A Fake Wedding With Real Love - and Real Cake

I love weddings. Even fake ones. Sometimes vendors collaborate on styled shoots, which are great ways for vendors and service providers to showcase their skills. Recently my amazing new friend Kayley of Mrs. D's Blooms put together a beautiful backyard wedding scape to launch her wedding flower business. First, she gathered together a talented hair and makeup artist, a stellar baker, a cute (and actually in love) couple and a few super cute kiddos. Then she transformed a regular Denver backyard into an elegant and glamorous wedding extravaganza. And then she was nice enough to ask me to photograph it! I was legit honored.

Kayley started her business in 2015 as a side hustle after getting some rave reviews on the DIY flowers she had at her own wedding. She decided to take a chance on herself in September of 2021 and make it a full time gig. Since then she has been wowing with her amazing arrangements and eye for beauty.

So, so SO much goes into a styled shoot like this. For this set Kayley chose a color palette of burgundy, blush, cream and gold. These colors are all so amazing together and would work for any season. And just a side note - burgundy is flattering for every skin tone, so if you pick it for bridesmaid's dresses, your ladies will really appreciate it.

First was the amazing altar. Reaching 10 feet high, it is draped in chrysanthemums, roses, eucalyptus and pepperberries. Her husband built it (yay for supportive spouses! We love that!) and will be making it easy to assemble so you can rent it for your event and have the flowers customized. The 20ft drapes make it feel so romantic, and bonus, they hide anything in the background, so this would be perfect for turning your backyard (or any space) into a beautiful world apart for your special day.

She also made a floral hoop for the cake and dessert table. This made such a beautiful addition to the decor! The cake table is a huge focal point for every wedding, and I really appreciate having such a beautiful backdrop for the super important photos that take place around that cake. And again - this will soon be available for your big day!

And while I am on the subject of the cake - this was one of the very best cakes I have ever tasted. And trust me, I have never in my life passed up a piece of cake and I would not lie about a thing like that. In fact, I could probably give a detailed taste ranking of every cake I have ever had, if anyone is ever interested. Priorities, am I right? I can - and will - write an entire blog about my girl Whitney Park, who owns Baby Cakes Bakery and made the incredible spread for this event. But for now I will say, do yourself a favor and find any excuse possible to try a treat from her. Any minor holiday or personal achievement will do.

Kayley went above and beyond and also set a full table scape for this shoot. complete with a functional, handmade (thanks again to her talented hubby) FLORAL CHANDELIER. This thing was probably my favorite thing ever. Made of aspen logs, vintage looking bulbs and absolutely dripping with flowers and greenery, this thing is a piece of art. It was so elegant and at the same time rustic and natural looking. It made the table look like something out of a secret garden. I love this idea for a head table or even as an accent for a banquet table as we had here. Floating candles were woven amongst a table runner made of greenery, creating a intimate feeling table. Even the gold chargers she chose evoked a feeling of flowers and magic.

And last but not least, let's talk about our cute couple. Stephanie and her husband  are Kayley's best friends, and they, along with their beautiful flower girl daughter, stepped up to support their friend by dressing up and getting a little lovey-dovey. I love working with real couples for these shoots because there is already a natural chemistry and sense of fun. Plus, as someone who has been married for a hundred years myself, I know that the opportunities to get dressed up and have cute photos with your man are few and far between.

Please, enjoy the photos from this day, and please check out Mrs. D's Blooms -  https://mrsdsblooms.com/ and  Baby Cakes Bakery - https://shop.castiron.me/mybabycakesbakery?fbclid=IwAR2y59loolBPyhOI02krXxENPyAeb9FtS5S5ddC_qs4OnFeHAoo85eIZb94