Two Hats Ranch

Shoot Simply

0 · Apr 17, 2017 ·

Mark your calendars, May 20^th I’m going to be a part of a really awesome event with Emilee Mae Photography and want to invite all of my lovely photographer friends (old, new & those who I haven’t met yet!) to be a part. Shoot Simply is a one day workshop/styled shoot opened to photographers of all skill levels looking to enhance their portfolios.

I’ll be creating two gorgeous tabletop concepts to photograph along with a custom floral installation. Also included in the shoot will be cakes and sweets from Coco Renee, invitations and paper products from Lana’s Lettering, plus a gorgeous bride and groom model who will be decked out in attire from Ali Nicole Bridal with hair and makeup done by Makeup by Jackie Green.

If you’ve ever wanted to plan a styled shoot but aren’t quite sure how to plan one on your own, then register.

If you want to practice styling details and attempting new poses but never seem to have time to experiment with new things on an actual wedding day, then register.

If you’d like to network with others in the wedding industry and gain a new perspective on photography and the type of photos that other vendors hope you’ll share with them, then register.

I’ll be onsite all day to assist in all your floral, planning and styling questions and Emilee of Emilee Mae Photography will be there to answer all questions photography related. Two Hats Ranch, a rustically elegant hunting lodge and nature retreat (just 50 minutes north of Grand Rapids) will be playing host and providing picturesque woodland backdrops. Lunch by the lodge’s gourmet chef (and my hubby!) and sweet nibbles from Coco Renee Specialty Baking will also be provided for all who attend.

Two Hats Ranch Wedding | The Day's Design | Emilee Mae Photography

Seats are limited and early bird pricing ends May 1st. To register, head to Emilee Mae’s page, here.

REDISCOVER your passion for photography
REVAMP your brand and portfolio
RELAX and make new friends and photograph pretty things

Hope you see you there!

Real Weddings :: Cassie & Jim Wed at Two Hats Ranch

1 · Mar 31, 2017 ·

Every now and then I browse through trend reports and glance at what the “experts” are expecting to be big new fads for the upcoming wedding seasons. I read one such article not too long ago that mentioned that the influx of animals into weddings and wedding photography was going to be huge in 2017. And I thought, what an interesting but sort of fun, trend. Then I realized how ahead of the curve my brides actually have been on this note. I had a zoo wedding awhile back, in which the goats tried to eat her bridal bouquet. There was a gorgeous celebration at Misty Farms where I was greeted by a sheep on my first visit, a cat sat on my lap and the bride rode bareback on a horse (this one’s coming to Style Me Pretty soon, so stay tuned for that!). Finally, there’s the one I’m sharing with you today at a whitetail deer ranch, complete with all sorts of horses and hunter’s delights in the woods of northern central Michigan.

I love small and intimate weddings. While I absolutely understand the need for something on the larger scale, small really capture my heart. There were just under forty guests who gathered at the family owned ranch. Chairs were placed in the woods as guests were greeted in southern style with sips of refreshing sweet tea. Vows were exchanged under an arbor of foraged greens while the bride’s father sat with her bouquet on his lap, which was a moment I simply loved.

From there, guests mingled inside the ranch as the rain started pouring down. Dinner was served on a covered patio with bistro lights, seersucker napkins and lots of candles and lush blooms. I shared some of the behind the scenes of this wedding earlier this week here. The results were a perfectly casual, yet joyful air to the entire day with laughter and love lasting long into the night.

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Cassie and Jim :: The Inspiration

0 · Mar 27, 2017 ·

Wedding at Two Hats Ranch | The Day's Design | Emilee Mae Photography

Photography: Emilee Mae Photography

Cassie and Jim approached me a mere six weeks prior to their chosen wedding day seeking my expertise. They had a venue, a photographer, she had her dress and a date chosen but that was it. It was up to me to wrap up those final details. Some might find this scenerio stressful, but I really like short engagements. There’s less to to second guess decisions and I’m forced to make and plan and stick to it.

One of the things I loved about working with Cassie and Jim is how easy going they are. They had full confidence in my planning abilities and left the details to me. The venue chosen was their family’s white tail deer lodge, Two Hats Ranch. It was full of earthy, browns and wooden details with barn doors and clean rustic appeal. This was the design start point.

From there, I focused on what seemed natural to not only the surroundings, but also to them as a couple. Her family has Texas roots and they’re rarely seen without either cowboy hats or boots, but most likely the men are wearing both. There are horses on the property and antlers everywhere. Wildlife is abundant.

We incorporated gingham, seersucker and linen fabrics all in nod to those southern origins. Guests were greeted with a signature sweet tea. And as a last mintue descision, we swayed from our orginal vision just a touch adding some soft pink tones into the design which then lead us to adding some floral linens, which softened the very masculine space.

Cassie & Jim Mood Board | The Day's Design

Image Sources (top to bottom, left to right): Photography: Taylor Lord Photography via Brides | unknown | unknown | Photography: Fondly Forever Photography via The Wedding Chicks | Photography: Kacie Lynch, Bouquet: Tourtelle Floral via Burnett’s Boards | Photography: Birds of a Feather Photos via Style Me Pretty

This was merely the mood board setting the tone for the celebration. Later this week, I’ll be sharing the full results of how we brought the day to life.

Two Hats Ranch

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