Varca Bridal | Chicago Wedding Dress Designer | Melody Joy Co.
Varca Bridal | Chicago Wedding Dress Designer | Melody Joy Co.
I’m always amazed at the detail that Sarah puts into her gown collections. Varca’s latest bridal collection has so many interesting sleeves, cuts, fabrics and even removable extensions! So anyone from the more minimal to the more extra bride has something they can relate to! Varca names all of her gowns after names of women who has inspired them and her! Go check out Varca’s Instagram to see the names for each individual gown. Below are a few of my favorite images of each wedding dress, taken in her new studio space.
Sarah, of Varca Bridal, designed and is making me a custom wedding dress! I could not be more excited about having one of her custom pieces. Ever since she reached out to me about a shoot a few years ago, I instantly fell in love with her style and her as a person! If you’re looking for someone to make you a custom gown that will feel 100 percent like you mixed with Sarah’s creative energy, then definitely reach out to be one of her few custom brides that she takes on each year. I feel so honored to be one of them for this year!
Let me know if you all have any favorites, my favorite from her collection is definitely the VERONICA, and not just because I grew up collecting and ready Archie Comics endlessly. The sleeves are just amazing and totally give the dress that 19th century glam. The earrings that Sarah paired with each dress for this shoot were handmade by Ashley Jordan, of the Fashion Collective. Her earring line is called Akin Studio. Ashley’s statement earrings are all made of polymer clay and compliment Varca’s wedding gowns beautifully.
The hair for this shoot was done by Juan José of Hair by Juan José. His personality is exactly what you want on your wedding day, smiley, fun, just a joy to be around! And of course he created the perfect relaxed updo’s to compliment these beautifully detailed and structured gowns. All of the makeup for this collection shoot was done by the lovely Alyssa of Makeup by Alyssa Cruz. Her soft smokey eyes and natural tones are exactly what a bride should want on their wedding day so they feel a bit done up, but also feel like themselves. These soft hair and makeup I believe are the perfect way to feature your Varca dress or any wedding dress on a wedding day. I’m just all about the natural hair and makeup look for any occasion, personally.
Well enough of my words and badly written sentences, enjoy scrolling through all of the beauty that Varca has created for her brides this year. Truly honored to capture such beautiful works of art, as that is exactly what they are. x
Wedding Dress Collection - Varca Bridal / Makeup - Alyssa Cruz / Hair - Juan José / Photography - Melody Joy Co. / Wedding Jewelry - Ashley Jordan of Akin Studio, Fashion Collective / Models - Vinithra + Leilani
Boho Fashion Editorial | Fashion Photographer | Chicago Stylist
Boho Fashion Editorial | Fashion Photographer | Wicker Park, Chicago | Ariana Anderson Stylist
When Ariana, of Styled by Ariana, presented the idea to me for this bohemian summer editorial shoot, she sent me this beautiful quote by Morgan Harper Nichols below. This became the foundation for the emotion behind this shoot.
And in those moments where the sun is setting and the house is quiet and you are weary from the day, may you know that there is grace for you in that space, and no amount of heaviness or loneliness can take that away. And because of that grace, you are free to slow down. You are free to breathe and rest, no matter the things not sorted out. There might be some mystery here and there might be longing, wondering, and waiting. But there will also be boundless peace that goes beyond any understanding, running wild like a river through everything, no matter how heavy these moments feel. So rest easy, when everything is approaching. Tomorrow is surely coming, but in the hours in between, you are free to rest till then.”
― Morgan Harper Nichols
This quote really resonated with myself, Ariana, Dominique, our lovely model who brought this shoot to life, and the amazing makeup artist, Michelle of Mink Loves Makeup. So we all came together to create something beautiful in the spirit of Morgan’s wise words. The prepping started the day before the shoot with Ariana being a boss and foraging all of the greenery on her own for this shoot from the streets of her Chicago neighborhood. It was the most beautiful thing how everything came together. The location for this shoot is in the living room of my Wicker park flat. Definitely a space that I will always cherish having for as long as I’m renting in Chicago. All of this to say, you don’t need a lot to create something beautiful with your friends. This shoot inspires me in so many ways and I’m so grateful for all of the beautiful individuals I can create with.
Ariana Anderson, Styled By Ariana - Chicago Stylist | Dominique Ashanti - The Lovely model + Amazing Painter | Michelle of Mink Loves Makeup - Chicago Makeup Artist
If you’d like me to capture an editorial and have ideas for a fashion shoot, please reach out below and
I would love to create something beautiful with you!