Rescue Dogs and Wedding Gowns

When Katie, with Social Graces Events, contacted me this past Fall about doing a styled shoot and the first thing that she mentioned was rescue dogs, immediately I knew that we were in for a treat. Now, ya'll know that Sam and I are no stranger to styled shoots, but this one was different; it was even closer to our hearts and our vision for this blog. The purpose behind this styled shoot is to raise awareness for one of my favorite non-profit organizations, BARCS.

“Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter, Inc. (BARCS), a non-profit organization created in July 2005 to take over the operations of the city shelter and to work directly with Baltimore City Animal Control. We take in homeless, neglected, and unwanted animals in Baltimore City. BARCS’ mission is to accept and care for all animals in need and promote responsible pet ownership for a more humane community in Baltimore City.”

— BARCS

So many incredible vendors jumped on board to make this gorgeous bridal shoot come to life; from the floral collars, to the custom calligraphy, the embellished gowns, high-end suits, experienced dog handlers, and so much more. The whole day was a dream come true with this team.

Needless to say, our "dog models" were the stars of the show. They were the absolute cutest! Millie, the chow/shar-pei/collie mutt was our designated pooch and Sam and I could not get enough of her sweet cuddles in between shots. I think that she smelled Oliver on us, so she was extra curious the whole time we were with her.

Also, I must mention that this was the first time I've ever tried on a true wedding gown! It was nice preview of what is to come in the next year (we are getting married in the Summer of 2018). We got to practice our wedding poses, do a few Boomerang shots of the veil drop, and have fun imagining ourselves next Summer.