The Anne of Green Gables series has been a favourite of mine since I was a kid. I remember watching the movies, starring Megan Follows, over and over again. Surprisingly, despite being an avid reader, I didn’t read any of the books until I was 20. I went to visit my great aunt Waltraud in France for the first time and she left an English version of Anne of Green Gables on my bedside table. I gobbled it up and loved it. I’m kind of happy I waited to read it because it’s a special memory having it attached to that visit.
I’m forever indebted to L.M. Montgomery for her dreaming up Anne. There is something about Anne that makes it impossible not to love her instantly. What I always loved the most about her, besides her strength and vivaciousness, was her ability to bring out the best in people. She was never afraid to shine her light and be herself completely. I don’t think there has ever been a female character that inspired me as much as Anne, which brings us to this shoot.
I had been wanting to do an Anne of Green Gables wedding inspiration shoot with Stage Right Etc for a couple of years and we finally got a window to do it this year! Being located in the Okanagan valley, in Kelowna, BC, which is on the opposite side of Canada from Prince Edward Island, the home of Anne of Green Gables, we definitely had to do some location searching to get the look of Avonlea. I was SO excited when Danielle, from Stage Right Etc, found a pond with a rowboat in it! That was on my “must have” list for the shoot and it was a difficult one to find! We had so much fun dreaming up all the scenes and details from the Anne of Green Gables series to incorporate. Stage Right Etc did a fantastic job of weaving in those details while still doing their own twist. The result of their efforts was nothing short of stunning! We had the help of the talented (and yummy) Sweet On You Designer Cakes who made mini carrot cakes (a nod to Gilbert’s nickname for Anne) as well as some gorgeous larger cakes. I found an awesome Anne and Gilbert in the model Bailey Woodward and her boyfriend Yanni Papadopoulos. Melissa Dacre did a gorgeous update of Anne’s traditional hairdo and Melissa Craven did a beautiful job of her makeup.
I am beyond excited that one of my FAVourite wedding blogs, Green Wedding Shoes, posted this shoot last week. It’s been so fun seeing the amazing response we have gotten from it and all the Anne of Green Gables fans reminiscing about their favourite Anne and Gilbert moments. : ) Click to see the post on Green Wedding Shoes and Buzzfeed. I hope you enjoy!
Below: A little twist on the Lady of Shalott scene from Anne of Green Gables (probably my favourite part from the movie).
A little tongue and cheek reference to the famous raspberry cordial scene in Anne of Green Gables.
When Gilbert and Anne first meet in class, Gilbert tugs one of Anne’s braids to get her attention and calls her “Carrots.” Anne, who is extremely sensitive about her red hair, stands up, smashes her chalkboard slate on Gilbert’s head and makes him her sworn enemy. The part, later on in the series, where Anne finally lets Gilbert call her “Carrots” affectionately always makes me mushy. : )
When Matthew first picks up Anne and rides her back to Green Gables in his carriage, Anne is in heaven with “so much scope for the imagination.” They ride through a tunnel of blossoms which she renamed “The White Way of Delight” (see that later on in this post) and when they pass “Barry’s Pond,” Anne says, “Oh no, this is ‘The Lake of Shining Waters.’ That’s its rightful name.”
Vendors:
Decor/Styling/Florals: Stage Right Etc, Kelowna, BC
Cakes: Sweet on You Cakes
Couple: Bailey Woodward and Yanni Papadopoulos
Makeup: Melissa Craven
Hair: Melissa Dacre
Sooo gorgeous. I love everything about this shoot =]
Holy mother! Wow! Jessica, you have totally outdone yourself this time! It’s ridiculously incredible! *swoon*
WOW! Can I be Anne and get married (again)?
Beautiful, and so many details!
Thanks for sharing them with me!
Sue
I am in love with these pictures! I love the theme and it was pulled of so perfectly! Seriously, I am loving these pictures.
1. This may be the most glorious thing I have ever seen in my life, as well as defining all my future wedding plans. As you can see from my username and website, I’ve been an Anne fan since before I can remember, due in part to the color of my hair–but mostly due to her charm.
2. The inclusion of Moody Spurgeon-MacPherson on an embroidered napkin makes me really, really happy. I’m sure he’d be honored, even if he doesn’t seem to fit in as well as, say, Miss S.
Absolutely scintillating!
This is just beautiful, exciting, thrilling, amazing, awesome…and every good delicious adjective int he dictionary. It makes me want to get married again…but can’t do THAT. I love everything about it….EVERYTHING.
So, so beautiful! Love it.
Of course, in the books the wedding took place in the late 1800s. Anne and Gilbert’s children were grown up by 1917. 😉
We were trying to figure out when their wedding was exactly but we weren’t able to so we used the year the book was written where they get married. haha. Too bad we didn’t have you on hand as our fact-checker Jessica! : D
Thank you for all your wonderful comments, everyone!!! Hugs all around! : )
Such an incredibly delightful shoot….everything is so charming.
