Autumn Photo Shoot by PinkPolka Wedding Design + JDS Photography

For all the brides in the midst of wedding planning for their upcoming autumn nuptials, this next shoot has inspiration written all over it!  It’s no secret that we love paper at Style Me Pretty and this invitation suite, created by the ever so talented Jenelle of PinkPolka Wedding Design, perfectly sets the lovely (jewel) tone of the entire shoot. The suite is the perfect compliment to the stunning photography by Julie of JDS Photography who chose the unconventional shoot location of an empty parking garage – which, along with the stunning decor from Elegant Touches, ultimately created the perfect blend of urban and modern for a different spin on a traditional autumn wedding. You’ll want to stash this feature in your inspiration folder and there are even more images worthy of that fabulous folder in the gallery.

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From Rebecca of High Culture: Weddings & Special Events…While most Fall décor is inspired by deep browns and accents of reds, yellows, and oranges, I decided to create my own vision of Autumn for this purple-inspired photo shoot. This past wedding season was filled with an abundance of purple weddings and I wanted to exemplify that purple, with its dramatic, rich, and luxurious nature, can be an equally strong colour for Autumn décor. By doing so, I wanted to express that a Fall event does not have to suit a typical harvest theme nor is it necessary to conform to such a location. Instead, through the use of a deep eggplant purple and accents of gold, along with an avant-garde setting I created a new definition of Fall warmth!

To help me achieve my vision I collaborated with some extraordinary local vendors. The rich satin linens in gold and eggplant purple were provided by Elegant Touches, who always offer nothing but luxury and perfection. The satin linens acted as our foundation while a beautifully textured overlay and gold leaves were used in the centerpiece for the final touches of exquisiteness. Jenelle of PinkPolka Wedding Design created coordinating stationery which perfectly compliments the rich colours and Fall textures. Julie of JDS Photography captured my vision with her artful compositions and unique vision. I am thrilled with how each single photograph from this photo shoot has the ability to stand alone as a piece of art, even when the subject is as simple as a plate of pears!

Gloria of The Art of Cake created sweet treats for our eclectic dessert table which featured a classic wedding cake surrounded by other delectable sweets. These sweets are so beautiful that they could pass as works of art! The wedding cake is absolutely fabulous with hand-sculpted white chocolate roses making the entire cake edible. Rather than a Fall harvest with desserts represented solely by fruit-filled pies, Gloria created other chic and exquisite scrumptious sweets such as cinnamon apple crème brulée, sugared pears, chocolate petite fours, and chocolate dipped ginger snap biscuits. Harvest inspiration was used in the colouring and ingredients of the desserts – the rich brown tones and the presence of fruit turned the table into a captivating Autumn warmth. One of my personal favourites for an Autumn day – the steaming espresso with a piece of biscotti served so elegantly in a crystal shot glass.

While the Canadian prairies can lend a perfect setting for an Autumn event, I decided to convey that tradition can coexist with modern. Edmonton is one of Canada’s largest metropolitan cities with a combination of urban and natural landscapes. I wanted a location that pushed boundaries instead of creating a typical Albertan prairie setting. Wanting a setting that was urban and New York inspired, Julie suggested an empty parkade and it was love at first sight! I think the setting for this photo shoot lent the perfect backdrop for the entire concept. Not only would a parkade be a fabulous location to host an event, but it was the ultimate location for a photo shoot with its glaring natural light!  I am particularly fond of the results of the harmony of the urban and modern with the addition of rich colours and traditional design, which translates into something elegant while pushing conventional boundaries.

Event Design & Styling: High Culture: Weddings & Special Events / Photography: James Design Studio / Stationery Design: PinkPolka Wedding Design / Cake Design (cake & other sweets): The Art of Cake / Décor: Elegant Touches / Models: Cassandra de Grasse, Rebecca Fisher-Swarbrooke, Dominika Koziak / Makeup: Estée Lauder & Merle Norman