Finnish Midsummer Wedding inspiration feature in Vow Magazine

We just got our copies of VOW hot off the presses all the way from Austria. It's a wonderful fine art collection of wedding inspiration, looks behind the scenes of wedding artists and real weddings. And we had the great pleasure to have our finnish midsummer inspired shoot we did together with German photographer Katja Scherle featured in its very first issue.



What we wanted to show in our shoot is the beauty of Finland's summer and the magic of the midsummer celebration, with the aim of inspiring couples worldwide to create a truly personal and intimate wedding out of the ordinary. One that can easily be done on a low budget by foraging floral decor and using dishware, linens, furniture and props from your childhood home or your grandma's kitchen.

The Finnish midsummer time is much more than just a celebration of the longest night of the year. We connect it to childhood memories, intimate family gatherings and personal traditions. Sitting by the bonfire until the early morning hours, relaxing in the sauna and being one with nature and the simple life at the summer cottage.

Our shoot was inspired by this feeling of intimacy, by family traditions and midsummer magic. As the location we chose the private island of Michaela's in-laws at the western coast of Finland. The island and its buildings have been in the family for almost 100 years and so it offered the perfect backdrop for our session. We foraged the woods of the islands for wildflowers and greenery, used dish ware and cutlery that have been in use for many decades, hand-died paper for the wedding stationery with natural ingredients to give them the look of books from your childhood. 

We envisioned a wedding day far off from the hassle and city noise for couple who wants nothing at all like a big ballroom wedding. Couples who envision their wedding as a beautiful, magical summer day in the yard of their childhood home or in the middle of nature. Finnish midsummer traditions and the tranquility of days spent at the summer cottage offer the perfect inspiration for a peaceful, intimate summer wedding filled with natural details and family heirlooms. 

Our story starts inspired by an old midsummer magic tale. It is said that if a girl picks eight wild flowers from eight different meadows, binds them into a floral wreath and lays it below her pillow for the night, she will dream of the man that she is going to marry. The eight wild flowers are also said to bring great luck to a marriage. Our bride Paulina picks these eight flowers in the early morning of her wedding and binds them into the floral crown that she wears on the big day. Her bouquet is made from a mix of garden flowers, foraged greenery and wild flowers picked the morning of the wedding. Paulina spends some quiet time in the woods and by the seashore before setting the tables and getting ready for the ceremony. 

After the wedding the bride enjoys relaxing moments in the sauna and a dip in the cool ocean. The sauna whisk tied from fresh birch greens is said to ward of bad luck. The perfect ending to a beautiful day. 

Concept, design and styling:  Hey Look 

Photography:  Katja Scherle  

Floral design: Michaela of Hey Look 

Silk bridal gown: Anna Matilda  

Long dress: Gina Tricot  

Other dresses: Stylist's own

Hair, make-up and fashion styling:  Paula Jaako  

Stationery: Hey Look 

Location:  Private island near Uusikaupunki, Finland 

Film scans: Carmencita