Wow this is exquisitely beautiful, it totally takes my breath away!! I have been a massive Anne fan from a young age, the books and films always transport me to a happy, inspirational and dreamy place. In addition to this I have been doing wedding photography for the past year now, if I can be an iota as good as this in a few years time I will be a very happy lady! Thankyou Jessica for such gorgeous images, transporting me to a ‘magical Anne land’ and inspiring me artistically! You should be unbelievably proud of having such talent!
I can’t believe I didn’t think of this myself. So so lovely and wonderful. Simply beautiful.
GAH! These pictures are stunning. AND, like you, I grew up watching the Anne movies and later in life read the series. The books are still my favorite to this day (and will be forever). What a beautiful session. Thanks for sharing this happy bit of inspiration!
Thanks so much Danielle!! : D
Oh. My. Goodness. What a dream of a photo shoot! Spectacular!!!!
Oh my how beautiful is this! I will be sharing this with my mum who I would watch the movies over and over again with. The essence of Anne captured so so perfectly!
So… the date of Anne and Gilberts wedding is wrong. If you read through the whole series, Rilla, the yougest of their children, is 15 when the Great War (WWI) is about to start. WWI started about 1914, so the 1917 date would be after their youngest child was an adult. Quite silly.
I love the photos though. It’s like being inside of my imagination! And that hair! *sighs* I wish I could have been there.
Hi Rose! Where were you when we were doing this shoot!? You’re obviously a kindred Anne spirit and we needed your expertise! : D That’s awesome you know that – it was the one thing we had to make up as I couldn’t find the correct information on when their wedding was. I’ve read a few of the books (and need to read them all) but I’ve mostly always been obsessed with the movie series. 🙂 So happy you enjoy the shoot! It was a dream and joy to do! 🙂
oh my gosh… it just keeps getting better and better as I scroll down. You did an incredible job and that couple is beautiful! loved loved loved these pictures, makes me wish I was Anne (with an E) for a moment
Aw, thank you SO much! It makes me so happy to know I’ve pleased other Anne fans with this shoot! Yippee! : )
The White Way of Delight is REAL!!! More beautiful than I even imagined reading the books! Flawlessly done, and absolutely fantastic!
So loved your shoot ! Very pretty and totally Anne for sure.
Blessings
Linda Finn
faithfulacresbooks@gmail.com
Wow! This is absolutely gorgeous. Well done to all involved – you really brought the spirit of this classic to life. 🙂
Absolutely stunning and so atmospheric. I love these photos.
I’m in love. Amazing concept Jessica!! My dear friend Kristina just sent this to me (I believe you met her in Costa Rica) because we both share the same genuine love for Anne. : )
Wonderful! Thank you for sharing.
I love this!! You’ve done a beautiful job. What a heavenly shoot <3 Thanks so much for sharing it with us
Thanks heaps everyone! It makes me so very happy that you all enjoyed the shoot. It was such a joy to do!
Thanks so much Mandy! Sorry I just saw your comment for some reason! So happy you like it! : D Kristina is amazing and way too much fun on the dance floor- you’re lucky to call her a close friend.
This is truly amazing, ever since I was a little girl I have absolutely love the story of Anne of Green Gables(: me and my mom could sit and watch it for hours… It was inspiring and beautiful(: I’m also a huge sucker for old movies like it(Sarah Plain and Tall, Little Women, Shirley Temple and so on) I am recently engaged to my best friend, he propsed November 28, 2013, I desperately want a Anne of Green Gables style wedding and you have given me some fantastic ideas(: thank you!
Hi Kayla! Aw, thanks for your sweet note! I’m so happy you enjoyed it as Anne of Green Gables is dear to my heart! I love Little Women and tons of old movies like that too. ; D Congratulations on your engagement! That’s so cool you’re going to to an Anne of Green Gables style wedding! Just a heads up I do travel for weddings too. ; D Have a blast planning!
Absolutely love!!! I am an Islander and can relate to every single picture. You are so talented, well done!!
Thank you Ashley!! Yay, I’m happy it’s Islander approved since I only had the interior of BC to work with. : D
Lovely pictures. I wonder if anyone can tell me the name of the flowers used in the groom’s buttonhole? Thanks in advance.
Thanks TJ! I asked and it’s Lily of the Valley and wax flower but be warned that Lily of the Valley wilts fast. : )
Thanks for the prompt reply Jessica, and for the heads up about Lily of the Valley, definitely love the look 🙂
This is the most amazing thing… I feel so happy inside right now!!! LOVE!!!!
http://howtomakehome.blogspot.com
Thank you very much Lauren! That makes me happy. = )
Absolutely stunning! The tea light candles in the tea cups were an exquisite touch to the theme. Now I want to go back and read all my Anne (with an ‘e’) books again. I would see them in a whole new light! Thank you for sharing!
Love it, but I simply must point out that those sleeves would not be nearly puffy enough for Anne’s taste.