Marion Heurteboust is the talented lady behind the lens, who not only took these gorgeous images but also styled the shoot, handmade the veils and used freshly picked flowers from her garden for the bouquets! For the birdcage veils, Marion gathered white fabric to create flowers then attached a small piece of tulle / polka dot netting.

Shot in two idyllic locations, these images will have you daydreaming about romantic trips to France, walking through fields of flowers and passing by beautifully cracked grey, ivory clad walls. The model is such a stunning, natural beauty and her pale pink, silk, tiered dress (from H& M!) would make a perfect bridesmaids dress don't you think?

I can't tell you how much I adore these images…

The blush pink dress, grey background, white florals and the fresh green of the ivy work so perfectly together. (It reminds me a little of this beautiful wedding.)

Many thanks to Marion Heurteboust for sharing her stunning photography. To see more of her work, check out this beachy chic engagement session I featured a few months ago with the prettiest, vintage, ruffly red dress.

A pal getting married is such an exciting time in a group of friends.

Even though I'm not having bridesmaids, ever since I got engaged, my friends, who had never seemed like they were that into weddings before, have really gotten behind me, chatting about hairstyles and gushing over dress options like we were teenagers again.

And it's been a lot of fun!

Which is why this ‘Will You Be My Bridesmaid?‘ brunch shoot, by Colby Elizabeth Photography and Purple Summer Events, is such a special one.

With playful flower crowns, a pretty brunch spread, and cute DIYs, whether you're popping the question to your own gang of girls (or boys) or planning a bridal shower for a BFF bride, this shoot is brimming with sweet ideas and swoon-worthy style.

Scroll down to feel the friendship love (and then call your friends afterwards!), but first up, read a little more about the idea behind this bridesmaid brunch from Abbey of Purple Summer Events…

From The Stylist

This whimsical “Will You Be My Bridesmaid” styled shoot focuses on a piece of a bride's life we don't see very often: her friends, the importance of her lasting friendships, and how those friendships have contributed to her journey, her engagement, and her eventual marriage.

After all, none of us would get very far without our girls standing by us!

Dreaming up this shoot made me feel like a kid again.  Growing up, the part I loved most about fantasizing over my future wedding wasn't the prince who would one day sweep me off my feet, my flower centerpieces, or that aisle moment.  

Instead, I loved the thrill of daydreaming about my wedding with my girlfriends and in the end, hoping that those same girls would still be my best friends when it was finally my turn to get married.  

Happily, many of those same girls were still by my side when I got engaged, yet they were spread all over the country. When it came time to ask them to be my bridesmaids, I sent each of them a cute package to ask them to be a part of the wedding, but I didn't get to throw the girly soiree I had imagined.  

This styled shoot gave me the opportunity to finally plan the party I wish I could have thrown for my girls.  To the seven lovely ladies who stood next to me on my wedding day, this project is dedicated to you in celebration.

We hope you enjoy the sweetness and whimsy of this “Will you be my Bridesmaid?” brunch!

The Concept

As I began envisioning what this party would look like, I started playing with the idea of mixing girlhood with womanhood, blurring the lines a bit between the simplicity of childhood and the sophistication of adulthood.  

Even though we're at the age where many of us are getting married and moving into new phases of life, my girlfriends and I still like to do the same girls-only things we did when we hung out in elementary or middle school: eat nothing but sweets, braid each other's hair, laugh hysterically, and dream up wedding ideas.  

Hence the extra sweet girly details included in this shoot, including sprinkles, various sweets and candies, feathers, ribbon, and the blooming apple trees of Ya Ya Farm & Orchard as the backdrop.

The DIY Details

I wanted the party to appear handmade but classy, as if the bride played a hands-on part in every piece of decor.

DIY elements such as the glitter-coated feathers, the hand lettered calligraphy sign, and the burlap “She Chose Us” garland helped achieve that organic “home-grown” feel.

The Wedding Vendors

This vision would not have been complete without the help of all our contributing vendors and the ethereal quality of the resulting photographs from Colby Elizabeth Photography.  

