Happiest Thanksgiving

I’m so incredibly grateful you’re here.

We are wishing you the happiest Thanksgiving to you and those you hold dear. Around these parts we either head to New Jersey to spend time with all the Dattoli’s (my husband is a Jersey Boy) or head home to Decatur to my older brother’s house, where my mom has cooked a feast for an entire army. This year, mainly because JD doesn’t want to fly with her, we are staying home bound and heading to Decatur. Over the course of the years; Thanksgiving has become smaller and smaller for us, and now it’s usually just a few of my brothers and us. Thinking back on the years has me incredibly grateful growing up in such a big family and having so many people gathered around the table. I hope one-day Ilaryia can have that too.

This year we are incredibly grateful for all our blessings; large and small and all of you that have shown us and our little one love, joy and kindness. Happiest Thanksgiving to you; may your hearts and bellies be full.

xx - Cass

image above is from our Fall Session with my dear and talented friend Kate Spencer Photography.

An Early Fall Soiree

I’m always so giddy in anticipating the arrival of Fall; especially here in Illinois, where the weather is unpredictable and around these parts you’re never sure if you will get a - true Fall feeling - before the weather turns to Winter. It’s September and we are experiencing our humid Summer days. Alas, I am ever so hopeful for Fall; with that I set out with my friend Michelle, from Michelle Schaffer Photography to capture a feeling of early Fall; if not the weather. I headed a bit South, to help Michelle with styling and branding images for her rebrand happening soon. We kept details simple and created some truly spectacular large pieces to focus on, and one of Michelle’s brides’ volunteered to model for us with a taupe gown graciously lent to us from Vows Bridal. (which happens to be the same place I purchased my own wedding gown)

Fall so often is associated with deep reds, soft blush and lots of browns; but I happen to enjoy a little bit of something different. So rather than my usual large fluffy arrangements accompanied by heavy greenery; I aimed for small amounts of greens with lots of blooms and repetition to really make a statement and save us on cost. Most of the furniture we sourced from the local thrift shops and one was saved from the curb! The ivy you see woven throughout was locally sourced from the Mizzou botanical gardens; our model happens to be a teacher there and was happy to indulge me in my hunter-gatherer flower tendencies. Downtown Columbia, Missouri served as a beautiful backdrop and some images shot in the heart of Joe’s alma-mater. I hope you enjoy these images as much as we enjoyed putting them together for you.

With Michelle’s new branding and collateral pieces having a nod to industrial pieces and of course her studio being located in the Broadway Industrial area we really needed a few pieces to really bring it out. I love this vintage stool; the colors are just dark enough - yet industrial enough to pull the industrial element through without it cas

These taupe and deep mauve pairs so well with the fuchsia. I haven’t had a chance to work with this floral palette in quite some time - and it has me all kinds of giddy. I used an abundance of the same type and colors of flowers to really make a large impact - and keep the cost of the shoot manageable. The ivy and greens were locally sourced from the student botanical gardens.

Can you believe we actually salvaged this beautiful “vintage” ladder from the curb before the waste company showed up to take it? It looks like it may have been used to paint various colors over the many years of it’s life - I kinda think it gives it just enough character. It now sits in Michelle’s studio as a side table.

I so hope you enjoyed these images! I’m so proud of my friend Michelle for all the hard work she’s put into her new brand and I absolutely cannot wait to see it come alive. Happy Fall to everyone!!

xo, Cass

Concept, styling, florals: Cassandra Dattoli | Photography, Michelle Schaeffer Photography | Linens & Drapes: Aries Rentals | Plates, glassware and decorative pieces: Target | Platters and frames: Home Goods | Stationary: Sourced from Michelle’s Collateral

Cold and Sweet Editorial Shoot, with F. Guise Photography

I'm incredibly excited to share this shoot with you today.  It was a cold day in January when we were in our mudruckers and hauling items out into the snow and then covering our tracks with rakes and shovels.  A beautiful dusting of snow had hit Central Illinois and my dear Felicia Geise and I had wanted to do an outdoor shoot at her parents home with a cool and soft winter theme.  Inspired by Pantone's color of the year, Ultraviolet and combining it with some cool and refreshing winter hues - I love how this shoot came together.   Anemones, sweet peas and the lisianthus were all specially sourced just for their day in the cold. The barely-there purple hues in the bouquet are just the sweetest.   

The soft touch of lace and those barley pink roses take the cake along with the anemones. 

Isn't that floral hoop just the most adorable ? The astilbe poking up on the left side as an asymmetrical touch is my signature look.  I love everything to be balanced and cohesive, but everything asymmetrical just makes me all giddy.  I feel like this whole scene just feels like winter - and trust me shooting that day felt like winter.  Big hugs to Amanda my second in command for helping out on this as well as Licia's sister Cecelia for helping out and holding our bouquet for us.  You guys are simply the best.  

xoxo, Cass

DESIGN & PLANNING, CASSANDRA DATTOLI | PHOTOGRAPHY, F. GUISE PHOTOGRAPHY | CAKES, SPECIALTY CAKES | FLORALS, CASSANDRA DATTOLI | STATIONARY, THE PAPER BOUTIQUE

Hello to the new Cassandra Dattoli

Today’s the day! The all new Cassandra Dattoli is live. With an updated portfolio and of course my new offerings of stand-alone florals. To see my new offering click over here and take a look for yourself. Offering stand along florals occurred to me when a past groom asks every year for me to make his bride her bouquet from their wedding. Each year I deliver to her a very close replica of the one I made for her nearly 4 years ago. Of course, may love of flowers helped push me toward this decision as well. I plan on only taking a handful of stand-alone floral weddings - because my clients are truly where my heart is - but adding this service has been discussed and asked for - for quite some time.

It’s been quite a ride - and here we are - saying hello to the new face of my namesake brand. I knew it was time for a little more grown up version when a large publication chose my submission for their Summer release. I reached out to my dear friends to help me use my signature logo and beloved Callie into a bit more of a grown up look. I hope you stay a while, click over to my welcome page and enjoy getting to me a little better and the amazing couples we’ve chosen to be featured here.

Much love friends -

Cassandra