Vintage-Americana Inspired Styled Shoot | Adler Ranch | Alexandria, MN

Styled Shoot Photographer - Kristen Jyrkas

What is a styled shoot?

To put it simply, a styled shoot is a staged event (usually a staged wedding) that lies within a selected theme and includes models - it’s a creative and magical collaboration between local and surrounding area wedding vendors. Styled shoots create an unrestricted outlet - other than staying within the styled shoot theme, of course - to step away from today’s trends.

These types of collaborations also provide room to pursue new interests, ideas and opportunities for all those involved while simultaneously gathering cohesive photo content to promote and elevate each participating business. Styled shoots are for any business owner seeking to creatively highlight their services/products and collaborate with other businesses in the surrounding area.

One particular reason I love being involved in stylized wedding shoots, or styled shoots for that matter, is I find it to be a brilliant unfolding of magic. Working with other creative minds and witnessing their passion and drive within their work is absolutely inspiring to say the least. When you’re involved in the styled shoot developing stages then get to see it unfold, it just adds a whole other layer of awe and gratitude. Plus, the skills of so many creative businesses that can be found within our own local MN rural communities never ceases to amaze me. Amazing things can happen when we support local!

 

Adler Ranch Wedding & Event Venue
Styled Shoot

Vintage-Americana with Wedding Heirloom Ideas

First inspired by the venue space itself, this vintage-Americana and heirloom styled shoot quickly turned into a classy and memorable production.

I remember discovering the bridal cabin at Adler Ranch, a wedding and event venue near Alexandria MN, and thinking to myself, “This is it. This is the space.” We envisioned an event filled with creative exploration that stepped away from trends at the time and put a sustainable spin on an upscale wedding event, with emphasis on the bridal and groom preparation to highlight the Adler Ranch Bridal Cabin and Kurt’s Gas Station.

We pictured our Bride to be a minimalist with an elegant aesthetic, one who valued slow fashion and sustainability, family and all things vintage. Where she and her Maid of Honor get ready together in Adler Ranch’s cozy Cabin. The Groom and Best Man would enjoy their drinks and cigars in the next cabin over after he too was ready for the ceremony.

As a Bride with strong family values we found creative wedding heirloom ideas to honor many in her family. These new wedding heirloom ideas included her Grandfather’s lantern re-envisioned by Kellie Smith Floral into a show-stopping bouquet, and couture gowns for the Bride and Maid of Honor, and heirloom items to polish off the look of our Groom.

The bride's gown is made up of layers upon layers of family history, love and heritage. Literally!

We wanted to honor the Bride’s strong family roots as well as her new mother-in-law which inspired the textured skirt of the gown. Our stylist and creator Alicia (of Alicia Zutter Couture) used cascading layers of sentimental fabrics: some were created from parts of the Bride’s mother’s and mother-in-law’s bridal gowns, her grandmothers crinoline and dress, while also including her great-grandmothers veil and linens.

Many additional vintage pieces of lace and trim were used to create this heirloom wedding gown design. The top is a creamy French vanilla duchess satin to highlight the antique fabrics and her canary diamond engagement ring.

wedding dress with textured layers haning in a bridal cabin
Photo of vintage vanity with floral bouquet and jewelry

The wedding bouquet was created from the brakeman light of the Bride’s grandfather when he worked on the railway as the base - adding her own personal glow to the vintage lights scene that gives Adler Ranch Wedding & Event Venue its appeal and charm.

Wedding bouquet designed on an old brakeman lantern
Detail photo of red flowers on brakeman light bouquet
Photo of wedding rings
When designing the floral for this shoot I wanted to focus on letting the heirloom piece shine. Using a tangible object with such significant meaning - I didn’t want to take it over with the floral but simply highlight its characteristics and charm.
— Kellie Smith Floral
Photo of wedding stationery with torn edge paper

Perham Printing created the stationery for this vintage-themed wedding while staying true to the minimalist values of the Bride.

We used a simple and classic Serif font printed on a beige, torn-edge paper to provide that raw, deckled edge look of handmade paper.

Black and white photo of bride looking at herself in the mirrior
Maid of honor putting the necklace ont he bride
Photo of bride while bridesmaid clasps her necklace
Studio C Salon fulfilled our vision for elegant vintage with loose curls and classic makeup. And The Adler Ranch Cabin offered the perfect balance of dreamy natural light and cute chandeliers to highlight our vintage bride.
— Kristen Jyrkas, Coordinator & Photographer
Photo of bride and maid of honor facing eachother laughing
photo of a simple made of honor bouquet and brides bouquet made on a brakeman light with accenting red flowers
Wedding floral should reflect the bride and groom and what brings them joy. Your wedding day is something unique to you- so you should create your own vision and incorporate those items and designs that are meaningful to you.
— Kellie Smith Floral
Photo of a grooms boutonniere
Groom getting ready in vintage themed gas station

Groom getting read in Kurt's Gas Station - Adler Ranch, Alexandria MN

Close up of a groom's bow tie
Photo of a groom sitting in a black chair in a vintage themed gas station

To honor the values of slow and sustainable fashion, we styled the Groom in his grandfather's hat and his dad's vest.
Something old and borrowed.

And his bow tie is custom made from the material of his grandfather's wedding suit.
Something new.

