Styled Wedding Shoot: High Tea Time in the Arizona Desert

Photographer’s Remarks

“The inspiration for this shoot all came from the fabulously creative mind of our stylist and planner, Karen Podrasky, from KDP Events. Here is her description of her inspiration:

‘My grandmother immigrated from Liverpool, England to the United States when she was just 20 years old. She landed in New York’s harbor with very few belongings. These blue ivy tea cups were of the select transported treasures. The fondest memories I have of Grandma Edith were her sophisticated British accent and teatime. Styling this photo shoot was very much inspired by those little pieces of china.

We selected the location as a nod to that little girl who shared teatime with her grandmother. The Usery Pass Mountain area is one that these little feet have hiked dozens of time on family outings. Pass Mountain with it’s wind cave and recognizable red stripe was a preferred destination for camp outs and picnic birthday parties.

Rachel Leintz Photography captured the mystery of the landscape and the intimacy of the high tea decor with mastery. The floral designs by Posies Floral enhanced the natural setting without trumping it’s beauty. This one granddaughter was delighted to have been a part to this magical scene.’

“The navy and white striped table drapes, along with the gold accents made a regal yet whimsical background for the British fine china table settings and cutlery.

“The invitation suite, created by the talented folks at Posh Invitations, is a deep navy, velvet clutch, adorned with crystals and a white satin ribbon. Photographing the beautiful calligraphy of the invite on top of the navy and white stripes created my favorite detail shot to date!

“The clean lines of the Verona dress (by Katie May) cut dramatically against all the intricate textures of the blooming desert.

“The sheer illusion netting on the sleeves draws your eyes from the delicate details on the shoulder, down the arm to the rich and pale blooms of the bouquet. We added a rough-cut crystal tiara to the ensemble to finish off Tayele’s royal queen of the desert look.

“The art deco diamond ring used in the shoot is a family heirloom from the 1920’s. Each diamond is a miner cut — cut by hand to remove flaws and to allow the brilliant cut to sparkle under even the dimmest candle light — and is a combination of each woman’s engagement ring from generation after generation.

“The little finger treats made by Sweet Simplicity Cakes, added the finishing touch to our high tea time in the desert. The cupcakes, infused with blueberries and lemon, followed our gold and navy motif. The chocolate covered butterflies helped add in another whimsical touch.”