Strawberry Full Moon Party
The beauty of ritual and the power of the full moon provides the perfect backdrop for a soulful summer soiree as shades of peach and pink dance across the horizon, and we gathered a group of talented creatives to celebrate the Strawberry Full Moon that occurred in June. With its name originating from Native American tribes celebrating the strawberry season at it's peak, it is also referred to as the rose moon because of the reddish tint it receives from being so close to the horizon. The dusted rose hint dances in the distance and watches over us with a beautiful glow and the promise of a rosy summer.
This year the full moon landed on the summer solstice, a rare occurrence and a beautiful time to celebrate this majestic moon. For this special event, we partnered with Ana Alic to create a styled photoshoot drawing inspiration from the strawberry moon, tying in the elements and imagery of the moon, the mystics, and the shades of summer pink, designing a garden party full of these details.
Opting for an evening filled with delicious, strawberry-themed treats and specialty cocktails, we included a strawberry shortcake layer cake decked out in fresh strawberries and vanilla cream, crescent moon watercolour painted cookies and vanilla cupcakes embellished with crushed rock candy to mimic the effect of the crystals that were scattered across our lace covered table. Bowls of fresh strawberries lined the table and a tower of mini donuts iced with shades of pink continued our theme.
The party was hosted on the secluded back patio of Toronto favourite Fonda Lola, a Mexican bistro that also created a signature strawberry mojito for our guests to sip on as the sun set and the sky was lit up with a wash of rosy pastels. Tiny glittering stars and gold-detailed tableware provided a dash of sparkle nestled between pink blooming cacti and fresh flowers, and we decorated the vine-covered wall behind the table with a DIY macrame wall hanging.
To bring our strawberry moon vision to life, our dear friend Alex Perlin designed custom watercolour tarot cards, Parlour Salon created bohemian inspired hair and makeup looks with a touch of glitz and sparkle to mimic a starry night sky, Fitzroy Boutique provided gorgeous rental dresses in shades of pink, delicate lace and shimmering metallic tones, and Anice Jewellery provided the perfect crystal embellished jewellery. It wouldn't be a garden party without a floral crown, and Lady Hayes took our theme and created a silk flower statement piece as the perfect complement. The evening was photographed by the exquisitely talented Scarlet O'Neill, who captured our guests and all the details of the evening.
It was a celebration of creativity, femininity, love, wonder and mysticism. This themed party can be incorporated on any full moon, as the full moon has been used in ritual for thousand of years and each month has a new meaning. Tonight's full moon is considered The Sturgeon Moon by some Native Americans and also referred to as The Blueberry Moon, providing the perfect opportunity to take our strawberry theme and translate it into an evening filled with a colour palette of rich blues and purples, with a sweet table incorporating blueberry desserts and drinks.
Creative direction and styling: Studio Bicyclette and Ana Alic
Photographer: Scarlet O'Neill
Location and strawberry mojitos: Fonda Lola
Hair: Parlour Salon
Makeup: Logan Salter
Dress rentals: Fitzroy Boutique
Jewellery: Anice Jewellery
Flower Crown: Lady Hayes
Tarot cards and invitations: Alex Perlin
Models: Genevieve, Gabby, Ana, Angela, Brittany and Alex
Assistant: Abigail Ballanger