Close up black and white photo of groom kissing brides forehead
Wide photo of groom looking at bride while she looks at the camera in a vintage cabin
Bride and groom and maid of honor and best man looking at eachother
For the Maid of Honor we used the entire crinoline from a 1960’s wedding gown and layered on lots of texture and whimsy to support the bride’s dress.
— Alicia Kawlewski, Designer & Stylist
photos of maid of honor and best man looking away from the camera
Up close shot of the maid of honor with her eyes closed
Bride and groom standing out front of a vintage gas station

Bride & Groom outside Kurt's Gas Station

Close up of bride and groom with groom looking away and bride standing behind
groom sitting in chair with bride standing behind him with hand on shoulder
close up of groom and best man playing a dice came, smoking cigars and having some whiskey
The Groom and his Best Man completed their looks by choosing vintage inspired pieces in shades of grey to coordinate seamlessly with their heirloom looks the bride valued.
— Alicia Kawlewski, Designer & Stylist
image of the groom looking to his left with a cigar and whiskey in his hand
Groom sitting in a black chair with a cigar and whiskey in hand
Best man and groom looking out the window of the vintage gas station with a whiskey in hand and vintage gas can hanging from the ceiling
Best man standing infront of vintage cigarette holder with whiskey in hand and in suspenders and bowtie
Best man standing with a whiskey in his hand and groom blurred in background sitting
Detail shot of a honey mocktail with raw honey

SuperBee Honey provided the local raw honey in vintage jars for our featured honey mocktail - a little sweet treat offered by our Bride and Groom in efforts to support local business, and honor their value of sustainability.

Vintage style honey jars for honey mocktails with fresh lemon
Bride sitting on the counter in her reception dress with arm on the shoulder of her groom holding a hamm's beer glass
Bride leaning into her groom with champagne in hand
Maid of honr and best man standing in the corner with beverages in hand
We wanted to continue the vibe with the reception dress which is also done in the French vanilla satin. There’s a flirty layered peplum made from her grandmother’s slips accenting the plunging back. We were able to use her great aunt’s fur cape for added warmth on this chilly spring day.
— Alicia Kawlewski, Designer & Stylist
Groom twirling his bride around in a vintage themed gas station with vintage gas cans hanging from ceiling

Kurt’s Gas Station & The Adler Ranch Cabin at sundown - Adler Ranch, Alexandria MN

We selected Adler Ranch for our wedding venue because of its unconventional atmosphere, impressive lit up night scene and its unique wedding amenities...just to name a few. After touring it and meeting Marlys there was no way we could say no!
— Kristen Jyrkas, Coordinator & Photographer
 
 

 

MN Wedding Vendor Appreciation

With an overwhelming heart, I’d like to thank all those how participated in this Vintage-Americana Themed wedding - hosted by the incredible and impressive Adler Ranch Wedding & Event Venue near Alexandria, MN - providing a comfortable and charming atmosphere with jaw-stopping backdrops - and of course, Marlys’s sweet spirit.

This styled shoot would not have been possible without the dedication and creativity of so many rural MN wedding vendors. Thank you for adding your own personal touch and vision, taking us back in time in this timeless and sustainable wedding styled shoot.

View more on these MN Wedding Vendors and support your independent business owners at the links below. Support local, support families.

 
Close up of a bride getting ready

MN Wedding Vendor Collaborators

Coordinator & Photographer:
Kristen Jyrkas - Ottertail, MN

Wedding Venue:
Adler Ranch - Alexandria MN

Florist:
Kellie Smith Floral - Perham MN

Stylist & Designer:
Alicia Zutter Couture - Ottertail MN

Hair & Makeup:
Studio C Salon - Alexandria MN

Wedding Stationery & Tags:
Perham Printing - Perham MN

Local Raw Honey:
SuperBee Honey - Parkers Prairie MN

 

Schedule a tour of Adler Ranch to experience its magic firsthand.

 

 
close up of raw honey in a martini glass for a honey mocktail

Why Styled Shoots Are Beneficial For Your Business

  1. Styled shoots showcase work in the best way
    Sometimes wedding day schedules don’t go as planned and things get missed or there’s not enough time for details, and that’s ok! Styled shoots provide the time and control to showcase your products in the best way, making sure nothing goes missed.

  2. Styled shoots allow creative exploration away from today’s trends.
    This allow for more freedom and a great way to offer fresh ideas and inspiration to new and future clients - and often times when in the pursuit of something new we find other beautiful discoveries.

  3. Develop skills or pursue new ideas.
    Perhaps there are some ideas rolling around in your head you’d like to try. Or maybe you are trying to perfect a new technique/idea. Styled shoots provide space to do just that!

  4. Build vendor relationships.
    Working in any industry, it is incredibly inspiring and important to build relationships with those around you. After all, community over competition is the true goal.

  5. Attract like-minded clients.
    When we are able to create something unique and from our own creative genius, we can attract those with the same interests and/or similar visions.

  6. Add professional images to your portfolio - boosting confidence and elevating your brand
    Having high-quality images of your products/services can go a long way. Not only does it provide content to your marketing gallery, it highlights your business in new and exciting ways!

 

 

Discover More About Adler Ranch On The Blog

 
 
Headshot image of professional photographer and design infront of a soft purple background and a purple beanie on

Ready to elevate your brand with styled shoot photography?

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