2021 Style Shoot Design Contest Submission: An African Savannah Sunset Style Shoot in Sturgis, Michigan

Get ready to be transported to the African Savannah in this submission to our 2021 Style Shoot Design Contest! The team at Simply Unforgettable Occasions wanted to create a style shoot that was different and unique from others that they had seen. With the theme selection 'Go Wild' and incorporation of the Pantone Colors of the Year, Illuminating and Ultimate Gray, throughout the entire setup, this shoot is an African dream! “We used the African Savannah as our inspiration because we wanted to do something that was fun and playful but also something that is unique that you don’t see a lot of,” Lead Planner/Designer Samantha Ham explains. “I also wanted to demonstrate to couples that even if you can’t afford to travel to your dream wedding destination, with a little bit of magic, you can bring your dream to life in any venue.”

One of the creative challenges of this shoot was to include animals of the savannah in nontraditional ways. Samantha says, “We did this by using silhouettes and prints on the cake as well as animal prints in the chair sashes, table overlays and stationery. We even chose ivory plates as a nod to the ivory in an elephant’s tusks.” We love how they included Ultimate Gray in the cake created by Sweet T’s Cakes and Confections and the groom’s attire and Illuminating in the cake, vases and floral details!

The venue allowed the team to bring an elegant feel to their style shoot. One of their favorite aspects of the venue was the chandelier in the middle of the room that caught everyone’s eye upon first visit. Despite being the perfect venue for their vision, the team did run into some obstacles when setting up for this shoot. “The rafters that we utilized to hang the table centerpieces from were approximately 20 feet above the ground and it took some creative engineering to orchestrate that,” Samantha shares. Check out how stunning the result of that ingenuity is!

Speaking of the flowers, they were a huge part of this style shoot. “I chose a variety of textures, marrying the lush foliage and flora of the jungle and the grasses, sticks and tumbleweeds of the Savannah and plains. We incorporated plenty of Spanish moss to play up the muted and plain vibes of the Savannah and also using it to add a touch of the unexpected throughout the design,” Laura Truer of Truer Design shares.

Since the bride wasn’t able to make it to Michigan until the day of the shoot, the team actually requested four dresses that reflected the heat of the Savannah but also brought a chic feel to the shoot. They were all lightweight with low backs, and the one they chose had a beautiful sweetheart neckline. Hair stylist Brittany Wilson explains, “To complete the final look for the bride's hair, I curled all of her hair and softly pinned back parts of the top leaving out pieces to frame her face. I added braids to the crown of her head to sew the floral crown designed by Truer Design into place.”

 

Style Shoot Design Contest sponsored by: AAYS Event Rentals

 

 

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