WeddingDay Exclusive Style Shoot: Zao Island

Photos ByStudio 13 Photography

Written By

Date

July 26, 2018

Refreshing. Modern. Inspiring. These are the three words that come to mind when we think of The Greenhouse at Zao Island.

Located in Valparaiso, Indiana, Zao Island is an exhilarating venue made for couples who are searching for a fun space to celebrate their wedding! We looked to Kelsey Hahn, co-owner of White Dahlia Events, to curate the elegant and stimulating design of this WeddingDay Exclusive Style Shoot. Kelsey was excited to style this shoot, as Zao Island is an amusement center. She says, “I was perplexed with the challenge of coming up with a style and theme that would be fun yet elegant—but after seeing the space, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. So, I came up with a Mid-Century Modern theme. I wanted it to be colorful yet tasteful.” With The Greenhouse at Zao Island’s contemporary and vibrant style, it was easy to bring this vision to life.

Zao Island hosts not only some amazing amusement park classics like go-karts, laser tag, batting cages and mini-golf, but some unique features like an alligator exhibit as well. They combine all of this with an elegant greenhouse to create their sensational event space. Kelsey says, “This venue has non-stop entertainment. Worried about your guests never returning to the reception because they are having too much fun? No problem! The venue has a card system set up so guests just swipe to play, but then you can set a time limit, so when it’s time to return to the reception their card will deactivate! Brilliant!” Zao Island’s Greenhouse is an ethereal event space with clean lines and a modern, white hue. It is made for couples searching for a refreshing reception space with endless entertainment.

The shoot took on a fun theme with a colorful palette and earthy tones for a Mid-Century Modern vibe. Kelsey explains, “I used a lot of natural wood, white, gold and copper; but then I threw in pops of teal, pink and orange to complement and I loved how it turned out.” And the florals designed by Marco Alexzondra Floral and Event Design complemented the palette beautifully. Kelsey says, “I gave him my vision and he just rolled with it perfectly. He used roses, ranunculus, succulents and lots of greenery. I really wanted the flowers to be colorful and vibrant to complement the muted and earthy tones I use for the tables.” Studio 13 Photography photographed all of these beautiful elements—capturing the gorgeous essence of this shoot.

The design of this shoot paired perfectly with our bride's look. Paris House of Bridal provided a truly elegant cocktail length gown. The gown was outfitted with lace details and a rhinestone belt for a polished, yet unique look. Under the Veil styled a classic updo that complemented the model’s dress and makeup artist, Kelly Saulters, created a “beautiful smokey eye and tangerine lip,” says Kelsey. LR Men’s Clothier provided a classic tuxedo and bow tie.

The Chatty Press created stationery that incorporated the main colors of the shoot: blues, pinks and oranges with a Mid-Century Modern design for a fresh, new look. The eye-catching cake and desserts by Designer Desserts also used these colors in a vibrant hue with amazing floral designs.

To put the cherry on top, Burns Rent-Alls provided key rental pieces to tie the look together. Kelsey says, “From Burns Rent-Alls, I used wooden chargers with white plates and accent plates with a gold, metallic pattern. I was obsessed with the modern silverware they had: gold with a matte, black handle. Then, I used their modern, cylinder-shaped stemware that really made the elegance come through. I tied in the color with a teal napkin wrapped around the dinner plate and placed the accent plate on top.”