design minded: Walk the Tightrope with Me + Ruffled Blog

Angela Saban Design and Angel Cakes Bakery were featured on Ruffled Blog today, thanks again to my lovely and talented friend Diana Elizabeth. This styled shoot was originally inspired by another lovely friend, Julie Read of Juju's Tutu's. She designed a super fun line of costume tutu's with a circus theme and an "Under the Big Top" party shoot was born. (soon to be seen on a big party blog near you) So, we decided while we were all in a "circus" state of mind, we would put together a circus themed wedding shoot as well.

I couldn't sleep for a week, trying to think of a wedding theme that wasn't just another circus themed wedding. As I thought about the performers that I had seen years ago in the big top my parents took me to, I remember being mesmerized by the tightrope walkers. They seemed so elegant, graceful and absolutely magical. A theme was born!

Some of my favorite details were the amazingly creative invitations, menus, and escort cards (displayed hanging from an umbrella by rope). The hand embroidered handkerchief that I stumbled upon while surfing Etsy, and the ruffled detail on the bottom of the cake, done by me, one very late night right before the shoot. and then there's the picture of the two champagne glasses tied with rope, my favorite.

As we started to put out a call for vendors, the buzz really got a lot of attention, and before we knew it, I think we finished with a list of 24 vendors. Hope I didn't leave anyone out! Diana threw in the idea of The Great Gatsby, and we were off and running. This shoot literally was put together in about three weeks, and shot on a day when temperatures soared well above 210 degrees!

But, you would never know that everyone was hot, as Diana's pictures show all the kids having so much fun, and the models were smiling from ear to ear. Sometimes an idea just comes together in a way that makes everyone happy, and filled with such joy...it was truly magic!

A very sincere thank you to all the vendors, Diana and Julie once again. You know, they say that if you are doing what you are meant to be doing, it doesn't feel like work? Styling shoots like this fills me with joy, and it NEVER feels like work! I would bet that Diana, Julie and all the other vendors felt the same way. A special thank you to my assistant Kayla Dunlap, my husband, my daughter Jennifer, and Julie's husband, for all the help. These shoots are big and intense, just like my love for all of you!

Big thanks to Amanda of Ruffled for featuring this shoot today! See it here.