Let us rewind back to this time last year when we hosted a styled shoot with some of the best in the biz.
At the time, our seemingly endless property renovations were coming to a close and after multiple setbacks, we’d been finally set to advertise our first public event; our business launch and venue open day. This was what we’d been working towards for months, ever since we had taken possession of the property.
But just a few short weeks before the launch was scheduled, we learned that the virus in China would have wider consequences than we could have imagined. We were gutted. Like so many other members of the community, our new business had to be put on hold. And it was from this roadblock that the idea for this photoshoot was born.
We saw it as a chance to move forward, and to deepen our friendships with other members of the south coast wedding community. Our vendors saw it as a chance to create and share their passion for beauty with us, each other and you.
With everyone feeling so unsure of the future and their place in it, this photoshoot was a beautiful opportunity to feel like we were taking back a little bit of control. It really was a dream collaboration for us. New to the local community, we felt so fortunate for the chance to team up with industry heavyweights.
Vanessa from The Wedding & Event Creators, one of the premier styling, coordination and hire organisations on the South Coast, awed us as she worked her magic. And internationally awarded photographer David Campbell who had just moved to the South Coast at the time and with his normally overrun schedule free because of Covid, was happy to jump onboard and shoot the afternoon for us.
We had the incredibly talented Muscari creating dream florals, who had also just left a booming business in Sydney for a slower pace down south. Table settings were accompanied by beautiful menus and place cards from Amber Made Studio, and we enjoyed deliciously creamy, locally sourced ice-cream from The Gelato Bike.
Tash Owers Hair and Makeup by Kye, artists who we were just getting to know, provided stunning hair and make up. Shoshana the one and only Curator of Love Stories as celebrant, and Pearl Button Bridal; an ethically minded, bespoke gown guru who lives just down the road, and who we had gotten to know amidst the bushfires earlier that year.
It was an all star cast. One that was perfectly balanced between big names and those brand new to the south coast wedding industry. Every person there was wonderfully talented and as we were in the midst of heavy Covid restrictions with no work or weddings, the whole team saw it as their first chance in months to let their creativity loose in pursuit of a magical result.
This was also the first time we had seen our space transformed into a wedding venue. The Barn was styled beautifully, set perfectly with attention to detail, and bedecked with stunning florals. We finally got to see all of our hard work come to life and meet the moment it was intended for. We felt like we had finally made it, and all that was left was to fill the space with love, joy and celebration.
This shoot was us taking a stand against the pandemic. Together we shook our fists and shouted that we would not be bent by the weight of the unknown. And that when the dust finally settled, we would be ready to create beauty again. The shoot gave us hope, and made us feel optimistic that with patience, we would once again see better days full of love and joy.
Unbeknownst to us, that over a year later, we would still be experiencing lock downs, postponements and unforeseen cancellations that would shake both our industry as well as business and home life for people around the world. But we have also learned that with each others’ love and support, we will get through this too.
Dream Team
Venue // The Barn On The Ridge
Photography // David Campbell Imagery
Styling, Hire & Coordination // The Wedding & Event Creators
Florals // Muscari
Gowns // Pearl Button Bridal
Make Up // Make Up By Kye
Hair // Tash Owers Hair
Celebrant // Curator of Love Stories
Stationery // Amber Made Studio
Ice-Cream // The Gelato Bike
More snaps from the shoot:
