Written by Sarah Petryk/Allium Floral Design: Bethlehem, Pa

TREND ALERT: Tropical Nouveau

There are so many amazing trends coming up in wedding florals right now, and I am absolutely obsessed with TROPICAL NOUVEAU: the stunning combination of romantic, soft, botanical design paired with tropical blooms and greenery (think orchids, ginger flower, proteas, monstera leaves).  In January, we got together with a team of fellow creatives to dive deep into exploring what this trend might look like in a fully designed wedding.

Photography

Douglas Benedict was our photographer. Working with him is such a pleasure. He is immeasurably talented and so helpful when it comes to suggesting how people position themselves to look their best. He is always pushing for images that feel authentic and are composed in a way that feels fresh.

The Location

Dan Schantz Greenhouse in Allentown, Pa was kind enough to let us use their space.  Have you seen their incredible plant selection? (Lots of great mini plants if you are thinking about DIYing terrarium or succulent/airplant centerpieces.) While we wish Dan Schantz would open up in the evenings as an actual venue (hint, hint, if you are reading this, Dan Schantz), we loved the opportunity to photograph in their warm and wonderful space on a frigid January day. All of those lush tropical plants created the ultimate design backdrop.  

Vintage Furniture

Fox and Finch Vintage Rentals of Bethlehem, Pa contributed the furniture, including their newest addition in modern burgundy seating, the Phyllis settee. They always have the perfect collection for the ultimate lounge set up!

Hair and Makeup

This styled session was also a great opportunity to work with Vanesa Oliver of Bethlehem, Pa, a makeup artist who is newer to the Lehigh Valley area. I’d been following her Instagram feed for a while, because I am really into her dramatic before and after transformations. I love that the people in these images are normal people (like us) and she somehow is able to turn them into supermodels.  It’s just incredible. Also, she so graciously agreed to model for us in this shoot!

Jewelry

The jewelry L2 Creations brought was just incredible too.  We love the way MJ.TheStylist layered the necklaces over the bridesmaid dresses.

Bridesmaid Dresses

Our bright pops of color came via those bridesmaid dresses from Bella Bridesmaids in Allentown, Pa. Have you been there yet? So many options!!! The two dresses we featured in this session  were so comfortable and soft and could be worn a number of different, ultra-flattering ways. She has so many great options in her shop, especially if you are doing a mix and match look.

Bridal Gown

We recently had the pleasure of being situated near Posh Bridal at a wedding show and they were so kind to lend us one of their gorgeous lace Wilderly dresses. I got to take a look at her full collection and hear a bit of their story when I brought the dress back to their Lancaster location. The owner Janell, has an outstanding design background and her collection feels so inspired and different from what you see in the corporate stores.

The Cake

Finally-that cake. Tropical fruits really give a perfectly iced simple cake a lift of color, and are a great substitute for florals. Angelo Malpedo from Frosted Chaos made this with a hint of guava in between the vanilla layers for just a touch of color and so much tropical flavor.

Many thanks to all of the vendors and models who participated in this styled session. We are always thrilled to collaborate with fellow creatives and design something that feels fresh and different.  Couples, if you are planning a wedding soon-especially a summer one, talk to your florist about how to combine flowers in a way that feels unusual and modern….a few well placed tropical blooms really make a bouquet and floral design stand out.

|| Location: Dan Schantz Greenhouse || Photographer: Douglas Benedict Photography || Florals and set styling: Allium Floral Design || Styling: MJ.TheStylist || Bridal Gown: Posh Bridal || Bridesmaid Dresses: Bella Bridesmaids || Make Up: Vanesa Oliver Beauty || Hair: Katlyn Kuhar for Vanesa Oliver Beauty || Jewelry: L2 Creations || Cake: Angela Malpedo from Frosted Chaos || Furniture: Fox & Finch Vintage Rentals || Models: Brianna Keiser for Image International , Adrienne Sorg, and Vanesa Oliver of Vanesa Oliver Beauty ||

Featured Adore Vendors: Allium Floral Design, Douglas Benedict Photography, Bella Bridesmaids, and Fox & Finch Vintage Rentals.

More about the photographer: Lehigh Valley Wedding Photography: Douglas Benedict