by Deni Domi Films who captured the details as well as the behind the scenes. Feathers for the shoot were provided by Schuman Feathers. I had a dream and everyone pulled together and made it come true in a magical way. My favorite lyrics from the song? "Two strangers learn to fall in love again; I get the joy of rediscovering you; Oh, girl, you stand by me; I'm forever yours... faithfully."