It was my pleasure to collaborate with Ms. Firecracker DeShelia Spann on this photo shoot.  If you know DeShelia, you know she’s a laugh a minute, ball of energy – exactly the kind of stamina you need as a wedding photographer!  Though she’s been shooting portraits for over 5 years and loves the intimacy that can come through in a portrait, she’s recently decided to concentrate her efforts in the wedding arena.  So why weddings and why now?

From DeShelia:
Who doesn’t love a happy ending. I’m a Southern girl so you know we love anything that says fun, family and celebration. I started my career in the portrait world dabbling in a wedding or two here that there. But the more weddings I photographed, the more I enjoyed being able to help a couple relive that happy moment again and again through images I created. Nothing feeds the heart more than a bride who tells you she cried tears of joy and admiration after viewing images you’ve photographed at her wedding. It’s hard to equate that sense of gratitude.

We shared a fun Sunday afternoon at the new Renaissance Hotel in Raleigh’s North Hills with our lovely model, a gorgeous Manuel Mota dress (style Valedmar for those of you in love!) from TreBella Bridal and a lush, springy bouquet from TreBella Florals…quite the talented group of ladies over there!  Nekita Land did the flawless, natural makeup (email me for her contact info, she’s AWESOME) and a stunning birdcage veil and feather flower fascinator by TessaKim finished off the ensemble.

Seriously, if you haven’t checked out Tessa’s etsy shop yet, you are in for a real treat.  Every time I’m on there, I find 5 new things I want (did I mention I’m not getting married and have no reason to want these other than they’re pretty?  That’s enough right?).  Note to self:  need to do a whole other post on Tessa’s awesomeness.

Stay tuned for a VERY exciting giveaway announcement! HINT: If you are still on the hunt for a photographer for your big day, you’ll want to pay attention.

The talented sister team behind Serendipity Designs sent over this gorgeous series of images from a recent shoot with Warren McCormack Photography.  Their boutique studio focuses exclusively on personal events such as weddings.

From Serendipity:

“We love to work with seasonal flowers, supporting local NC farms whenever possible.  Our style is very lush, romantic, and organic, letting the integrity of the flowers shine through…but with a little bit of a whimsical and vintage flair!”

In a nutshell, their style is right up my alley.  My absolute favorite kinds of floral designs have a European, monochromatic aesthetic and feature only a few gorgeous flowers who’s shapes and textures complement each other perfectly.

What do you think?  Gorgeous?

I fear I am a wee bit late to the proverbial blog party with this post, but I couldn’t help sharing my ever growing collection of balsa wood flower images. 

I’ve been totally intrigued with these little beauties since I first saw them on JL Designs blog last summer and have been desperately looking for more information on them ever since.  Like, for example, where you can buy them!  My hunt turned up exactly zero wholesalers or florists on the east coast though you can order them online from SaveOnCrafts.com (they’re even on sale now…but I’m about to buy all of them for no good reason other than I want them)

They are remarkably affordable considering they are handmade from tapioca wood peel, also called sola wood, a naturally derived paper product.  And because they aren’t technically a live flower, they never die making them the perfect eco-friendly alternative to a floral bouquet.  Love that! 

But I think my favorite thing about these little beauties is their very chameleon-like ability to look equally at home in vastly different settings.  Case in point – when set alongside birch and cotton in a very organic setting, their tactile, “please touch me” quality is highlighted (see the genius designs below from Lauryl Lane.  Aside:  Is that not the best name?).  Yet they look equally gorgeous when that that same softness is juxtaposed against the hard lines of seashells and coral.  They even start to look a bit shell-like themselves in that setting I think.

In short, I’m in love and hope to see them popping up everywhere.

What do you think?  Great alternative to fresh flowers?  Or you’re not digging funky paper flowers for your wedding?

{Photo credits: 1st, 2nd & 4th row: JL Designs, 3rd row: Krislyn Custom Florals}

{Photo credits:  Jasmine Star with Lauryl Lane florals}

Last week I pulled together a few images of dreamy, ethereal baby’s breath to prove that this flower, while low in cost, can be high in style when celebrated for its simple beauty (ie, not as cheap filler).

Then as if on cue, I see a tweet from @prettychicky about this gorgeous Stephanie Williams winter wedding that features…what else…BABY’S BREATH! As if you needed any more convincing on baby’s breath’s prettifying power.

Check out the full wedding here including a seriously gorgeous gardenia and ostrich feather bouquet.  Loving everything about this wedding.

This image from the fab-u-lous Agnes Lopez for the latest issue of Jacksonville Magazine’s BRIDE makes me long for Spring somethin’ bad.  Is it the Easter egg colored balloons?  Or that too-perfect Lela Rose bridesmaid dress in that happy yellow?  Maybe all of the above?

*sigh*…3 inches of snow predicted for Raleigh today.  I’m so over it.

See more from this fun shoot over at Style Me Pretty including the CUTEST honey bear cake.