If the sunnier climes up North this summer have given you a taste for the sun drenched, carefree life, then we have the perfect styled shoot for you today, as we transport you to California to provide inspo for that other big day in your life – your hen do!
Led by Natasha, stylist and creator at planning and styling company Want That Invite, the shoot is a dreamy, colourful affair bursting with fun factor – everything we could want from our celebrations with our girl squad in tow!
There are gorgeous prints, palm trees (of course), rainbow bright cocktails, balloons and cake pops to get the party vibes in full swing. And it all takes place in a back garden in the North West of the UK, no less – so no airfare required! We’re just wondering if we even need the excuse of hosting a hen do to recreate this beauty ourselves?!
With images by Cherished Memories Photography. Model: Sophie Baines
natasha says
: We decided to create this shoot to show our clients what can be achieved in their own back gardens. With the help of us at Want That Invite, and our dream team of suppliers we can transform any space to suit their needs.California is a popular hen party destination, but this is not always easy to get to (think money, flights and getting everybody to commit). So, instead, we decided to bring California to the UK!
Our colour scheme was inspired by Palm Springs’ architecture; think pastel pinks paired with geometric shapes. The shoot’s overarching theme is California dreaming with a ‘party in Palm Springs’ concept.
We wanted the party to be relatable and to show what’s possible with the help of a planner and stylist. We selected a colleague’s garden as the venue for the shoot, which was fairly neutral with pastel grey fences and no bold flowers or decor. We knew it was the ideal spot for our shoot as we loved the different areas available. There was a grassed area for the picnic, decking for a seating area and also a great long fence for the Photo Booth (supplied by Vivalabooth) to go in front of. It wasn’t overpowered by bushes or trees, which meant our styling was the focal point.
A variety of styling elements were taken into consideration when designing this shoot – from the patterns on the picnic rugs, to the colours of the placemats and cushions. Modern elements were introduced with the use of gold cutlery and Perspex name-tags and signage, with stationery supplied by Ever After Paperie and favours from Team Hen.
Beautiful fresh florals were introduced to add pops of colour to the picnic table, the drinks cart and even in the bride-to-be’s hair, supplied by the talented Milly Davey Flowers. Even the desserts, crafted by Honeywell Bakes and Polka Pops, were styled to match with the theme – think palm trees and pineapples.
We wanted the attire for the shoot to be relaxed, fun and realistic to what would be worn to a garden party. But we wanted to add a statement piece, which is why we decided to get Bee Davies Illustration involved. She created a bespoke denim ‘Miss to Mrs’ jacket to add to the relaxed atmosphere.
The makeup was kept natural with a healthy tan and pretty glow (as if the models were in the real Palm Springs). This was the same for the hair, with gorgeous beach waves to complement the statement headpiece created by Milly Davies.
After some last-minute hiccups, the shoot went really well. We fought with the weather (you cannot always guarantee the English sunshine!), but we got the shots and were all really happy with the outcome.
Each supplier had a lot of fun getting to know each other and combining our efforts to get shots that included all of our work.
Our desired aim was to transport readers to sunny and colourful California through a fun and sophisticated styled shoot for a backyard hen party. We wanted to make people aspire to create their own version for their special event. The overall vibe was relaxed, sassy and fun, which I think we definitely achieved!
Every single supplier who participated in the shoot was absolutely lovely and super talented in their very own way. They all have their own niche and are absolutely smashing it in the wedding and events industry. We would personally recommend their services to anybody thinking about planning a wedding or special occasion.
We have our new Want That Invite site launching at the end of July which is definitely something to watch out for! In the meantime, everyone can follow our Instagram and Facebook for updates.
