“Details matter,” said photographer Anna Behning, as she and a few members of her team looked over the final images from a styled shoot they had put together last February.
Behning and her team have titled the project “classic vintage shoot,” featuring a handful of talented Sioux Falls, Marshall, and Brookings vendors.
For these women, working together to create something meaningful to show future brides was the inspiration.
That, and combining their creativity to put together a fresh look for the bridal scene.
“The goal is to show couples what is attainable, what they can see and get ideas from,” said Behning, “but also just show the realness of the wedding industry and the trends going on.”
The theme for the shoot was Behning’s brainchild.
“I wanted to make it feel very classy and timeless with the black and white, like a black tie event,” she said.
BEHNING ON TRENDS
A wedding on trend on the rise is having your guests be in a dress code that matches your décors color palette.
With smaller details, such as the floral arrangements by Island Floral, and some ’60s inspired heart-shaped sunglasses, Behning said the shoot also took on a vintage feel.
Sarah Snodgrass from Beetle Blue Creations explained that the vision for the shoot was both specific and open to collaboration from the vendors.
“It’s really fun working with Anna on shoots,” said Snodgrass. “She gives me creative freedom of like, ‘Here’s the idea, here’s the feeling, here’s the vibe behind this. You go with it.’”
“With a styled shoot, I always aim to show people what can be done, and that the vendors can create a vision perfectly for you.”
Anna Behning | Anna Behning Photography
Snodgrass’ touch was two custom hand-stitched veils for the bride. Behning said that the delicate blusher veil, which came down over the bride’s face, added to the timeless feel.
“You don’t see that very much anymore,” reflected Behning. “It made for such creative photos.”
Snodgrass can also take older veils and update them to incorporate something old or something borrowed into a bride’s wedding day. As Snodgrass says, “The sky is the limit.”
“My goal for each wedding is to make sure that every couple feels like they got the full Farmhouse experien”It’s the special details that make any wedding yours.” ce.”
Renee Bauman | Hitch Studios
Behning said she picked her vendors strategically, looking for a team who, like Snodgrass, consistently go above and beyond with their work.
“All of these people are very organized and willing to go the extra mile for the couple, and they do a great job,” said Behning.
The couple was real life sweethearts Cody Johnson and Chessa Harrington, the latter of which runs her own beauty salon, Pretty Baby 605.
Planner Renee Bauman from Hitch Studio brought an on-trend approach to the stationery and décor.
“A new trend that I think brides would enjoy is white ink on black paper. Or putting black ink on black paper, which is called tone-on-tone,” she said.
During the shoot, Bauman helped utilize the space at The Atrium at Blue Haven in a way that showed off the venue and brought variety to the photos.
The team was not only able to shoot in the reception hall, but also in the hallway, by the bar, and by the fireplace.
“There were so many little pockets of the room to take photos of,” said Bauman.
“We have no middle men and love the fact that the two of us are super involved and available to our couples from day one.”
Amy Gustafson
Behning says that these little touches were what made the shoot stand out. Even the jewelry from Faini Designs was selected purposefully, to match the bride’s Ellie Stone Bride gown.
“The rectangle shape of the diamond cut made the ring feel upscale and timeless, and the earrings and bracelet brought together every little piece of detail on the model,” said Behning.
At the end of the shoot, Behning said the team ate the cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes.
A Talented Team
BLACK CHARGERS & SETTEE // Ideal Tent & Events Rentals
CAKE // Nothing Bundt Cakes
SIOUX FALLS CUSTOM VEILS // Beetle Blue Creations
FLORALS // Island Floral
HAIR // Amanda Black & The Factory by Jake Blow Co.
JEWELRY // Faini Designs
MAKEUP // Shelon Artistry
NAPKINS & GOLD CANDLE HOLDERS // Party Depot
PLANNING & PHOTOGRAPHY // Anna Behning Photography
STATIONERY PRINTING // Allegra Brookings
STATIONERY, DÉCOR, & BACKDROP // Hitch Studio
TUX //J.H. & Sons
VENUE // The Atrium at Blue Haven
VIDEOGRAPHY // Maddie Rust Visual
WEDDING GOWNS // Ellie Stone Bride
MODELS // Chessa Harrington & Cody Johnson
“We were dead-tired, but there was a moment of ‘woohoo, we did it,’ and then we got to eat the cake,” she laughed.
Bauman says that this camaraderie was evident throughout the shoot, and that all the vendors were really rooting for each other.
“That’s the beauty of our industry,” she said. “We’re never truly competitors because we’re going to see each other at all of these events and work really well together, and it makes me smile.”
For more information, visit annabehning.com+
