Just outside of La Vernia sits the beautiful, new venue, Grandview Weddings & Events.  Tina Humphrey with Diamonds & Dreams had a vision for a one-of-a-kind Styled Shoot.  Learn about her inspiration and how this spectacular project came about.

Where did the inspiration come from:

Believe it or not, a trip to the grocery store for picnic supplies for an upcoming family get together!  As I’m shopping around for fresh fruits and cheeses I was really impressed with the vibrant colors mother nature was blessing us with…Hot pinks, reds, tangerines, peaches, bright yellows and terra cotta!  How beautiful that would be if we captured those colors by a great photographer!  And…the idea is born!  A summer picnic!  Now, to find a willing venue!!!

What did you want to convey with this styled shoot:

I have been friends with the Cummings family for a while now, thanks to their daughter Rene.  She has modeled for me several times over the years and her family recently built a fabulous (& much needed) venue in my area that I, OF COURSE, wanted to showcase because it is simply stunning…a beautifully renovated barn that is striking in its simplicity and neutrality.  Beautiful white walls, gray tiled floors, a schmeared fireplace and wooden pillars that just scream out for all kinds of decorating ideas…they were a perfect fit to show how easy it is to show-off with any color and with any theme!  It’s really pretty much perfect!

What worked the best for you during this project:

I say this often, but honestly, the teamwork among all the participants in this shoot.  Everyone was willing to step up and do whatever it took to bring this vision to life.  From products to services to brainstorming at midnight via group chats….everyone was on board.  Styled shoots are a ton of work and you have to pay close attention to the details and this team nailed it.

What were your biggest challenges during the shoot

One of the most fabulous features of this venue is the 25′ ceilings and a fireplace that fills one of the walls from floor to ceiling.  I wanted that fireplace to play a huge part in the shoot.  The problem was, without a scissor lift, how do I drape flowers down that wall?  How do we attach those flowers to create the vision of a “raining flowers” wall?  Well, as it turns out, one of the family members of the venue is a firefighter (and one of my grooms!) and not afraid of scaling a ladder to attach pre-made flower strands for us!  He did it exactly as we instructed and the results speak for themselves.  Thanks Tyler!

I also wanted to do simple menus, but didn’t want paper….as it happens, one of my past Badges & Bouquets winners just started her own business as laser/engraving and I put the task to her for a solution.  (very last minute I might add!  Two days before the shoot!)  Vanessa Garcia of Fourever Customs is absolutely brilliant and without any hesitation came up with a great solution!  She wanted to create tiny wooden menu tags to tie around our croissants!!  They were perfect!

Some of the staff of the venue went so far as to create several custom pieces for the shoot.  A linen for the sweetheart table and matching fringed napkins for the tablescape just because I found a patterned fabric online looking for something perfect for the shoot.   Wine bottle table numbers and custom  signs were also the perfect added touch.