A Recreated, Timeless & Romantic Style Shoot

Photos ByEmily Violet Photography

Written By

Carri Fras

Date

January 24, 2017

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Emily Sexton, the photographer behind Emily Violet Photography had the perfect ingredients to recreate a timeless and romantic style shoot: A couple with the perfect look (that just so happen to be Emily's super creative friends!), ready-to-go decor courtesy of said friends, a historical landmark for the venue, and, of course, some major inspiration!

This shoot was inspired partly because my obsession with 'New Girl' and the 1950's,” Emily says. “My friend, Nichole and her husband, Peter have this sort of vibe, so I asked them if they would be interested in a styled shoot and they said yes! They had a lot of leftovers from their wedding; invitations, decor, and lots of dinos! So we ran with it." She wanted to evoke a sense of a super romantic and timeless wedding with DIY ideas.

Emily chose the historic Oliver Mansion (built in 1895) in South Bend, Indiana because it evoked a certain feel and complemented the style that Emily wanted.“The grounds are home to beautiful gardens and stonework,” Emily says. “It takes me back to another era and definitely added to the feel of our shoot.” Emily also wanted to maintain a neutral color palette as to not distract from the unique location and colorful table setting and decor. In fact, she opted not to use florals for this very same reason. “Flowers are great and lovely but sometimes it is nice to be super simple,” she says.

The dress was selected as a nod to Emily’s personal style. “The wedding dress was exactly my style, in terms of what I would like to shoot, as well as what I might like to wear at my own wedding,” she says. “It came from one of my favorite websites, www.modcloth.com, and it worked perfectly. The lace and neckline is such a classic look!” Emily completed the overall natural and subdued look with the help of a make-up artist and friend. “Nichole's makeup was done by Holly Reith, all MAC products. Nichole did her own hair, which I wanted to look very natural and simple, how she might wear it on a normal day,” she says.

What better way to top off this romantic shoot than with some good ol’ classic donuts and dinosaur figurines? “We were fortunate to be able to use decor we already had. Nichole and Peter collected dino figurines and painted them gold!” Nicole says. “The donuts were from Dunkin’ Donuts!”

What we love

In an era of "do-it-yourselfers", this shoot inspires yet another beautiful and unique way to highlight your own personal style, while taking a less traditional route. “I'd say in many ways this wedding showcases that you can do things differently and it can be gorgeous,” Emily says. “For instance, donuts instead of cake! Also, their attire, nontraditional and totally gorgeous and perfect in it's own right.”