Elevated Entertainment Blog

Thank You for Being a Friend: A Golden Girls Inspired Styled photoShoot

What happens when you combine a tropical color palette, a vintage glassware collection, and a bathroom wallpaper that gives major Golden Girls energy? You get a collaborative, joy-filled styled photoshoot that feels like the most nostalgic dinner party your inner circle’s ever dreamed of.

This June, we joined the Birmingham chapter of the Rising Tide Society for a truly one-of-a-kind creative collab at Avenue D—and spoiler alert: it was magic.

Brought to life by Debby Cullum (@deborahmichellephotography), this shoot was inspired by Avenue D’s iconic bathroom wallpaper, and the timeless line: “Thank you for being a friend” which ties perfectly into Rising Tide’s motto “community over competition”.

What started as a fun way to co-create quickly turned into a full-on celebration of our creative community. We had six total photographers and even a content creator!

What Is the Rising Tide Society?

If you’re not familiar, the Rising Tide Society is a national community of creative entrepreneurs who believe in the power of “community over competition”.

Through local chapter’s meetups, educational workshops, and co-working sessions, members come together to share ideas, support each other, and grow stronger together—whether you're a florist, photographer, content creator, or any type of creative small business owner. Though our Birmingham chapter is mostly comprised of women, men are also encouraged to join RTS!

We’ve been part of the Birmingham chapter since December 2022, and it’s been an anchor for our business—especially in the often-isolating world of entrepreneurship. This styled shoot felt like a celebration of everything Rising Tide stands for.

We’re working on a full blog post all about what Rising Tide Society is, how it’s shaped our business, and why we think every creative/business owner should be part of a community like this. Stay tuned!

The Idea Behind the Shoot

This shoot was organized by Debby Cullum (a styled shoot mastermind, see one of our past photoshoots HERE) as a way for Birmingham’s Rising Tide members to come together and create something beautiful—just for the joy of it!

We’re often side-by-side in co-working sessions or workshops, but rarely do we get to see the output of each other’s work. This shoot let us all step into our own zones of genius while cheering each other on in real time.

Every element of this photoshoot was a reflection of what happens when talented, big-hearted creatives bring their gifts to the table.

A Closer Look at Each Vignette

This shoot was thoughtfully styled into multiple scenes—individually telling its own story, and letting each vendor shine!

Here’s a peek at the scenes we created and what made each one stand out:

💌 The Flatlay Tables

Creative stations where everyone got to contribute! Styled mats featured everything from invitation suites and mini prints - to jewelry by Six16 Creative and even cheesecake slices.

The collaborative energy here was unmatched—every flat lay had a unique feel based on who was styling it, and we loved watching that magic unfold.

It’s impossible to choose just one favorite scene, but the flat lay station was a personal highlight. Everyone had the chance to style, rearrange, and get hands-on with gorgeous props and the paper goods from Justice Creative Co.. At one point, I even handed a flower to a photographer and said, “Go ahead—rip off some petals and sprinkle them over the flat lay!” That kind of fun creativity? The best part.

💛 A Bridal Moment

This stunning scene featured our bride model with in a striking peacock chair, surrounded by lush, layered florals from Katherine Reed Events. Model Ari wore a stunning two piece strapless gown from Imperial Formalwear, bringing a soft yet stylish energy to the tropical setting.

This vignette was all about celebrating beauty, confidence, and those quiet, introspective moments in the midst of celebration. Coco Moore Makeup and hair styling by Audrie Klavas Beauty brought a radiant, soft-glam look to our model that felt effortlessly bridal while still playing into the playful vibe of the shoot.

Here’s a look at how six different photographers each captured the same scene differently!

🎁 The Souvenir Table

This vignette showcased The Little Wedding Print Shop, tiny take-home prints nestled in the garden backdrop. This is actually the debut of Little Red Print Shops newest service; while they usually are selling printed-goodness at coffee shops and pop-up markets, you can now bring the pop-up market vibes to your wedding!

