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
I just want to say thank you so very much for all your lovely heartfelt comments. I have loved reading every single one and learning about how dear Anne is to all of you too. We are definitely all kindred spirits! = )
This is unbelievably lovely. Thanks for sharing!
These photos make me most happy. I honestly think my day will now be perfect because I found these photos. Hats off to you Jessica for your hard work and creative effort and thank you for inspiring me today. All my love, Lori. PS. I may or may not wish to be a Canadian right now.
This is beyond sweet!
This is such an adorable shoot. Well done on recreating my childhood dreams:)
Swoon! Anne of Green Gables was my favorite movie growing up. I absolutely wanted to be best friends with Anne and live in Green Gables. Gah! Absolutely perfect shoot. Thanks for bringing to life what we all envisioned as young girls.
Love every little thing about this
(need bigger puffed sleeves, though) 🙂
This is the most beautiful wedding shoot! Searching for Anne Of Green Gables links in light of the death of actor Jonathan Crombie…our beloved Gilbert Blythe…I stumbled upon this loveliness and it truly has softened the blow of a terrible loss. Our couple lives on in numerous ways and this is such a wonderful homage to the books. Your photography is stunning and the beauty, for me, has brightened a dimmed light…Thank you!
this is absolutely FANTASTIC , congratulations ! you did an amazing job !
Aww, I’m very touched. Thank you so much. I was so sad to hear of his passing as well. I’m so glad this offered a little comfort. Big hug.
This is just lovely and amazing! Thank you for sharing your work! Can’t wait to show my own little red-haired Anne when she gets home from school 🙂
Your beautiful shoots reflect your inner beauty.
I LOVE this!!! Anne of Green Gables was the first book that ever made me cry.
Aww, that’s so sweet! Thank you very much! = )
“You really are a Kindred Spirit.” What a dream photo shoot for Kindred Spirits everywhere. This is absolutely beautiful. I love all the touches, such as the White Way of Delight and Lake of Shining Waters, that only Anne fans would understand. Very nice idea!
Bravo! This is gorgeous and you nailed it! So true to Anne! Thanks for the amazing images.
“It’s delightful when your imaginations come true, isn’t it?” ~ Anne Shirley
Xoxo
I’ve been coming back to this post all day. It makes my heart happy. I love love love Anne & Gilbert, and you have done an amazing job at capturing the romance and beauty of their love story. Makes me want to go back in time and redo my wedding. Just gorgeous.
Almost want to cry. So fun and beautiful. Brings back a lot of memories. How fun for you to shoot this! !. So beautiful
Absolutely love this! What a beautiful thing you have done! Anne is my absolute favorite. 🙂
Beautiful! Anne is such a part of the culture in the maritimes! Lovely to see her brought to life!
One of my absolute all-time favorite books as well. Have wanted to visit PEI forever because of AoGG; haven’t made it yet. This is SO perfect. Love it!!!
I’ve been working my way through the entire “Anne” series for the last six months. I’m almost done with the last book and this photo shoot is the icing to the books 🙂 It’s just wonderful!
Beautifully done! The Anne of Green Gables books and series with Megan Follows and Jonathan Crombie will forever be one of my favorite things. I really have lost count how many times I have read/watched them. Your photos made me want to read/watch all over again! You really captured the feeling of it all!
This is AMAZING. Anne of Green Gables is still my all time favorite book! My daughter’s middle name is Anne, and when someone asks how it’s spelled, I always say, “Anne with an e.”
This is of course romantic and darling. Especially for a life long reader of Montgomery. I was hoping to find some information about the dress..was it made…designer ect. Thanks
This is absolutely stunning!!!! Thank you for sharing.
This is so Gorgeous. Everything is so Anne, and it just makes you feel like you could step into the wonderful world she lived in!
You did such a lovely job! I am misty eyed from looking at these gorgeous photos!
Aw thank you so much!! = )
My 8 year old daughter started reading Anne this year and started the 5th book when Anne and Gilbert finally get married. I showed her these photos and she just loves them. Thank you!
That means so much to me! So awesome that you introduced your daughter to Anne of Green Gables so young. She’s a fantastic role model for sure! : D She definitely influenced me as a kid.
I love this. I grew up on Anne of Green Gable’s… love this take on it
Thank you very much Jamie!! : )
Perfection! I’ve grown up with Anne, sharing her name beside other things, and I’ve always loved her vivid spirit. Next May, I’m getting married and these amazing pictures truly will be an inspiration 🙂
Aww, that’s lovely! Thank you Anne! I love her vivid spirit too. Such an inspiration. : ) PS Just so you know I travel for weddings! ; D
It would be a dream to have you as a photographer, but the wedding takes place in Slovakia – probably too far, isn’t it? 😉
Hey! I absolutely love the dress! Where did you find it? Was it made? Thanks!
Thanks Mikayla! It was actually a very lucky thrift store find. It was already re-sold unfortunately, sorry!