Styled Wedding Shoot at Walnut Ridge Venue


Earlier this month I was able to participate in a styled shoot in Shellsburg, Iowa at Walnut Ridge. This venue just opened up in the Spring of 2023 and it's soooo good! Jennica and Brandon have really thought of everything a perfect wedding venue needs and did I mention that there are 10 acres to explore?! Alissa, owner of Honey Lens Photography, hosted this shoot and got a really awesome crew of vendors together to make this space come alive. I loved the rust color scheme and boho touches throughout the styling. This really was the boho and vintage wedding styling of my dreams, complete with pampas grass and a rug aisle runner.


Why a styled shoot?


So now you're asking yourself, "Why do photographers participate in styled shoots?" And I'm here to answer that question for you! There's actually several reasons, but a few big ones are: making vendor connections, building a tailored portfolio, and being able to show potential wedding clients possibilities of what their day can look like. Luckily enough for you, if you want to read more about the why, I have an entire blog post on this topic HERE.

Bridal preparation room with people getting ready in front of well-lit mirrors.
Hair and makeup artists working on styling in a bright modern preparation room.
Makeup and hair styling session in progress in a minimalist white room setting.
Person wearing casual attire standing in a white room with arched mirrors and wooden floors.
Wedding preparation scene with styling chairs and illuminated vanity mirrors.
Stylists working on hair and makeup preparation in a dressing room with white walls and oval mirrors.
Close-up of intricate braided hairstyle with floral accessories being styled.
Beauty preparation taking place in a modern salon-style space with multiple stylist stations.
Makeup products and tools laid out on a white vanity counter with a teal tumbler.
Stylist working on hair in a bright makeup room with white walls.
Final touches being applied in a bright, modern bridal preparation space.
Behind the scenes preparation moments in a bridal suite with a warm, candid atmosphere.
Wedding attire including beige suit and flowing lace wedding gown hanging against white shiplap wall.
Close-up details of a beautiful lace wedding dress being fitted with delicate buttons and embellishments.
Intricate floral lace detailing on the back of an elegant wedding gown during final adjustments.
A wedding dress fitting session captured in a bright room with full-length mirrors.
Romantic close-up shots of delicate lace and tulle details on a wedding gown.
An ethereal wedding dress with dramatic puff sleeves and intricate lace details.
A series of images showing a bride getting ready in a light-filled dressing room with mirrors.
Modern living room with brown leather couch against dark wood accent wall and patterned area rug.
Person in light colored suit sitting on brown leather couch against wooden slat accent wall.
Vintage wooden shuffleboard table in minimalist room setting.

After getting our couple ready in their suites (this venue has TWO), our team of vendors had completed the set up on the main floor. Can we even with this head table set up?? If I was getting married in 2024, this would be the styling of my boho wedding dreams.

Elegant wedding reception table setup with orange accents and floral decorations against a white wall.
Elegant table setting with warm wood, white plates, and peach floral centerpieces.
Romantic wedding reception setup with macrame decor and warm candlelight.
Intimate wedding reception scene with rustic decor and soft lighting.
A romantic wedding scene with a white lace gown and beige suit against a dark backdrop.
An intimate moment between newlyweds featuring a delicate lace wedding dress and beige suit.
A wedding reception table setting with elegant decor and a brown vintage chair.
An elegant wedding setting with vintage furniture and floral arrangements against a dark wall.
A wedding venue decorated with 'You + Me' signage and dried floral arrangements.
Romantic table setting with lit candles, pink roses, and lace decor on wooden surface.
Modern wedding decor featuring 'You + Me' neon sign with dried flowers against dark wall.
An ethereal bridal portrait with off-shoulder lace gown and coral floral bouquet.
Romantic bridal portrait with rattan chairs, pampas grass, and flowing white gown.
Elegant bridal scene with vintage rattan chairs and dramatic white lace wedding gown.
A wedding dress with lace details and flowing tulle skirt captured in front of vintage rattan furniture and pampas grass decor.
Romantic bridal bouquet featuring coral and blush roses with cascading greenery against white tulle fabric.
Intimate wedding portrait featuring tender moment between couple in vintage-inspired setting with rattan decor.
Romantic wedding photo showing gentle embrace against vintage furniture and bohemian backdrop.
Romantic wedding scene with couple seated on vintage tufted chair surrounded by pampas grass and floral arrangements.
Intimate wedding moment captured on vintage tufted chair with boho decor and floral arrangements.
Close up of hands and wedding dress details showing lace and delicate fabric textures.
Black and white wedding portrait with vintage rattan furniture and boho floral arrangements.
Groom in cream suit checking time while standing by vintage tufted sofa and rattan decor.
Groom in light colored suit adjusting cufflinks near vintage furniture and floral arrangements.
A groom in a light beige three-piece suit and bow tie poses elegantly in front of a vintage settee.
A bride in a flowing lace dress sits gracefully in front of a decorative folding screen with floral arrangements.
A bride in a long-sleeve lace gown raises her hand to show her ring in artistic bridal portraiture.
A bride in an ethereal lace wedding dress poses in moody lighting near a window.
A bride in an off-shoulder lace wedding gown poses elegantly against a white wall.
A moment for the naked details...
A vintage-style rattan folding screen decorated with coral and peach floral arrangements.
A tufted beige vintage settee with an elegant floral arrangement in coral and peach tones.
A classic tufted velvet loveseat with curved legs sits against a white paneled wall.
A romantic wedding scene reflected in an ornate mirror with floral decorations on a dresser.
A couple shares an intimate moment captured in reflection through a vintage mirror with floral decor.

