We were hardly done basking in the glow of the Issue No. 1 release. Our spirited little dream project had finally become a reality, when the world changed in a way that none of us could have anticipated. Suddenly, our vision for the succession of the first issue was nothing more than a blank void of uncertainty. How could we celebrate weddings when we didn’t even know how they would exist in our future?
We watched and waited, along with our industry peers. Over time, something became abundantly clear: while our physical presences were being denied the comfort of gathering with our loved ones, our spiritual presences were not. Outside we felt unsure, separated. Inside we were loving, hopeful, encouraging, and connected. This incredible realization that no Zoom call or social media interaction could nor would ever replace our connective spirit led to the idea that brides and grooms all around the world were in effect united in this chaos - something that seemed to be magical and terrible all at the same time.
From there the idea took place. An editorial that would celebrate the solidarity, empowerment, and sisterhood of the bride. Even in non-pandemic times, we found that the time of life when a person enters into the commitment of marriage is a highly transcendental, inherently spiritual, time. That same preparedness and intention is shared across cities, countries, and religions. It manifests uniquely from individual to individual but ultimately connects in a profound way.
Enter our models. Three women from different backgrounds coming together to celebrate the bonds of bridal sisterhood in a time when wedding dreams are some of the hardest to see through. They were explained the vision and took it upon themselves to bring the Bridal Spirit to life.
Thanks to a tip from Meredith Richmond of Ceremonies by Meredith, the location was an easy choice. During one of her many adventurous elopements, she stumbled across the ruins of the Anita Baldwin estate near Fallen Leaf lake. Anita Baldwin was the daughter of Lucky Baldwin, a real estate entrepreneur responsible for shaping much of the local culture and land in the basin. Anita, as an heiress, was a powerful force to be reckoned with. She was a philanthropist, a music composer, and a strong advocate for women and animal rights in the late 1800s. Knowing that Anita’s spirit was watching over us while we produced this shoot gave another level of “girl power” that gave the shoot life.
As with any shoot, the vendor team is critical. We wanted all of the girl power, and that is what we got. Moonlight Lace Boutique provided the gowns, Ridhi (along with her mother!) from Zuri Floral Design wheeled all of the floral and foliage down a single track trail to the location and built the gorgeous install along the massive chimney ruins of the estate, and Nancy Rice Artistry safely and (as always) perfectly styled our models. We basked in the glow of the evening light in early June, encouraging and empowering each other to make magic happen. And it did.
There was laughter and tears. There was lots of hand sanitizer used for all of the high-fives at a job well done. For many of us, this was the first time we had been around people outside of our innermost circle since the pandemic started. It was cathartic and meaningful, something that even the most careful planning cannot create in these types of shoots. It is our hope that reading through the original feature will transport you to a place of peace, harmony, and connectedness while channeling your own inner Bridal Spirit.
As seen in Sierra Bride Magazine, Issue No. 2
Styling & Coordination: MiraWED, LLC | Photography: Melina Wallisch Photography | Floral Design: Zuri Floral Design | Hair & Makeup Artist: Nancy Rice Artistry | Gown Designers: Alice and Mae; A La Robe; Bo & Luca; Leanne Marshall | Bridal Boutique: Moonlight Lace Boutique | Models: Brielle Whitney, Natasha Nauroth, Simba