Rustic Glam Fall Inspired Styled Shoot | Waldorf, MN

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For Couples

Photo: Kamra Joosten Photography

When Kamra Joosten Photography asked me to help her with a styled shoot, I of course said YES! I immediately jumped into planning a simple, thoughtful, and beautiful styled shoot. I wanted to feature some vendors that we don’t get the chance to work with as often and most importantly, I wanted to shoot at a NEW venue. Somewhere rustic, with lots of space, and lots of detail. I had seen a new venue advertised last winter around the time the bridal show happened, so off to google I went, and lo and behold, the perfect space was found. I searched for a model, picked out the gown, even got a local caterer involved and away we went. Styled shoots give photographers a chance to practice, models get portfolio content, venues receive images, hair and makeup artists get to try new things, caterers get to show off, bridal stores get exposure for their dress lines, and planners and designers get to dream up new and fun things and help everyone grow.

Photo: Kamra Joosten Photography

The venue selected for the shoot has just opened this year and it is everything a couple getting married could want in a venue! JR’s Barn is located in Waldorf, Minnesota. The barn was built in 1912 and sits on the family farm property, currently in it’s 4th generation of family ownership.

Photo: Kamra Joosten Photography

The work that has been put in to this place is so incredible, and I can’t wait to see the rest of the couple that say I Do on these grounds, adding to it’s legacy of love. The owners Joel and Renae were married on the property in 1989!

Photo: Kamra Joosten Photography

It is a perfect location as it is close to several larger cities in Southern MN- seriously, they are just 30-35 miles from Owatonna, Mankato, and Albert Lea! Talk about centrally located! So awesome for couples looking for a convenient location to hold their ceremony and reception. Shuttles are so affordable, and I highly recommend not sacrificing style and amenities, to be closer to town. This venue has the sweetest owners, and they have poured their heart into remodeling and renovating over the last year to make sure every space and detail is intentional and special for their clients. They have brand new bathrooms, a show stopping bridal suite with AC and makeup mirrors, a groom’s room, space for catering, gorgeous social areas including a balcony with a view of the entire property, dining space and of course plenty of room for a good old fashioned barn dance!

Photo: Kamra Joosten Photography

Nicole from Karizma was on the scene to do some elegant hair and makeup for our “Bride”. It was fun to utilize the Bride’s Room on the property! I told Nicole to go wild, and handed over the hair accessory I had selected for the shoot. I don’t like to give my vendors too much direction for styled shoots, because I want them to be able to show off and put their stamp on the shoot. That’s what makes it so fun!

I love the way our “Bride’s” look came together, a subtle smokey eye, a pop of color on the lips, and a gorgeous and elegant bridal hairstyle. Our model Maddie Cook was a real trooper as we dragged her all over the farm for photos, she was so stunning.

The girls at Inspire Bridal Boutique were so kind and let me come and select a gorgeous gown to use for the shoot. Brittany had literally just pulled this Watters stunner out of the box and as soon as I laid eyes on all that gorgeous beading I was in LOVE. Inspire has recently gotten in some new bridal lines, and they really have some gorgeous gowns. I could sit in there and stare at all the sparkles all day long and I don’t think I’d ever get tired of it.

I wanted to focus the shoot mainly on the outside space and the barn itself so I did a simple tablescape using the backdrop at JR’s and some gold sequined linens from By Design in Mankato, seriously I am a sucker for anything with a sparkle and these linens were soooo pretty, with just a little (or a lot) of eucalyptus and some candles, a gorgeous table was made. I am a linen fanatic. I truly believe that if you use a gorgeous table linen, you can keep your table decor super simple and end up with a stunning design for your big day.

I designed a floral bouquet with lots of greenery (helloooo eucalyptus), plum dahlias, peach hypericum berries, and a deep plum scabiosa.

One of my favorite details from the shoot was the pie bar! Lacey’s Catering whipped up the most beautiful pies I have ever seen for the shoot! I have never imagined such beautiful details on a pie, like tiny leaves for the crust of the pumpkin pie, or a braid of crust circling the apple pie, and of course who doesn’t love a classic lattice crust on a cherry pie?! I think this is such a fun idea for a wedding, especially one held in a rustic barn in the fall. Also, I may or may not have eaten most of that blueberry crumble pie, and I have no regrets about it. It was DELISH! Lacey’s does baking for holiday’s, so keep that in mind!