Formerly Jonathan Tung Photography

Caleb & Lexi | The Grove at West Coast Nursery in Monroe, WA

Uncategorized

March 29, 2024

This styled shoot was put together by a collection of local Seattle vendors and came out so good! This is actually my first style blogging about styled shot, and my first time shooting one. What is a styled shoot? It’s a mock wedding. Wedding vendors come together with models to show off their work. Why do one? Everyone gets content and great marketing materials without the stress of working through a timeline wedding day. It also allows each vendor more creative liberty and showcase the type of work that they want to do, not necessarily what the client wants. This style shoot was held at The Grove at West Coast Nursery, a beautiful nursery nestled in the heart of Monroe, WA.

Want to learn more about The Grove? Check out my full venue guide below.

The morning of the shoot, it was absolutely pouring rain. The weather forecast did show rain in the morning, expecting to clear in the afternoon, when the styled shoot was scheduled. With a level of uncertainty for how the shoot would turn out, several vendors had already started showing up and delivering their products to the venue, so we were already commited. With great indoor shooting opportunities from the venue’s barn’s natural light, I decided to continue with the shoot for those vendors still willing to make it.

That was the right call and there were no regrets. The rain completely cleared by the time the vendors arrived to setup. The ground was a lot muddier than I would have preferred, but we still make it work. Caleb and Lexi arrived with a beautiful wedding dress provided by For The Luv of Bridal. The dress was just stunning. We have K and H Art come and get started on hair and makeup. Florals from Bulaklak Floral arrive. Silverware and table decor from Sweet Buffet Lady arrive as well, followed by Wanderer Barber Co. and everything starts to come into place. As a bonus, we also have a live wedding painter, WDDNG Painter come and capture beautiful artwork on an eisel.

The indoor setup begins and I capture details of that while the couples are getting ready. We have a gold theme setup resembling a semi-traditional look. This setup is sure to make you feel like royalty. Floral centerpieces accentuate the decor and provide a level of peaceful ambiance. Plenty of natural light comes through into the barn and it really is a wonderful set up.

Lexi dons on her wedding dress and puts on the finishing touches with her jewelry in the bridal suite. The suite is a beautiful light-filled trailer with very chic decor. With a perfectly feminine and light and neutral color ambiance, it is the perfect space for your getting ready photos. Caleb finishes getting his hair cut in the mobile trailer, gets fully dressed, and now the fun begins.

We start at the ceremonial arch, that features a beautiful backdrop of the nursery field. This would be the perfect location to have a ceremony for your guests. Imagine your ceremony surrounded with nothing by high trees and an open nursery field, with convenient access to the indoor barn. We then head to the back portion of the venue, which is a true nursery. Countless acres of trees just fill the fields. It is open, it is wide, you’d never think this would be part of a wedding venue. You’d think you’d have to hike miles and miles to get this type of enviornment for a photoshoot, but that is not the case at this venue.

Caleb and Lexi were so easy to work with and so natural in front of a camera. Although the terrain wasn’t ideal from the morning rain, they were willing to work with that, and I’d say it was worth it. We are surrounded by the plants in the nursery, which perfectly frame them. This enviornment photographed so well from every angle, and this was during the winter. This nursery field would look absolutely stunning in the summer and fall months.