December 30, 2019

Neo-Soul Love (Paradise, TX)

As told by Charmed Life Photography: The Neo-Soul Badass Bridal Styled Shoot was shot at The Barn at Paradise Plantation in Paradise, TX. In the beginning, I wanted to think outside the styled shoot box for this one; and I had a hard-pressed goal to only collaborate with models and vendors that were like-minded with my vision. In the styled shoot world there can oftentimes be a lot of similarities, but I wanted this shoot to not only be epic but also be the polar opposite of what people are used to seeing. The inspiration was both edgy and moody with hints of a throwback homage celebrating a Neo-Soul musical element of sound, feel and even taste. Neo-Soul is a style of music from the ’90s and is a cross between Soul and Contemporary R&B. I focused on Maxwell and the Dallas native Erykah Badu because they both produced a sound that would lend to that romantic; but earthy, gritty and moody under-beat vibe I was trying to achieve.

The color scheme was high on burgundy to highlight the different skin tones and complexions of our models. The accent colors were black, cream and a touch of gold for an elegant romance. Each vendor was tasked to incorporate the color scheme in their contribution and they did not disappoint. Our canvas was gifted by the owners at The Barn at Paradise Plantation; Blain and Lisa Stephenson opened their amazingly beautiful and brand new venue to us; to have the run of the house.

We had two fashion designers; Brandi Ganz of Isla Atropa DC was charged with creating the centerpiece cream-hued bridal jumpsuit with a deep plunge neckline and a winged arm that in theory would fly back as our bridal couple escaped into the night on their getaway motorcycles. Karen Bullock an Etsy Designer, created the bridal party pre-look with the burgundy tutu skirts for the bridesmaids and dual-layered burgundy and pale white tutu skirt for the bride. Melanin printed shirts were paired with the skirts because their “melanin was poppin’ ” as the saying goes. In another subtle element, the bride was draped with a light leatherette jacket, donning “Mrs.” on the back which was hand-painted by calligraphy artist, Sarah Lott of Meet Me Lettering. Sarah also tattooed the back of our bridesmaid motorcycle helmets with, “Bride Squad.”

Our florist did an amazing hanging installation, as well as an elevated centerpiece on the head table utilizing southern smilax and lush luxe specialty blooms that people don’t typically see. The bridal bouquet wasn’t a typical round one but instead was an engaging and elongated design. The sweetheart table was adorned by southern smilax with complementing blooms from the bride’s bouquet. Some of the blooms and garlands included: Ranunculus Clooney, Hydrangea, Chocolate Cosmos, Rose Garden Assortments and a variety of Eucalyptus garlands and Bay Laurel Green.

The event planner, Callie Gray Weddings and Events, took inspiration directly from the mood board and draped the sweetheart, cake and head tables with black cloths and burgundy table runners; and used gold sunflower rimmed chargers with matte black dinner plates with matching matte flatware; and traditional stemware. Giovanni French of Black Paper Creative designed this bespoke stationery suite to evoke the feeling of elegance and a true Neo-Soul vibe for this shoot. She handcrafted the pocket-fold styled invitation to feature a custom dark red and gunmetal motif on leather textured paper and hand foiled the cover and invite in gold to tie in with various areas of the shoot. The floral accents are carefully carried through the remained of the suite to create a sense of cohesion the same way our favorite Neo-Soul songs course through our soul. The cake maker, Kara Nelsen of Kara’s Bake Shoppe used the stationery suite design as a muse and artistically painted the burgundy floral pattern on a layer of the cake that was matte black with geometric shapes and also a gold textured layer.

Chef Jasmin Upchurch brought the soul with her creative culinary flair and various twists on tapas plates. She created familiar southern entrees with a new spin that was both surprising and mouthwatering with flavors. There were Caprese salad skewers and cajun seared shrimp shooters, just to name a few. And the last, but certainly not least of our supporting cast was our young violinist Savannah Harp, who serenaded our bridal couple with the smooth sounds of vibey Neo-Soul tunes throughout the evening.

The model and HMUA team did an outstanding job. The HMUA’s were LaToyia Goodman, Melanie M. King, and Cassie Daniel; they created dynamic looks on each model; aligned symmetry and blended colors that were cohesive with the theme. The models each played an important role in how this shoot came together. They stayed in character the entire time and really embodied the moody and edgy essence of this non-traditional bridal style shoot.

Styled Shoot Storyboard/Creative Concept: Our young bride and groom are both introverts – shy, guarded at best and it takes a minute for them to warm up when they meet new people. They’ve both experienced heartache and loss in the past — but their hearts are still open to love. They met during their study abroad programs on the Amalfi Coast in Italy. He’s studying Aerospace Engineering and she plans to become a Foreign Service Officer for the State Department. He used to take her on long rides on his Vespa, where they would picnic at sunset and watch the tide roll in. In her spare time, she’d take cooking classes and wow him with her culinary prowess of authentic pasta and sauces. They had a whirlwind Italian romance and upon returning stateside, this budding power couple decided to join forces permanently. In planning their nuptials, they wanted to incorporate their love for old school music, motorcycles and all the elements that make them that cool, edgy badass couple that deep down; everyone wants to be.

Location: Paradise, TX
Event Date: February 17, 2019
Equipment Rentals: 5 Star Rental
Hair Stylist: In His Image Salon
Makeup Artist: Blended By Cassie
Makeup Artist: Fierce and Fancy
Professional: Charmed Life Photography
Second Shooter: Nina Lavoy Photography
Calligrapher: Meet Me Lettering
DIY or Handmade Goods Designer: Lightwood Lane Sign Co
Favors and Gifts: My Favorite Sweets
Etsy Designer: Ingrid Elizabeth Designs
Event Planner: Callie Gray Weddings and Events
Event Venue: The Barn at Paradise Plantation
Caterer: Kurly’s Kreations
Floral Designer: Magnolias Rose Company
Invitation Designer: Black Paper Creative Studios
Bakery: Kara’s Bake Shoppe
Dress Designer: Isla Atropa DC
Photographer: Charmed Life Photography