I’ve never met a styled shoot I didn’t want to swoon, but this Kentucky Derby bridal shower takes that love to a whole new level. And what’s even better than playful pastels, pretty pink florals and those wide brimmed hats are the vendors who pulled it all together. I’m talking creatives like Lauren Wells, Pollen Floral Design and Cambria Grace who brought this detail-driven inspiration shoot to life. Spend your morning in the full gallery of gal pal goodness and you’ll see why this, my dears, is one for the books.
From Lauren Wells Events: We loved the idea of a Kentucky Derby themed bridal shower for so many reasons… it would allow us to play with all the beautiful pastel colors that are perfect for spring, it would let us use real, live horses as models, and Krissy from Pollen would get to go nuts with floral hats and garlands!
For the colors, we incorporated peach, mint, yellow, pale pink and lavender, with accents of silver (julep cups) and gold (DIY elements). With the Derby being in Kentucky and all, we knew velvet. Vintage and lace would really capture that Southern vibe. We used mismatched vintage seating and china, and loads of milk glass for the vessels. We also found the most perfect venue for the shoot, aptly titled “Inn on the Horse Farm.”
The mint julep bar was a fun and classic element, with the praline and bourbon-infused naked cake and bourbon-bacon-coffee-caramel popcorn adding a fun twist to some traditional sweets. To go with the Derby’s “running of the roses,” we used rose lemonades as the non-alcoholic drinks. Being a huge fan of puns, we worked with Alaina at Cheer Up Press to design the beautiful paper goods, such as the “sure bet” invitation and the “mint to be” cocktail sign. We also had fun with a few DIY projects, such as the lace doily lanterns strung from the tree, the gold horse place cards, the wood horseshoe sign, and of course some drink stirrers – what is a party without some cute drink stirrers? The shoot was an absolute blast, and perfect inspiration for a wedding, a shower, or any spring-time party!
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Wedding Photography: Cambria Grace Photography | Planning + Design: Lauren Wells Events | Floral Design: Pollen Floral Design | Venue: Inn on the Horse Farm | Rentals: New England Country Rentals | Hair + Makeup: Kacie Corbelle Makeup Artistry | Paper: Cheer Up Press | Cake: Jenny’s Wedding Cakes | Popcorn: Liddabit Sweets | Mint Juleps: Flask and Funnel | Tassel Garland: The Flair Exchange | Necklaces: Bobbles and Lace | Mint Dress: Mint Julep | Peach Dress: Bobbles and Lace