stylebook: Volume 10
as always, for our brides.
Our Heart BEHIND THIS SHOOT
words + photos by Athena and Camron - This day was framed by connection. Though this was in every way a styled shoot, there was nothing inauthentic about it. The heart behind this shoot was to pursue authentic emotion and beauty, which is the true heart behind marriage. And what is wedding day joy without the unparalleled connection and intimacies of marriage to follow? Pulled together for the true romantics, we knew we had to have the husbands in this shoot. We believe the best moments are always ones of connection, so we worked with the a&bÊ bridal team to shift the vision and include the models’ lovers. Along came the grooms and not only was the shoot injected with incredible fun and life, it also immediately opened the door for more meaning, intimacy and true connection between each of them.
Sorin + Autumn Only a few months out from their own wedding day, Autumn and Sorin’s connection was a sweet display of peace and calm. They don’t need an over the top love - it’s a settled love, a content and comfortable intimacy reflecting in their peaceful demeanor.
Sorin became the frame for Autumn’s unbelievable beauty - even the way he held her expressed her beauty! The gowns she wore define the bride who values the great heights of bridal fashion history - perfect silhouettes, subtle lace textures, long sleeves, and the beautiful reinvention of simplicity. She is the epitome of elegance and contemporary style, and there was something utterly mesmerising about her red hair with that forest backdrop! She is the balance of both interest and simplicity, marrying in harmony.
Mae + Johnny Effortless joy and magnetic connection - Mae and Johnny are the epitome of best friends. Together for almost a decade, their love is seasoned with life and truth and a genuine friendship.
For them, laughing is as easy as breathing. Mae’s iconic smile perfectly embodied the theme of the day - to inspire and excite brides with a genuine heart for connection and joy. Mae is the kind of bride who wears a gown that disrupts the bridal industry with a new and daring design. She’s creative and edgy and we’re completely obsessed. She is his muse, and a cheerful life is what the muse loves - “a soaring spirit is their prime delight!” (Wordsworth). She is drawn to the joy in him, and him to the carefree beauty in her.
athena + camron We of course couldn’t forget to share the love story between our husband + wife photography team, Athena & Camron.
WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF
WHAT DO YOU ADMIRE MOST ABOUT EACH
EACH OTHER?
OTHER?
Athena - It was almost 40 degrees Celsius and he was
Athena - Camron cares about our marriage, which really
wearing a beanie and skinny jeans. He was a handsome,
means he cares about being faithful, letting himself
bearded barista from Portland, who walked right up to me
be known, loving unconditionally, baring each other’s
to start conversation. My first impression was that he was
burdens, laying down his own desires, and letting me
the man of my wildest dreams, and I knew I’d marry him
know he loves me by his words, actions, and intentions
right there on the spot.
every single day. He also makes me tea whenever I ask, is always the one to turn the light off and shut our bedroom
Camron - Um, hot exotic Australian who longs for genuine
door (even if I was the last one up), is the default driver,
connection, and to see beauty in the world?
cooks beautiful food for me without complaining, speaks words of encouragement over me every day, and looks hot while he’s doing it all. My dream human.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR STORY. Camron - Athena is more driven, gracious, creative, He immediately walked up to me and asked me where
reflective, and wholehearted than I ever knew possible. I
I was from (my Aussie accent was a bit thicker back
am captivated by the stories she tells through her words
then!). Within a few days I knew I wanted to marry this
and photos. One of my greatest joys is to witness her
bearded barista from Portland who listened to music by
being transformed by the love of Jesus, then to see her lead
Jonathan and Melissa Helser and who literally called
others into that transformation. Her beauty is unceasing,
God ‘Abba’ (which means Dad, Daddy, or Father). His
growing every day, and cultivating in me a stronger desire
face had caught my attention and his soul had captured
to know more of her.
my heart. 7 months later and a lot of heartache, long distance, FaceTime calls, visa interviews, and prayer... I finally landed in America on a 1 year visa. This guy had one year to marry me, so I could stay in the country. He waited until we were 3 DAYS away from going back to Australia to propose, knee deep in the snow on a cold January afternoon. Fast forward another long 7 months of heart ache, visa interviews, and prayer (7 seems to be our number) and I landed in America on my fiancé visa for the last time as a ‘visitor.’ 9 days later we were married and immediately flew to Alaska to stand on our favorite glacier and speak our vows over one another. ‘I will fiercely love you, radically pursue you, and graciously know you with an intimacy like the Father has with us.’
ADVICE YOU WISH YOU COULD GIVE TO OTHER COUPLES Weddings are good, but marriage is better. The first day is important, but the choices you make now are better made in light of the last day. Don’t get me wrong; being a bride is a beautiful thing and it is unspeakably exciting. Even calling your love ‘fiancé’ is special! The root of the word ‘fiancé’ simply means ‘future’, so I often just called Camron my ‘future’, a constant reminder of what’s to come. But here’s the thing—when you have a healthy perspective that the end goal of your wedding is the marriage, your heart is liberated to make healthy decisions, both small and large. Time goes fast during engagement, but I encourage you to weigh it down with thankfulness so you can live slowly, presently, appreciating the unique beauty of this time so that you can prepare to love your future-spouse fiercely, fully, and faithfully. True joy runs deeper than just this one season and will overflow into your marriage!
STYLES // IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
cover + intro look
SARA by TRUVELLE
look one
RIO by RISH BRIDAL ATELIER
look two
PHILLIPS by ROSE+WILLIAMS BY TARA LATOUR
look three
IRIS FLORAL by ALEXANDRA GRECCO
look four
DYLAN by ALEXANDRA GRECCO
look five
BLOEM by LAUDAE
look six
LOLA by JANE HILL
look seven
AEGEAN IN BLUE by RUE DE SEINE
look eight
SADIE by MADE WITH LOVE
look nine
VICTORY by TARA LATOUR
look ten
AEGEAN IN IVORY by RUE DE SEINE
look eleven
EAST by RUE DE SEINE
look twelve
SARA by TRUVELLE
look thirteen
PERRI by BLUSH BY HAYLEY PAIGE
A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR CREATIVE TEAM
photography ATHENA AND CAMRON @athenaandcamron floral BRIER + IVY @brierandivy hair + makeup URBANISTA WEDDINGS @urbanistaweddings installation MAE & CO. CREATIVE @maeandco_creative jewelry + accessories LIA TERNI + SARA GABRIEL + PIPE AND ROW @liaterni & @saragabrielveils & @pipeandrow
venue TYE HOUSE + LAKE WENATCHEE @tyehaus models JOHNNY & MAE @johnnyandmae + AUTUMN @autumnjohnson
A huge thanks to a local, favorite company of ours, Artifact Uprising, for helping us print our Winter 2018 Stylebooks! Artifact Uprising is an internet-based company that creates tangible products for digital photos, driven by a mission to move stories off your device and into your life. This Colorado start-up is known for a product suite that is beautiful in both its minimalistic design and eco-friendly roots. Signature products include their instagram-friendly photo books, whose interior pages are printed on 100% recylced paper, beautifully bound hardcover photo books, and their collection of wooden products handcrafted with mountain bettle pine. Everone has a story to tell, tell yours at www.artifactuprising.com.