Whimsical elements pictured include the handmade beetle plank farmhouse table from Old Wood Soul, the overflowing floral arrangements and crowns from Ladybird Poppy, the custom cookies, cake, and other sweet treats from Baker Loves Cake, the beautiful letterpress “Will You Be My Bridesmaid” cards from Chatham and Caron, and the table settings and other vignettes (pink velvet love seat, ladder, quilts, etc.) from Good Ol'-Fashioned Party.  

The models wore chic boho clothing and accessories from Rustic Thread and were styled to perfection by makeup artist Kacey Clark and hair stylist Brittani Estes. 

‘She Chose Us!' Isn't it sweet? So many fun ideas, and I just love the idea of throwing a brunch for your friends after you get engaged, it's a great way to show them nothing's going to change in your friendship!

Anyone else off to call their girls?

Thanks so much to Colby Elizabeth Photography, Abbey Purple Summer Events and the rest of the talented vendors for sharing this bridesmaid brunch!

Get more unique ideas for Bridal Showers + Bachelorette Parties. 

Think pretty florals, beautiful hair and make-up, a dash of romance, and some seriously stunning style.

Styled by Elizabeth Anne Designs and Coastal Bride for Aisle Society and photographed by Kelly Sauer, this shoot was created in collaboration with purveyors of dreamy bridal party attire, Plum Pretty Sugar.  

If you're a dedicated follower of Bridal Musings on Instagram or Pinterest, you'll know that when it comes to Plum Pretty Sugar and its sister brand, PPS Couture, we are, officially, obsessed.

With cute rompers, robes, and loungewear, Plum Pretty Sugar create soft, garden-inspired pieces, that not only look beautiful in your pre-wedding pics, but will be worn on your honeymoon, on lazy Sundays as a newlywed, perhaps nursing your newborn in that early haze, and into married life as a chic keepsake from your big day.

They also make the most thoughtful (and gorgeous!) gift for your bridesmaids, mum, or anyone else at your wedding that you want to make feel extra special!

PPS Couture is a bridesmaid collection, inspired by Plum Pretty Sugar, with the most dreamy gowns, that you can mix and match for your girls.

With feminine florals, flowing silhouettes, and flattering necklines, each gown is handcrafted in the USA using delicate silk and silk chiffon.

Whether your wedding is set to be bohemian, classic, or quirky, these versatile gowns can be styled with almost any backdrop, with enchanting styles and functional details (dresses with pockets are one of our very favourite things!).

So, now that we have you thoroughly sold on our love affair with Plum Pretty Sugar and PPS Couture, scroll down to swoon over this beautiful shoot (and don't forget to pin your favourites!)

My oh my, those robes and dresses – aren't they gorgeous?

We got to see the PPS Couture collection up close at New York Bridal Fashion Week, and those bridesmaid dresses are even more light and airy than they look in the pictures.

Thanks so much to the team at Aisle Society, Kelly Sauer, Plum Pretty Sugar, and the rest of the talented vendors behind this shoot for sharing it with us. 

Visit the Plum Pretty Sugar website to see more of their pretty pieces!

Blushing bride, Lilly, is just 11 years old while her husband, John, is 35. They were wed in a beautiful ceremony filled with roses, ribbons and tears.

Lilly took the day off school so that the couple could make use of the mid-week discount at their wedding venue – not that disrupting her studies really matters as Lilly won't be going back to school this September. She'll have far more pressing matters to deal with such as keeping house and rearing children in her new role as John's wife.

On the day of the wedding, John beamed proudly at his new bride, while Lilly waved goodbye to her family, her education and her childhood.

Without further ado let's take a peek at this gorgeous wedding shall we?

Not All Weddings Have Happily Ever Afters

15 million girls across the world are forced into marriage before adulthood every year.

Shocking isn't it?

As wedding bloggers we discuss the love, joy and beauty of weddings on a daily basis but for the millions of young girls who are forced into marriage, a wedding isn’t a joyous occasion – it’s a violation of their human rights, often marking the end of their education, their dreams for the future and their childhood.