Up until this point we had only been inside the venue, which was already gorgeous enough to keep my little heart happy. But let me tell you when I say my jaw dropped when we headed outside. Walnut Ridge has a few options for ceremony backdrops, which perfectly compliment their pond with a working fountain.


Borrow My Vintage repurposed some of the indoor decor and florals to decorate the ceremony space, which was an idea that I'm personally a huge fan of. It helped to keep the spaces and decor cohesive, but it would also help to save on costs for couples using their services.

A wedding ceremony setup with wooden benches and a rustic aisle decorated with pampas grass and floral arrangements.
An outdoor wedding ceremony with a wooden cross altar and boho-inspired decor featuring pampas grass arrangements.
A romantic wedding ceremony setup with a cross, rustic benches, and dried floral arrangements.
A beautiful outdoor wedding setting with wooden benches and natural decor against a scenic backdrop.
A minimalist wedding ceremony space with wooden cross and bohemian floral arrangements.
An elegant outdoor wedding venue with wooden cross, bench seating, and gravel pathway.
A serene outdoor wedding setup with white concrete aisle and rustic wooden benches.
A dreamy outdoor wedding ceremony space with modern concrete aisle and rustic wooden details.
An intimate outdoor wedding venue with natural decorations and wooden cross centerpiece.
A countryside wedding venue with wooden benches and decorative pampas grass arrangements.
Mandatory photos in the boat on the pond
Romantic wedding scene with couple in small boat surrounded by wildflowers and rocks.
Intimate moment captured of newlyweds sitting in light blue boat among shoreline rocks.
A romantic wedding couple embraces in a small wooden boat surrounded by lush greenery and reeds.
A couple poses intimately in a rustic rowboat with the bride wearing a detailed lace wedding gown.

Before heading back inside, I snagged our couple to snap some photos on their walk back inside the venue. Being a wedding photographer, sometimes means taking a beat or sidebar to take a few photos really quickly when moving from one area or event to another. I was able to capture so many amazing shots in just a few minutes alone with these two. It definitely doesn't hurt that the property itself is incredibly gorgeous or that the gown from The Bridal Garden was stunning.

Romantic wedding portrait of couple embracing on sun-lit grassy hill.
A romantic wedding couple stands together on a grassy hilltop against a cloudy sky.
Newlyweds in formal attire pose atop a wildflower-covered hill during golden hour.
A couple in wedding attire holds hands while standing on a scenic hillside meadow.
A tender moment between newlyweds as they pose together on a sunny hillside.
Wedding couple shares an intimate moment while standing on a grassy hill at sunset.
A couple in wedding attire standing together on grassy hillside at sunset.
A romantic wedding portrait showing a couple embracing on a sunlit meadow.
An intimate wedding photo captures a tender moment between newlyweds in a natural setting.
A joyful wedding couple walks hand in hand through a sun-drenched meadow.
A couple in wedding attire strolls together through a scenic summer meadow.
Newlyweds walk hand in hand through a golden-lit field during their wedding photoshoot.
Wedding couple walking and dancing together on a grassy hillside at sunset wearing a white dress and tan suit.
Newlyweds in formal attire dance playfully on a grassy hill during golden hour.
Couple celebrating their wedding day with joyful movements on a grassy outdoor field.
Wedding couple walking together on lawn with modern white barn building in background.
Newlyweds stroll across grass field with string lights and modern farmhouse venue behind them.
Couple in wedding attire walking away from camera across green lawn toward modern venue.

Then came the cake from Moos Bakery. As you can probably tell, our couple was loving this cake. This cake table set up from Borrow My Vintage, along with the florals from Parrot Floral Co was EVERYTHING. I'm still swooning over all the little details that went so perfectly together. It was so fun to use my flash for these photos and give some more variety to this photo set.

Wedding couple sharing cake during reception with orange florals and rustic decor.
Rustic white wedding cake with fresh flowers and candlelight on wooden table.
Candid moment of couple sharing wedding cake at indoor reception.
Romantic cake feeding moment between newlyweds during indoor reception.
Playful cake feeding scene between newlyweds at indoor wedding reception.
A white wedding cake sits on a wooden table next to a colorful floral bouquet during cake cutting ceremony.
Elegant white wedding cake and candles displayed on wooden table during intimate reception.
Beautiful wedding cake display with coral and peach floral arrangements on dark wooden table.
Sliced white wedding cake with chocolate layers decorated with fresh flowers on glass cake stand.
Wedding reception table with white cake and coral flower arrangement on dark wood surface.
team of amazing Vendors