I’m all about the environment and I also have a passion for all things wedding so when these two entities come together for a mash-up of stunning proportions, you know I’m on board. And while some people might consider eco-friendly to be a little on the blah side, they have yet to lay their eyes on this shoot captured by Jasmine Star. A dip-dyed wedding dress and green-filled tablescape is anything but blah. It’s in a category all its own. Let’s call it eco-glam with a rock star vendor list including design and styling by Bow Tie + Bustle and green filled florals by McKenzie Powell Floral & Event Design. We have our fingers crossed that this is a whole new trend in weddings. Find even more mother nature approved inspiration right here in the full gallery.
From Jenn Elliott Blake of Bow Tie + Bustle… One of the most endearing and wonderful aspects of residing in the Pacific Northwest, and Seattle in particular, is this region’s focus and intention in using organic/sustainable products and ingredients in everyday living. Our neighborhood streets are constantly bustling with locally-grown farmers markets, with the farm-to-table food movement gaining popularity in restaurants throughout the city. I wanted to challenge our team to create wedding day details that focused on the idea of using sustainable products and materials that could in turn be re-purposed after the completion of the wedding day or event. Each detail — the beautiful venue, the ingredients and glass jar of the molten chocolate desserts, the quilted table linen and the macramé installation hanging overhead — was incorporated as a way of reflecting and encouraging the use of re-purposed, sustainable and organic materials in event design.
The color palette and materials reflect a natural and organic feeling with neutral tones, highlighted by the use of wood, cork, macramé rope, organic silk, vintage glass bottles and metal tins in an industrial setting. The burnt orange and mustard yellow pops of color created a cheerful juxtaposition to the natural vibe of the design. I wanted the design to feel very clean and simple at the same time, without too much fuss. Transitioning from the expected heavy use of florals in weddings, we instead used fresh herbs, potted plants and minimal cut stems for the centerpieces, hanging installation and bridal bouquet. Cork (one of the most sustainable and easily recycled products in the world) was hand-cut to create floral vases, a backdrop for signage and the candle holders on the tabletop. Acacia wood cutting boards were used in place of the traditional dinner plate and as a “guest gift,” inspired by a recent visit to Paris where charcuterie-style meal options were in great demand in cafes for communal dining purposes. The custom-made, quilted table linen concept stemmed from the idea that the couple could re-purpose the linen into quilts for their home after their wedding day. Overall I wanted the concept and design to reflect a PNW couple who is playful, environmentally-conscious and appreciates that alluring combination of vintage and industrial modern details.
The dress was flown in from the UK and was designed and custom-made by an artist and photographer by the name of Martha Webb. Martha originally created the dress for an art foundation show, but it felt like the perfect artistic fit for our shoot, and we are so grateful she was willing to lend her talents to this styled shoot.
The concept for the shoot was driven by the idea that weddings can be beautiful AND environmentally-conscious all at the same time. There are ways of incorporating organic color palettes and re-purposed materials into your celebration that far exceed just the use of vintage wares. I saw the design for this shoot being a sustainable-modern take on the popular vintage trend with a focus on the lifestyle of the PNW.
Wedding Photography: Jasmine Star / Photo Shoot Venue: Cast Iron Studios in Bellevue, Washington / Concept, Design + Styling: Jenn Elliott Blake of Bow Tie + Bustle / Floral Design: McKenzie Powell Floral & Event Design / Desserts: Hot Cakes / Paper Goods: La Happy / Vintage Rentals: Scout Vintage Rentals / Custom Table Linens: Andie Powers of Assemble Shop & Studio / Wedding Dress: Martha Webb ( marthawebb@live.com) / Hair + Makeup: Erin Skipley / Models: Amber Anderson of SMG + James Powell