These children become wives and mothers before they're emotionally or physically ready and without sufficient healthcare provision, complications during pregnancy are all too common, sometimes resulting in the tragic deaths of mothers and babies.

A Collaboration With UNICEF

This shoot and film are part of a campaign we collaborated on with UNICEF to help raise awareness about child marriage. And we couldn't think of a better time to share it with you than on International Women's Day, a day when women, girls and gender equality are at the forefront of our minds.

Child marriage is not limited to any one religion, country, culture or region. It's a global problem affecting millions of young girls and their families around the world.

If current trends continue, the total number of women married in childhood will grow from more than 700 million today to 950 million –almost 1 billion women – by 2030.

UNICEF

What a truly horrendous prospect.

How Can You Help?

A girl who is married as a child is more likely to be out of school, experience domestic violence and become infected with HIV/AIDS.  She is more likely to have children when she herself is still a child, and is far more likely to die due to complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

Please show your support for ending child marriage by helping to spread the word about these devastating effects.

Share this post and/or the video above to help UNICEF raise awareness for this important cause. Every Facebook share, Tweet, Pin or Instagram post will help make a difference.

<< You can use the social buttons to the left of this post for an easy way to share with your friends and followers.

Please use the hashtag #EndChildMarriage to draw further attention to this worthy cause. Let's get it trending guys!

Share To Show Your Support

Feel free to use any of the images below on your social channels to help spread the word! (Just click on the image – it'll open up nice and big, then right click and download to share as you wish.)

Alternatively, simply re-share the posts below.

(We want to make it as easy as possible for you to spread the word far and wide!)

Sadly ever after. One girl’s wedding video: https://t.co/4ceDJrmiWr #endchildmarriage

— UNICEF (@UNICEF) March 8, 2016

Not every bride gets her happily ever after… #endchildmarriage #InternationalWomensDay pic.twitter.com/qPmsY5YxEI — Bridal Musings (@BridalMusings) March 8, 2016

 

A photo posted by Bridal Musings (@bridalmusings) on Mar 8, 2016 at 11:34am PST

Thank You

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this post, we realise it's a sensitive and disturbing topic but we think it's something that needs to be discussed.

The majority of our readers are fortunate enough to marry for love or have the option to chose not to marry at all – lets stand up for the girls who don't get a choice.

To find out more please read this post on Bridal Musings featuring stories and quotes from real child brides. And be sure to head over to UNICEF to see how the charity is working towards the sustainable development goal of ending child marriage by 2030.

Credits

None of this would have been possible without the incredibly talented and generous vendors below. We are so grateful to each and every one of them for being part of this campaign:

Shoot Coordinator & Stylist: Always Andri Wedding Design / Photographer: Claire Graham Photography / Videography: Studio 1208 / Video Music by SuRie & Nick Bentley of Studio 1208/ Venue: Nonsuch Mansion / Special Thanks To: Coco Wedding Venues / Stationery: Kate Ruth Romey / Cake Designer: Olofson Design / Wedding Dress: Rock the Frock Bridal / Suit:Alexandra Wood Bespoke / Bridal Accessories: Kelly Spence / Florist: Elizabeth Marsh Floral Design / Linens: Table To Dine For / Hair and Makeup: Jo Irvin Love Hair / Aisle Runner & Chair Covers: Stress Free Hire / Assistant Stylist: Gemma Hallett / Art Direction: Elizabeth & Claire of Bridal Musings

So much thought, care and attention to detail was put into this utterly gorgeous event but I wouldn't expect anything less from the multi-talented Natalie Spencer!

Natalie is a couture cake maker turned photographer, a crafty DIYer and I think you'll agree after seeing these photos of this engagement party she organised with her friend Katie, an incredible event stylist too!

Natalie's thoughts on the shoot:

When Katie and I found out that our best friend Alex would be getting engaged soon we started planning the engagement party. Katie and I love all things wedding and pretty…We had a vision of white and of course, a bit of pink, feminine and soft. We wanted desserts and drinks and a fun little celebration for our Alex.

