Celestial Timing: A Styled Shoot Among the Stars

Photos By: Santa Ana Photography

We admit it - we absolutely love styled shoots. Honestly, who wouldn’t love planning their dream wedding again and again (minus the family drama) while playing dress-up with some of the best creatives in the industry? Count us in, every single time.

So when it came time to plan the Fall/Winter 2025 cover for The Ampersand Magazine, we went straight for the heart. Bettina’s the hopeless romantic who tears up during sappy commercials, and Angie? She’s all about the frills, ruffles, and “let’s add one more bow just because.” Put us together and you get… moonbeams, stardust, and a color palette that practically wrote itself.

It started with us dreaming of moon and stars and went full-on celestial - inspiring a color palette of lush romantic lavender, moody slate blue and ethereal golds to feel like you're brushing up against the Milky Way.

From there, the details started orbiting into place: exquisite custom jewelry from Jewelry by Roz, regal gold chargers from Select Event Group, and sweets so good from Sweet Gratitude Bakehouse that we briefly considered not sharing them with the crew. (Don't worry - we shared... mostly.)

And let's not forget The Manor 1858's - 22 acres of lush rolling hills in Loudon County, that made us feel like we stumbled into our own slice of heaven.

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What's a wedding without flowers? We envisioned our cover model twirling amongst the clouds, like a celestial goddess! So, with a sprinkle of magic (because they're literally magicians), Petalos Floral Design transformed this dreamy vision into reality. They poured their hearts into crafting a breathtaking arch adorned with cascading baby's breath in shades of purple and blue, creating an enchanting cloud-like wonderland.

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Now the best part, Bettina literally found our model, Sydney, on the street. It was as if Sydney had just floated down from the heavens and landed right in her lap! She was our perfect celestial goddess. Luckily, Sydney didn't run for the hills, and the rest is celestial history.

Of course, even goddesses need a glam squad - enter Carla Pressley Hair and Makeup, the fairy godmother of glam! Her team waved their magic brushes and transformed Sydney into a vision that could stop traffic and highlights that made her so luminous they might have been moon-powered.

Lastly, and certainly not least, we must celebrate the enchanting spirit that is Santa Ana Photography. Like a celestial muse, she wove the threads of our love story into a tapestry of breathtaking moments. We couldn't have imagined the magic being captured more perfectly with an artistry that transcends time. Her lens didn't just capture images; it immortalized this issue in our hearts forever.

Ready to let the universe RSVP? Here's our invitation to you: let the moon and stars guide you towards your perfect wedding date. Check out our 2025 Fall/Winter Issue to see the full cover story (and plenty of other inspo).

Huge thanks to our dreamy, talented creative team for helping us turn this vision into reality - and even bigger thanks to our readers for supporting our wacky love-filled journey.

The Creative Team

Photography |	Santa Ana Photography
Venue |	The Manor 1858
Hair & Makeup |	Carla Pressley Hair & Makeup
Model |	Sydney Rubb
Florals |	Petalos Floral Design
Cake & Desserts |	Sweet Gratitude Bakehouse
Rentals |	Select Event Group
Jewelry |	Jewelry by Roz
Coordination |	Unforgettable Moments