Weddings

Styled Shoots & Why We Do Them by Kelli Conley

(all photos) Suffolk Punch/ Norfolk Hall, QC Catering, Mint To Be Weddings, Ladies of Lineage, Party Reflections, AM Creative Studio, Nectar Floral Designs, Trei Helms Beauty, Cake Expressions By Lisa

If you follow any type of wedding vendor on social media, chances are you’ve seen photos of a styled shoot. A styled shoot is basically exactly what it sounds like, a team of vendors use their creativity and expertise to create a fake wedding, and use the photos of their “product” for brand promotion! The photos included in this blog are from a styled shoot that Mint To Be Weddings designed and coordinated a couple years ago!

Styled shoots are a really great thing to do for many reasons! They can really get all the vendors’ creative juices flowing. Usually the planner gives the vendors a design board with the vision, and then they can take that vision and run with it! So, it’s really great practice for when a bride/ client wants to do something different.

Another reason is that styled shoots gives vendors the opportunity to work with and meet other companies in the industry that maybe they otherwise wouldn’t meet, or just haven’t met yet. It’s great for networking and getting your name out there!

It is also great practice to work with other vendors closely. This helps makes our clients wedding days more seamless when all vendors work well together to create a vision!

Styled shoots also give us an excuse to try new things we haven’t seen or done before for a wedding. We can do riskier designs, or different photography poses or styles than we normally stick with!

All in all, styled shoots are so much fun, and benefit all vendors involved in multiple ways!

Detail Photos- What To Bring by Kelli Conley

One thing that can be forgotten in the rush of the morning on the day of your wedding is having your items together for your detail photos. It can be easier to have some items set aside for this, maybe even packed in the same box so there’s no rushing around to find them while you’re trying to get ready for your big day. In this blog we’re going to go over items that we see the most for ideas on what your detail photos can look like!

Items that are the most popular to be used are the bride’s shoes for the day. Here they are also included as the tradition of “something blue!” Some brides will also bring their favorite perfume, or purchase one just for the wedding day, that can be included as well. Your veil can add dimension to the photo, and be a subtle inclusion, as you see here. It’s also great to add some flowers from your day as well, so the color and floral types that you use can be captured here too. Lastly, is the rings! All 3 rings are the perfect touch to add to your detail photos. (This is where packing everything together can come in handy, we often see the bride has to send a bridesmaid/ groomsmen or someone to get the grooms ring).

Other items that we love to include is your stationery set. This is your save the date, formal invites, and anything else that you sent out to guests that you would like to include!

Lastly, you can’t forget the dress! Or anything else you might be wearing that day. For example, a garter, maybe a dress change for the reception, or if you DIY’d a jacket or anything else like that!

Even though it’s not pictured above, if you have a special item that you attach to your bouquet to honor a loved one that has passed or couldn’t make it to the wedding, we can include that in the detail photos as well.

Remember, these are all suggestions and are not limited to these, nor do you have to do them. This is just to give you an idea of things you might want to include on your special day so that you’re not stressing out about it the day of when your photographers arrive.

Ceremony Photo Tips by Kelli Conley

The Diary Barn, Mint To Be Weddings, Gather Flower Studio, Cali Stott Artistry

While your wedding ceremony is really about finally tying the knot with your significant other, there are many photo ops to remember during it! You hired a photographer for a reason right? Of course you did, so let’s get started over some ceremony pictures that I know and love for my clients to do.

The first tip is when you and whoever is walking you down the aisle reach the first row of guests, stop and take a look at your partner at the other end. This not only gives you a second to breathe and take it in, but let’s us have a second for reaction photos and pictures of you from behind with your dress and veil displayed behind you with your guests looking at you.

The Ivy Place

The Ivy Place

The Diary Barn, Mint To Be Weddings, Gather Flower Studio, Cali Stott Artistry

When you make it up to your partner at the end of the aisle, hold hands and pause for a second while both of you look out into the crowd to see all your best family and friends there celebrating this huge moment in your life. The raw emotions in these pictures are so cute to capture!

Tell your officiant to step away before they announce the first kiss!!!! Lots of people forget this, and I will die on this hill. Don’t let there be someone awkwardly standing behind you while you are kissing as a married couple for the first time!

After officially tying the knot, when you begin your walk down the aisle as newlyweds, stop halfway through and kiss! Make it a good one, maybe with a dip or twirl! Bonus points if you give your guests flower petals to throw in the air as you’re doing so!

The Ivy Place

The Diary Barn, Mint To Be Weddings, Gather Flower Studio, Cali Stott Artistry

An Intimate Winter Wedding | Geoff and Nicole by Kelli Conley

There is just something about winter weddings! Maybe its the colors of love and light shining bright amongst the dormant winter trees, or maybe it’s the cold weather bringing couples closer together making for more intimate pictures. Whatever it is, I love a good winter wedding and this micro wedding was a perfect reminder of why I love winter weddings! Also check out the beautiful fur from Nicole's grandmother that she wore after the ceremony!

Vendor Love - Venue: Camp Canaan, Florals: Evergreen Bride, Cake: The Whisk It Shoppe, Dress: Anthropologie, Caterer: Casa Tequila

Loray Mill Wedding | Lindsey & Nathan by Kelli Conley

Lindsey and Nathan are just the sweetest! When I first met Lindsey to chat about her wedding day we skyped since she was in school in Wilmington and I feel like we just clicked right away! Then throughout the whole wedding planning process I knew that her wedding would be beautiful and filled with emotion. They decided to get married in their local church and to have the reception at the beautiful Loray Mill. One of the photos she specifically requested was for me to get pictures of her and Nathan in the prayer room immediately following their processional at the end of their ceremony. I absolutely adore these pictures of them share those first minutes as husband and wife in that prayer room. They also had one of the sweetest first looks I have witnessed, and were surrounded by beautiful stained glass from the church’s windows. Also their reception could not have been more fun, they had such a beautiful ambiance in the mill. And their bridal party and guests were such a blast to hang out with in the photo booth, on the dance floor, and during their beautiful sparkler exit!

Venue: Ceremony at Myers memorial Methodist Reception at Loray Mill
Catering: Waiters Choice
Cake: Brenda's Cake Gallery
Dj: Audio to go
Rentals: Creative Solutions
Bridesmaids dresses: David's Bridal
Her dress: New York Bride and Groom
Florist: New Creations