This was a 100% DIY party! We made all of the white desserts, piped each ‘love' cookie and macaron, made the doily banners, felt heart straws, and invitations. My mom helped with arranging the perfect pink peonies, and other arrangements in my favourite milk glasses.

And here's the beautiful bride to be, Alex, getting some practice in of holding a bouquet.

Wow! Alex is lucky to have such fabulous friends!

These DIY details could easily be adapted for weddings ~ those felt heart stripy straws are the cutest and that Doily cake topper ~ such a simple yet effective idea. I love it!

Which DIY details did you like best?

Thanks so much to Natalie of Natalie Spencer Photography for sharing these beautiful images today ~ check out her previous features on Bridal Musings here {cookies and cakes} and here {vintage winter wonderland inspiration shoot}.

Whether you're planning an engagement party, a bridal shower, or a casual poolside wedding, this shoot is laden down with ideas for healthy catering, a one of a kind cake (cheese please!) and bright decor.

Photographed by Alex Nardulli and designed by Saving Grace Occasions, with watermelons, flamingos and emojis, this shoot was always going to be one after our own hearts!

Before you scroll down to check out this fun shoot, read more about the inspiration behind it, from Grace Freeman of Saving Grace Occasions.

About the Shoot

Some of my favorite things about summer are poolside parties, delicious treats and fresh fruit and veggies.

At one of my recent trips to the local farmers market, I was picking out the perfect watermelon when inspiration hit me: My next project would pay tribute to the summer fruit that cures even my most intense cravings and keeps me cool all the while: watermelon!

Not only is watermelon delicious, but its also pretty — and I've always wanted to make a watermelon cake!

With notices of summer engagements popping up more and more on my Facebook feed lately, I knew this was my chance: I was going to plan an engagement party shoot geared towards fresh & fun summer colors, cuisine and trends.

Brainstorming a light dinner to enjoy before indulging in out guilt-free alternative to sugary cake, I thought I'd create a zoodle bar for the occasion. “Noodles”, or zucchini noodles, are a creative and healthy replacement for pasta. There are TONS of recipes for you to try. 

Bright colors, a real-life couple as sweet as can be, and fun additions like this Forever 21 ear cuff and a DIY cocktail umbrella backdrop made for a perfect evening by the pool.

To top it off, you know we had to put a bird on it. We couldn't possibly leave out the flamingo floatie!

Summer Lovin', had me a blast…

Isn't it fun? That cake is such a good idea for a health-conscious couple, and those emoji photobooth props are pretty cool too, don't you think?

Thanks so much to Alex Nardulli and Saving Grace Occasions for sharing their summery engagement party inspiration with us!

Get more Unique Ideas for your Bash. 

The first time Elizabeth and I (Claire here BTW!) set eyes on this stunning inspiration shoot for the latest Sophie Sarfati wedding dress collection, we literally gasped at the gorgeousness.

The photographs by Yann Audic of Life Stories Wedding Photography are stunningly beautiful and the artistic direction by La Fiance Du Panda, is just perfect.

But what we adore most about this shooting d'inspiration is how it captures that palpable, effortless, irresistible Parisian style.

If you're a fan of simple style and dreamy detailing, you're going to fall head over heels for Sophie Sarfati's captivating slip gowns, beautiful lace embellishments, and uniquely-shaped styles. As for the lingerie by Madame Aime, it's simultaneously irresistible, and adorable.

The shoot itself, inspired by pre-wedding prep in a Parisian apartment (with views over the Sacré Coeur), is pretty, playful, entirely sophisticated and impossibly chic.

As we said up top, get set to swoon…

Pretty gorgeous, right? I just love French wedding dress designers at the moment. Designers like Elise Hameau and Rime Arodaky are joining Sophie Sarfati with beautiful dresses that are simple and elegant, while still being really fashion forward and unusual too.

For more information on Sophie Sarfati and her stunning wedding dresses, visit her website, and follow her beautiful blog, Plumetis & Stilletoe.

Looking for your dream wedding dress, see more stunning designer collections.