Flora and Fauna Wedding Inspiration

Flora and fauna — what better inspiration for a beautiful outdoor celebration? Today’s styled shoot from the talented team of Michelle Chiu Photography, Darling Event & Co., and Martha Claire Floral brings together a wedding day vignette inspired by antique botany and zoology illustrations, which you can see right away in the invitation suite. Add in some stunning copper elements, and you’ve got a positively enviable look!

From the event designer, Tara of Darling Event & Co.: Our main inspiration stemmed from antique botany and zoology illustrations. These detailed, accurate, hand-crafted drawings and paintings are nods to all that weddings represent: a focus on deep realities and a quest for truth, all the while showcasing something incredibly gorgeous. These antique illustrations are often completed in jewel tones – vibrant and rich, without ever feeling too bold. Using this same palette, Martha Claire Floral brought in a variety of large blooms with lots of textures and greenery, creating that same mood. Her whimsical combination of oversized ferns with dahlias and garden roses almost demands a scientific examination. The bride’s simple hair bouquet is reminiscent of a day spent outside, just soaking up all of nature’s bounty.

Her color palette was mimicked and highlighted by BorrowedBlu with all the tabletop goods. Their team also brought in another element from the natural world: copper. All the metal accents featured are copper – from the modern terrariums from Anthropologie to the oversized version of these terrariums made to be the ceremony ‘arch’ installation (designed and built by Tara at Darling Event & Co). With details from calligrapher Leah Moss, an equally beautiful and delicious dessert spread from Sweet & Saucy Shop, a gown from Watters Wtoo, and beauty done by Nicol Artistry Makeup & Hair, this day truly represented all that’s wonderful about Flora & Fauna.

The whole shoot was envisioned, curated, and brought together by me, Tara, of Darling Event & Co. It’s an honor to have worked with such a talented team, some of whom I met as fellow attendees at Angel Swanson’s inaugural Love & Splendor workshops, and others through the power of this incredible industry. The connections of a solid vendor team make all the difference, even for a stylized shoot, but especially for a bride preparing for her big day.