Arizona Bride Magazine
Styled Photoshoot for Arizona Bride Magazine’s Fall/Winter 2023 Publication
Venue on the Mesa | Sedona, Arizona
Photos by Carmela Joy Photography
When initially brainstorming for this photoshoot, we looked to recent trends to see what the future of weddings might hold. We noticed a correlation to certain decades over the last couple of years, starting with the boho-inspired flair of the ‘60s and transitioning into the disco-infused funk from the ‘70s. So, we instantly knew we wanted to draw inspiration from the ‘80s! Not in a permed-bangs and 400-pounds-of-wedding-dress-fabric type of way, but in a sleek, sophisticated, very now iteration of the theme. The ‘80s were all about “bigger”: big sleeves, big hair, big gowns, big cakes, and even bigger guest lists. What a wonderful correlation to the larger shift going on in the post-pandemic wedding world, in which we’re moving away from the downsized micro weddings of the early 2020’s and back into bigger, blown-out affairs. We wanted everything to be GRAND - from the attire to the twinkle tent and even the 5-foot-tall wedding cake. Our location was the grandest of them all, miles above the hustle and bustle of downtown Sedona, Arizona where the theme for this shoot became crystal clear: ELEVATE. We were physically elevated above the city but also wanted to prove that you can have an extremely elevated design in a very unexpected location. This is a quintessential “Black Tie Optional” event - where elevated, unexpected events for desert-loving couples are thoughtfully planned, brilliantly designed, and embrace the natural beauty of the Southwest.
