Earlier in the year I was invited to participate in a divine editorial by Ellythea from Ethereal by Ell, a wonderfully talented GC photographer.  The shoot was style launch of her new rebrand. To be completely honest, normally I am a bit apprehensive with styled shoots, as they are so labour intensive for florists, but I am also so torn, and love them as it is an amazing time to network and connect with vendors, as well as produce a vision that I mightn’t typically do.

Well, after seeing the proposal from Elly, it was instantly a big, fat yes from me. Imagine water splashes, deep blue hues, mother of pearl iridescent, overgrown moss etc. It definitely wasn’t my typical work, but I was so interested in the overall vision and I thought this opportunity would be so fun to bring to life a really unique vision unlike any I had done yet! I also couldn’t wait to work with such an amazing lineup of vendors.  It was just one thing better that it ended up getting posted on Wed Vibes, which you can check out HERE.

Ellythea said that the vision was ‘conceived from a deep desire to transcend the ordinary and immerse in the extraordinary, where fantasy could intertwine seamlessly with reality, creating an editorial that symbolises both limitation and endless possibility’

HOW COOL!

There was a wonderful line up of creatives who came together for this shoot. We envisioned crafting a dreamlike realm in an otherwise very cold and concrete studio.  We planned to create an ethereal oasis, where the mundane metamorphosed into the extraordinary, and for the images to feel like love and fantasy converged, to weave a narrative that transcends time and space.

The flowers were a massive part of this shoot, and Ellythea wanted them to be ethereal and nautical, still my signature whimsical style. 

For the flower vision, I wanted to create a scene that felt nautical but whimsy at the same time.   The florals I chose were classic, quintessential garden blooms, including hydrangea, delphinium, queen anne’s lace, and gomphrena, all styled in my signature garden aesthetic. However, the addition of unique elements like hanging amaranthus, lotus pods and pearls, infused the designs with an unconventional twist, transforming the typical whimsical garden into a collection marked by its intriguing oddity. It really made me want to design a little space where water fairies could live.

The florals harmoniously combined whimsy with elegance, accentuated by blue hues that introduced a contrasting depth to the white and green arrangements. They were a central focus on the shoot, tying all the additional elements together to create the desired atmosphere and aesthetic.

 A strong focus was placed on creating depth and dimension within the arrangements. I meticulously used fresh, lush green moss in abundance across the cement floor, which played a pivotal role acting as a transformative element that bridged the gap between reality and fantasy, inviting all into a realm where an ordinary room elevated to the extraordinary.

The moss complemented the florals, and was used intentionally to create a feeling of the florals growing directly out of the ground.  It added to the atmosphere, which felt enchanted and abandoned, merging the man-made with natural sea life.  

The end result was floral art that felt unstructured and wild, yet ethereal and intentional, with a hint of eclectic nautical charm.

The bride’s look was envisioned as a symbol of her transformation from the sea to the land, capturing the essence of whimsy and natural beauty.

Draped in sailcloth, she embodied the ethereal allure of a sea goddess, her hair cascading in wild curls reminiscent of ocean waves. Adorning her with gold starfish wedding bands, the vendors seamlessly integrated elements of the sea into her bridal ensemble. It was breathtaking.

For her makeup, the MUA opted for a deep blue hue to mirror the depths of the ocean, accentuating her eyes and shoulders with pearls reminiscent of barnacles. This added a touch of mystique and elegance to her look, enhancing her otherworldly presence amidst the water scenes. 

As she transitioned to her land-bound form in the second half of the shoot, we softened her makeup palette to a gentler blue, reflecting the sea’s surface. The flowing gown she wore epitomised grace and elegance, embodying the whimsical spirit of the shoot while celebrating her transformation into a radiant bride.

The studio was transformed into a dreamlike realm, where every detail was carefully curated to evoke the essence of an editorial fairytale. The centerpiece of this mesmerising scene was a table – delicately placed in the heart of the man-made pool – as if it were a floating island adorned with opulent decor.

To heighten the ethereal atmosphere, we suspended billowing curtains from the ceiling, creating a soft, romantic canopy that added a touch of calm to the surroundings. Our aim was to evoke the appearance of a shipwreck, with the bride wandering amidst the sailcloth remnants of a sunken vessel.  It was seriously the most creative and fun vision I have been a part of so far. 

The icing on the cake is this wonderful shoot was featured on the Wed Vibes website.  I seriously couldn’t have been done without such a fabulous team of vendors. 

Use this as your reminder to try new things, and don’t be afraid to do work that is out of your usual box.

Vendors:

Ell, photographer @etherealbyell

Ellie, stylist @sunshineweddingsau 

Belle, florist @beesblossomsfloralstudio 

Jess, stationery @littlejdesign 

Mel, cake @chocolate2chilli 

Vanessa, Hair and makeup @vanessakay.makeup 

Thais, talent @thais_vallone 

Astrid, assistant creative director & content creator @byastridwahlstrom 

Matt, studio manager @goldcoaststudio

Here’s a flower quote I’m loving lately: “To plant a garden is to dream of tomorrow.” — Audrey Hepburn