Bre and Jake's Formals

And why we DON'T call these Groomals...

It feels like I’ve been waiting for FOREVER to share this with you guys! From the very first planning meeting, I knew this wedding was going to be perfect, right down to the last detail. I met Bre and Jake and could see instantly how much they loved each other. And then the planning began and I was beyond impressed with how classy, intelligent, fun, and easy to work with they were. Bonus: so was their family! Bre and Jake rounded up a team of some of the best and brightest in the wedding industry for their big day, and I think you will agree that the end results are stunning when the entire team is able to collaborate and communicate in order to pull the wedding off, instead of individual vendors doing their job, dropping it off, and being done. Bre and her mother Anne were amazing at helping all the vendors work cohesively as a team instead of individualizing each detail of the wedding and this resulted in one of the most successfully styled self-planned weddings I’ve ever seen.

So, without further ado, I’m beyond excited to share the formal shoot this week on the blog…and then next week…the full wedding! All the gorgeous images you see here were done by Ashley with Hawkeye Photography. I know any wedding where I get to work with Ashley is going to have the most beautiful images and the greatest attention to the details! Anyway, on to Breanna and Jake’s Formals. Please please please for the love of all that is holy, DO NOT call these Groomals…ugh…that word just feels awful in my mouth. And sounds weird :( Take Ashley’s example and call them Formals.

​Bre and Jake got married in the Salt Lake Temple at the very tail end of winter/early spring, and we wanted her flowers to reflect that pivot point. We wanted to lighten up the heavier/darker color palettes of winter, but not go all pastel-crazy into spring, so we created a cream and white base with pale pink and burgundy accents for her cream, pink, and burgundy bridal bouquet.

White carnations, cream hypericum berries, and cream roses were the base of the bouquet, and then we brought in the pale pink with the most gorgeous pale pink ranunculus I have ever seen. These things were as big as the palm of my hand! And I love the movement created by using pale pink veronica. The veronica and curly willow added such a light, airy feel to the entire structure. You can also see the deep burgundy dahlias scattered throughout the bouquet; a little hint of that winter red without weighing the entire bouquet down.

​We rounded that corner from winter into spring by lightening up the foliage as well. Out go the evergreens and in come seeded eucalyptus, gunni eucalyptus (a new favorite green of mine!), ferns, salal, and variegated ivy. Plus, some bare-branched curly willow. I wanted the greens to reflect the woods in late winter – branches are still bare and we’ve got greenery a-peekin’ out everywhere, but not so springy that we needed to incorporate blossoming branches into the arrangements.​

Now, I don’t know a ton about the mechanics behind photography, but I know I LOVE how Ashley captured the chill of late winter with the hint of spring sunshine. You know, when you go outside thinking it’s going to be freezing butt cold, and then the sun hits your face and you can’t help but close your eyes and smile?!?! That’s exactly the memory these pictures evoke and Ashley’s work draws on that feeling perfectly. I just can’t get enough of some of these images! They’re the perfect blend of beauty and personality…and it doesn’t hurt that the couple is gorgeous :)

Seriously?!?! I could stare at these images all day. My heart feels full to overflowing seeing all the love, light, and beauty in these pics. Not to mention a little fun :)

And I want. those. shoes. End of story.

You guys. This picture. Right here. This is the pic that made everyone's hearts stop on Instagram and Facebook this week. Wanna know why?! Because I think this picture captures how ever bride wants to feel on her wedding day...beautiful, pure, romantic, and stunning beyond all reason. You should have seen Jake's face when he saw Bre for the first time. He looked like he had finally come home. It honestly makes me a little teary-eyed...or that could be hormones. Weddings and hormones man, they get me every time. This amazing dress and veil is from Bridal Image. I haven't ever personally worked with them or been to their store, but I think a dress like this speaks for itself.

Another great member of the team who did a ton of behind-the-scenes work to create all this bridal beauty is the lovely, talented Hair and Make-up Artist (HMUA) Sadie! A lot of people don't realize how much a great HMUA can affect the overall outcome of their images, but Sadie is amazing at bringing out a bride's natural beauty and style and I love how effortlessly Bre's hair and make-up work with the dress, the flowers, the setting...everything! 

I’m totally loving the accent braid, the soft, wavy tresses, and that perfect mascara. Seriously, I’ve always said that if I’m ever filthy rich, the one luxury I’m indulging in is someone to shop for my clothes and tell me what to wear everyday, and someone to do my hair and make-up every day. I’ll do my own laundry, sweeping, cooking, and scrub my own toilets, but if someone could just make me look amazing each morning, I’d be in heaven…*sigh. 

Sadie was on site at the shoot to help Bre transition her hair from her more formal bridal shoot at the Salt Lake Temple, to this shoot. Sadie took Bre’s hair from the classic up-do with a veil, to a more relaxed wave with a flower crown. Love those bridal halos! 

Everyone just take a sec to hold their spouse like this today. Make them feel safe, loved, and cherished. We don't do it often enough and then wonder why the magic fades. Or next time you get family pictures done, don't forget a picture with just you and your spouse. Because you two are the beginning. How it all started.

Congrats Bre and Jake!

Enjoy!