Ethereal Inspiration Shoot At Lan Su Garden

Rosie Haney
July 15, 2014
Categories: Photo Shoot, The Blog
Tags: Inspiration Shoot

Everything I see from Portland has this ethereal vibe to it, and this shoot at the Lan Su Chinese Garden is certainly locked in rhythm. Every element is breathtaking from the braided updo by Cassandra Kennedy Beauty, to the crisp flowers from The Green Dandelion. Food in Bloom even provided a recipe for the a cool Cucumber Saketinis below. So whip one up, and see all Corinne Krogh Photography‘s pictures here.

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From Corinne Krogh Photography… The beautiful setting of the Lan Su Chinese Garden in downtown Portland, was the inspiration for this bridal shoot. Instead of focusing on the cultural elements of the garden (which are all fantastic, educational, and beautiful), we decided to show how a specialized venue could be used for something other than it’s main focus. The garden did not disappoint! Here in the rainy Pacific Northwest it’s important to choose a venue with a back up plan for bad weather, and with a large percentage of the garden being covered it was an easy choice. The dark rock, layers of texture, water features, and the hand laid mosaic pebble floor all made for amazing backdrops around the property. Since the artisans that created the garden put such care and attention into the details, we really didn’t have to add anything to make it beautiful. Lea, who will be getting married later this year, wore two dresses as inspiration. She chose a the beautiful Ortensia gown from BHLDN with an intricately designed back and flowing skirt. The other dress was a stunner from a local designer, Holly Stalder, who is well known for her gorgeous gowns. Our hair and makeup artist, Cassandra Kennedy, created a loose updo that could be changed quickly to include two looks for the different gowns, and we went with a more dramatic look with the makeup to match the tones of the garden. To tie it all together we brought in stunning florals by The Green Dandelion who played off the neutral tones and added a few pops of color in a unique arrangement. For a signature drink, Food in Bloom shared the recipe for a delicious Cucumber Sakini, a popular drink at the venue for summer weddings. Everything came together beautifully, a perfect evening of celebration in an oasis, tucked away in the middle of the bustling city.

Cucumber Saketinis

Makes 2 drinks

Generous 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped fine

8 ounces dry sake

2 teaspoons sugar

2 juicy lime wedges

2 paper thin slices cucumber, unpeeled, for garnish

Fill two martini glasses with ice and water to quickly chill. Add the cucumber to a cocktail shaker and muddle, as if making a mojito. Add sake and sugar; squeeze in the juice of the two lime wedges. Fill shaker with ice and shake vigorously. If you’re not in a rush, let it sit for 1 to 2 minutes. Discard the ice water in your martini glasses. Shake again and strain saketini mixture into glasses. Float a cucumber slice in each drink and enjoy.