Brunch Picnic Styled Shoot | Rising Tide Society TuesdaysTogether – Augusta, GA

Jul 1, 2016

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A few months back, the Rising Tide Society founders opened up the challenge to create a collaborative styled shoot within our groups. To come together in true “Community Over Competition” and create something beautiful and meaningful – whatever that looked like for our city. For those of you who don’t know, I lead the Augusta, GA TuesdaysTogether group for RTS – our group was one of the first 12 who signed on board for what was, at the time, just an idea to meet together once a month to build community within the creative industry – to lift each other up in encouragement and live out JFK’s inspiring quote of “A rising tide lifts all boats.” When I mentioned the styled shoot to our group, people were immediately excited and ready to go. For a girl who tends to lean toward the side of taking on responsibility for everything, it was hard for me to let it go and let those ships sail, but I knew that I wouldn’t have the margin to plan, shoot, edit and submit it all within the timeframe… and right in the middle of wedding season and traveling to Paris. So I asked for volunteers and amazing peoples stepped up to plan, and WOW, am I glad I did. Our group came together in ways beyond our wildest dreams (and my picnic styled shoot Pinterest board I created last year) to produce the most amazing shoot – and one of my favorites to date, by far! Led by the genius of Ashley of Ashley Irene Styling and Meghan of Meghan C Bishop Weddings, our team created something really special – a brunch picnic gathering! I’m so excited to share the storyline with you and what came from it! So, enjoy, and gather at our table!

And now for the story (and at the end, all of the vendors!):

“There is something special about gathering for a meal with family and friends. Sharing in laughter, the clinking of glasses, and plates overflowing with delicious food always creates lasting memories in community with others. For our TuesdaysTogether Augusta, GA Styled Shoot we wanted to evoke the sense of community through a brunch picnic for our group to collaborate on and shoot. Set on a beautiful private property, our shoot was inspired by the idea of making “home” a place where community gathers and stories are written.

With a woven bag in tow, a girl arrives home from a trip on a beautiful summer morning to find her boyfriend waiting for her to enjoy a brunch together. The morning begins with preparing food in the outdoor kitchen, enjoying a glass of wine on the patio and savoring special moments together. Little does she know, he has arranged for her friends and family to join for the meal, bringing along a variety of foods for a pot-luck picnic brunch. We see the concept of a pot-luck as something similar to our TuesdaysTogether community – a group of individuals who gather together, each with their own perspective, skills and talents, yet work alongside one another to build each other up. With this storyline in mind, two event designers collaborated to create a day that was beyond our dreams.

With the floral design talent of Cherie of Waiting on Wildflowers, our creative directors/stylists created two amazing tablescapes to showcase the story of the day! Meghan C Bishop Weddings & Events styled a “pot-luck” picnic table to beautifully display food from Creative Cuisine LLC, a lettered canvas from The Art Studio Collective of “Count Memories Not Calories,” and a beautiful lettered table runner by Kristen Smith Design. It features Hebrews 10:24-25 (“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”) in honor of community over competition.

Ashley Irene Styling styled a farm table with a lush floral garland full of pears foraged from the yard and peaches to stay true to our Georgia roots. Overflowing with wildflowers, our brunch “hosts” toasted to a morning of “food, friends & sunshine,” and even to a pet deer, who was the hit of the party! With guests of all ages, our shoot welcomed the young and the old, and says that there will always be a place at our table for anyone who wishes to join!

At the end of the day, no matter our industry, skill level or experience, we all are so grateful to gather each month, whether at a table or on the floor of a member’s living room, to live and work in community with our TuesdaysTogether group. For us, these gatherings have created a sense of “home” – and a group with whom we are always up for a brunch date!”