Vintage Glam can be found in Iowa when photographer Sara Reus takes the reigns! By pulling together some great Des Moines wedding vendors and pairing them with an amazing local venue, all the elements came together and magical images were created. Lavender Blue Floral was lucky to be included in the team of vendors that were included in this special styled shoot.

Ankeny Iowa has created a wonderful little “town inside a town'‘, called Prairie Trail, and among other wonderful businesses, it boasts an even center, called ‘The District Venue’. Here is where we put together the elements of Sara’s glam-inspired photo shoot. The venue was busy with wedding season, but still so warm and welcoming as our local vendors took over their space with flowers, props, and talented models. The center is definitely one I will recommend to my brides in the future who are looking for something different than the rustic barn look. The District Venue had a more cosmopolitan appeal than many of the venues we have frequented. Lots of white wood trim, modern stair rails, and polished concrete make up the space. The overall color palette is nice and neutral, allowing for a couple to create their own color story with table scapes and linens . For this shoot, we stuck with shades of white and cream, with a few metallic accents of gold and silver.

Tired of white and blush weddings? Many brides over the last couple of wedding seasons have asked for blush and cream as their floral color choice. The blush roses are in fact becoming so popular in wedding and event design, that the flower farms have struggled to keep up with the pace, and quantities have become limited , meaning we have to plan ahead and order weeks or months prior to the wedding in hopes of getting the tones that we need. Blush and white are still predicted to be very popular for the next few years. The addition of toffee, honey comb, and apricot tones have been pulled into the aesthetic now, making the possibilities exciting and endless when a bride says, “I just want blush and cream.” Along with the new, fresh tones, metallics are becoming popular again. Mixing any metallics together is much more acceptable that in the past, but gold is in the forefront of what popular sources like Pinterest are showing couples the most.

It’s all in the details! Whether a put together styled portrayal of a wedding, or a live ceremony, couples are focusing more and more on the details of the day. Much thought and care is put into the design of the paper invites, even down to which postage stamp fits best with the color and design of the invitations. We always mention to our brides that if at all possible, ask their wedding photographer to make time ahead of portrait and pre-ceremony shots to capture lots of details . Whether it’s a close-up of a special rose in a bouquet, or a picture of the bride’s shoes , these photos will be more and more dear as time passes, and the two reflect back on every element that made the wedding day so unique to them. Once your invitees arrive at the venue , photographers are kept very occupied with action and portraiture shots, and can lose the chance to get those special photos before the ceremony begins.

We Love, Love how Sara Reus photography framed the wedding gown with our Moon Gate arch! We are on the constant look-out for the newest trends in wedding events, and this arch is definitely an example of that! With the celebration of the 50 year mark of our landing on the moon this year, everything moon , stars and space related is popping up all over your social media ! We love how versatile this arch is for both indoor and outdoor use. It is light weight and easy to move, yet breaks down into transportable parts and can be spiked into the ground making for a solid footing against the Iowa winds!

One of our favorite local vendors for wedding gowns and tuxes is Weddings by Design, in West Des Moines Iowa. Sara asked them to come on board for this styled shoot and they always excel at finding the perfect gown to meet the visions of the photographer. The owner, Melissa, has a great staff of ladies at the shop, ready to help you find that perfect dress that helps to tell your wedding story.

Lexi Weeks was the perfect model for the Vintage glam vibe that Sara pulled off so successfully in this styled shoot! We loved that our vintage French settee got to play a part in the day, and hope it will soon be rented out by other brides and photographers. The touches of blush and apricot in the garden roses of the bouquet stand out amazingly well with the slate grey of the venue’s walls. Wow! It just all came together perfectly.

Lexi’s jewelry and hair comb were new pieces from Weddings by Design, and really added so much glam and glitz to the vibe. The mix of greenery in the bridal bouquet is so reminiscent of the trendiest look this year, which involves the addition of lots of different greenery. Brides are in love with any kind of eucalyptus and continue to ask for it in their bouquets and arches.

The floral design in this picture incorporates another trendy element- dried flowers and pods! Thanks to some very popular and talented floral designers, social media is providing good images of the newest direction in our industry. Floral design is going back to the “good old days” when florists often grew their own flowers and greenery for their local clients. Like in Europe, flowers are being seen more as a form of art, rather than a commodity at the grocery store! Flowers are now grown all over the world and are so much more attainable than in the past. Flowers like peonies that were once only available during one short season are now grown in Africa and Alaska at opposite times of the year to the U.S. Japan is moving ahead with trending elements like bleached and dried florals and greenery. All of this makes for an exciting and positive outlook for the floral industry. When looking for a good designer, don’t be shy when asking about their experience, their time spent on education, and traveling to other parts of the country to learn and grow their art. As a consumer, we owe it to you to educate and inspire. How can we help?

CREDITS:

Photography: @sarareusphotography

Wedding Gown: @weddingsbydesigndm

Hair: @solobymario

Make Up: @meganweberhairandmakeupartist

Venue: @thedistrictvenueankeny