As Moss Floral Design says, “the first signs of springs are subtle, yet worthy of celebration — daffodils peeking out of fallen leaves, hyacinths, budding branches.” And this gorgeous inspiration session from the talents of Moss Floral Design, Callie Manion, Meggie Francisco Events celebrates that magic perfectly. With a beautiful set up at La Villa Francisca including chairs from Bella Acento and a Anna Campbell wedding dress, this editorial is as pretty as a fresh spring day. Head to The Vault to see it all!
From Callie Manion…“Ode To Spring”
The inspiration for this particular shoot began after a reading of Henry David Thoreau’s, “Spring”:
The first sparrow of spring!
The year beginning with younger hope than ever!
The faint silvery warblings
heard over the partially bare and moist fields from
the bluebird, the song sparrow, and the red-wing,
as if the last flakes of winter tinkled as they fell!
We loved the idea of recreating “the first sparrow of spring” and wanted to play with a moodier palate to inspire brides getting married in the springtime, as a nod to the passing season of winter. During this period, tiny buds begin to blossom and grow from dark, moist patches of earth. We played with these colors seen in nature by incorporating touches of lighter pinks and whites amidst the darker palate of deep blues and blacks–emulating the colors of spring emerging from the colors of a passing winter.
We didn’t want to go too literal, but we wanted to incorporate subtle elements that would be a nod to this idea of a spring bride being the first “sparrow of spring”. You can see the bride playing with one single feather in a few portraits; then again that feather will show up at the table setting later; and lastly, we wanted to emulate a bird’s nest with the bride’s up-do hairstyle at the very end.
This inspiration shoot was all about striking the balance between light and dark, and finding the beauty in both. Captured entirely in film, the images show a sense of darkness, but are also soft and feminine. Our aim was to symbolize the beauty of darkness with the inside location; and then highlight the lightness and airiness of spring with the outside location. We hope to speak to a sophisticated bride who enjoys lightness, but also can appreciate the darkness of the transitioning season, and wants to incorporate both into her wedding day–perhaps with an outdoor ceremony and an indoor reception.
From Moss Floral Design…The first signs of springs are subtle, yet worthy of celebration. Daffodils peeking out of fallen leaves, hyacinths, budding branches – these are some first signs of spring that inspired the florals I chose for this shoot. Flowering quince is one of spring’s early bloomers. So I decided to incorporate hints of blooming quince branches in the background. As badly as I wanted to add fluffy peonies and garden roses to the floral arrangements, I wanted to stay true to early spring blooms. Touches of hyacinths, lilac, tulips, and the late winter beauty, hellebore, added a delicacy that early spring emulates. This delicacy was also symbolized by the color palette. I selected peach, lilac purple, and a soft pink to represent the innocence and freshness that early spring brings. This against the moody blue tones highlight new life that follows the dead of winter.
From Meggie Francisco Events…Coming from a restaurant background, I’ve always cared very much for how cuisine plays a role in an event experience. When guests gather to celebrate a wedding, they travel from far and wide, they buy a beautiful gift for the couple, and they bring out their best attire–all to share an experience together. While this experience begins at the wedding ceremony, it culminates over the meal as guests trade stories and laughter.
Magdalena’s did an extraordinary job bringing together the flavors of early spring with visual brilliance. The creamy asparagus soup has the tender bright green of new leaves, the oysters are plump and juicy from waters that haven’t yet warmed up, and the lamb chops are beautifully seared. I imagine the conversation would be lively and free-flowing with wedding cuisine like this!
Besides the dinner, one image that lingers in guests’ minds after a beautiful wedding is the blushing bride and her attire. The gown, designed by Anna Campbell, showcases lustrous, intricate pearl beading atop delicate scalloped lace. The substantial beading honors the heavy textures of winter, while the delicate lace hearkens the incoming warmth of spring. The bride’s bouquet, a blend of vibrant early-spring blooms by Adri at Moss floral, is juxtaposed with a hearty velvet ribbon. Hair and makeup guru Quynh Nguyen gave our model a fresh, dewy look and two dynamic hairstyles for ceremony and reception.
Photography: Callie Manion Photography | Event Planning + Design: Meggie Francisco | Floral Design: Moss Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Anna Campbell | Cake: Jar Cakery | Invitations: Wondrous Whimsy | Bride's Shoes: Vince | Jewelry: Shapiro Diamonds | Catering: Magdalena's Cocina Mexicana Loca | Hair + Makeup: Q Makeup & Hair Artistry | Venue: At Home | Venue: La Villa Francisca | Chair Rentals: Bella Acento | Film Processing: PhotoVision Prints | Flatware + China: Crate & Barrel | Glassware: Billy Ella | Model: Allison Ponthier | Ribbon: Mood