The Styled Challenge by Southern Bride

What is The Styled Challenge by Southern Bride?

The Styled Challenge is a wedding design competition hosted by Southern Bride Magazine featuring the best designers in top wedding markets around the globe. Wedding designers are tasked with creating an elevated venue esthetic showcasing local wedding vendors’ creative talents. The designing teams are provided a mood board for a specific venue location and asked to bring a fictional couple’s wedding story to life.

What is the Styled Shoot by Southern Bride?

In conjunction with The Styled Challenge, Southern Bride hosts a Styled Shoot at each Styled Challenge event. The Styled Shoots by Southern Bride are open to photographers for portfolio building, as well as, offering photographers the option to compete for the Best Photography Award.

Event Participation from a Photography Perspective

When Southern Bride hosted the Charleston Styled Challenge, I decided to participate in the Styled Shoot as a photographer and experience what I’d seen advertised. As I’m based in Charleston, I recognized this as a splendid opportunity to connect with local wedding designers and vendors, aiming to contribute content that could potentially enrich their already-stunning portfolios.

Personal Experience

The Charleston Styled Challenge unfolded on an exceptionally hot day in August, prompting those familiar with the sultry Southern humidity to question the choice of timing. While a Charleston resident might share the initial sentiment, they would swiftly clarify that scheduling the event in August was a practical necessity due to the constraints of finding a wedding designer or venue willing to host the event outside of the “slower” Charleston wedding season.

Wedding Design, Venues and Photography

The Charleston edition of The Styled Challenge entrusted three exceptional wedding designers with the task of fashioning distinctive and awe-inspiring wedding masterpieces at three different local venues in the city.

The Styled Shoot photographers participating in the Charleston event kicked off the day with photography workshops and a briefing on the event’s operational details. After Southern Bride personnel shared event details and answered questions, photographers were divided into three groups, each consisting of 10-15 individuals. The photographers then rotated throughout the three Challenge venues, capturing each wedding designer’s amazing décor and styled details.

Charleston Styled Challenge at The Cedar Room

Challenge One: The Cedar Room directed by wedding designer Lauren Tracy of Direct My Day

_{Challenge One Vendor Credits: Florals: Branch Design Studio | Draping: Drape My Day | Specialty Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Crush by Event Works , Curated Events Charleston , Event Works Rentals | Bar Rental: Open Bar | Lounge Rentals: The French Eclectic | Lighting: Charleston Glow Company | Wedding Cake: The Tenacious Tart | Stationary: On Brand Designs , SAS-E Ink Paper & Press | Wedding Gown: Michael Addison Bridal | Bride Shoes: Gianni Bini | Jewelry: Charles and Colvard | DJ: DJs of Charleston | Hair & Make-up: Silhouette on Site | Models: Blythe Milbourne Neal , Evan Towell | Transportation: Coastal Limo}

Charleston Styled Challenge at The Mills House

Challenge Two: The Mills House Hotel directed by wedding designer Cindy Vollertsen of Cindy Vollertsen Wedding and Events

_{Challenge Two Vendor Credits: Florals: Willow Event Designs | Vintage Car: The Pink Figgy | Specialty Linens: Luxe Linen | Rentals: Snyder Events | Silks: Jenis Silk | Tabletop: Juliska | Hand-painted wine bottle: Laura and Label | Wedding Cake: Vanilla and the Bean | Stationary: Sky to Sea Calligraphy | Flat Lay Styling: Katherine and Tyler | Welcome Bag: Essentially Charleston | Wedding Gown Shop: Zobella Bride | Wedding Gown: Ariamo Bridal | Bride Shoes: Bella Belle Shoes | Men’s Fashion: Generation Tux | Jewelry: Anna Zuckerman | Groom’s Ring: Zales Jewelers | Bride’s Ring: Charleston Rings | Hair & Make-up: Silhouette on Site | Models: Anna D’Annunzio , Dolan Owens | Transportation: Coastal Limo}

Charleston Styled Challenge at The Gibbs Museum

Challenge Three: The Gibbs Museum directed by Alyssa Etheredge of Stunning and Brilliant Events

_{Challenge Three Vendor Credits: Florals: Tupelo Honey Flower Shop | Vintage Car: Whip Dash | Specialty Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Crush by Event Works | Wedding Cake: Ashley Bakery | Stationary: Bree Moore Design | Signage + Calligraphy: J Lily Design | Wedding Gown: Andrea Leo Couture | Bride Shoes: Bella Belle Shoes | Men’s Fashion: Generation Tux | Jewelry: Charles and Colvard | Hair & Make-up: Silhouette on Site | Models: Sarah Spring Lee , Hugh Duggan | Transportation: Coastal Limo}

Conclusion

The Southern Bride Styled Challenge and Styled Shoot offer mutual benefits for both wedding designers and photographers. Designers enjoy creative freedom to showcase designs for their portfolios, while photographers gain valuable content capturing the stunning designs for their businesses.

In addition to an already great experience, Southern Bride features the creations of each designer, along with supporting images from the winning photographers of the Styled Shoot, in the prestigious pages of Southern Bride magazine. If you haven’t already purchased your Winter/Spring 2024 Southern Bride magazine, this is your sign to purchase now!

If you’re a wedding planner or couple who would like to work with Alisha Cory Photography, please inquire below:

Photography Credit: Alisha Cory Photography