One of the most thoughtful details? A quilt square guest book from Katie Mae Quilts—such a meaningful, heirloom keepsake idea that added an interactive moment while signing. Guests sign pieces of quilt squares, and after the bid day Katie sews a keepsake quilt for you to cherish forever.

These both added a thoughtful and whimsical touch, perfect for capturing that personalized guest favor energy for a wedding. Customized take home favors have ramped up in 2025 (like those watercolor guest portraits), and will be THE TREND in 2026- we’re calling it now!

🍰 Dessert Party Table

A tablescape full of treats: slices of cheesecake and a brownie “cake” by Adored Sweets, beautifully bright macarons by Beck’s Blissful Bites, sliders and a gorgeous citrus salad from Sorelle- all expertly styled by Rachel from Cravings Creative (a restaurant/food marketing agency!). The table was arranged to feel playfully indulgent, just like a late-night dessert session with your favorite people.

🍹 Mocktails + Mahjong

One of the most playful setups! This vignette featured mocktails from Trunk Tea, and a colorful mahjong setting from West House Events. This game has soared in popularity over the last year or so - with sets flying off the shelves and new gaming groups popping up all over to play!

With bold colors and crystal glassware, this vignette was an instant mood-setter for golden hour. Decor To Adore provided the colorful linens and chic ghost chairs that tied the table scene together with flair and a touch of glam.

Models wore bright, bold pieces from Clover and Bee—outfits that totally matched the shoot’s nostalgic yet punchy personality.

🌞 The Courtyard Scene

This bright and breezy outdoor setup included “STAY GOLDEN” marquee letters from Say It In Lights, a lounge moment, and a stunning gold and glass bar cart. We had the cart stocked with drink refills and our audio guestbook Betty at the ready for all the gossip! The courtyard moment tied everything together with a tropical garden party energy. This was also the final scene so all the vendors and everyone involved got to have a mini-party at the end of the shoot!

Our Role: Audio Guestbooks with a New Look

We were so excited to be part of this shoot by bringing something fun and fresh to the table: our audio guestbook phones! Because what’s more “Golden Girls” than gabbing on the phone??

We featured three different phones: our original classic black and white models, plus the debut of our brand new PINK phone, rightfully named - Betty!

Truthfully? This shoot inspired us to add some color to our collection.

All three phones turned out to be such a hit. It’s so fun seeing our audio guestbooks as a beautiful piece of the aesthetic puzzle.

Venue, Vibes, and Vendor Highlights

A huge thank you to Avenue D for hosting us—and to Laura, the venue’s owner, who also signed up to model!

The space was a dream: the perfect natural lighting, a blank canvas, and perfect for everything we imagined from mahjong table vibes to courtyard hangs.

We’re also endlessly grateful to Debby Cullum! Her vision, mood boards, vendor communication and organization, set the tone for the entire experience.

Every vendor truly brought their A-game, every single element helped bring our garden party theme to life!

Want to see more behind the scenes from this shoot? Check out our Instagram recap @elevatedbham 💛

FULL VENDOR LIST: (click to visit their website!)

Planner + Lead Photographer: Deborah Michelle Photography

Venue: Avenue D Events

Floral Designer: Katherine Reed Events

Makeup Artist: Coco Moore Makeup

Hair Stylist: Audrie Klavas Beauty

Bridal Gown: Imperial Formal Wear

Jewelry: Six16 Creative

Invitation Suite: Justice Creative Co

Content Creator: Bree Does Social

Party Favors: The Little Wedding Print Shop

Wardrobe: Clover and Bee

Tableware: Tea & Old Roses

Mocktails: Trunk Tea

Food Styling: Creative Cravings

Cheesecake + Desserts: Adored Sweets

Light Bites: Sorelle

Macarons: Beck's Blissful Bites

Mahjong Table + Cotton Candy: West House Events

Audio Guestbooks: Elevated Entertainment

Marquee Letters: Say It In Lights

Quilt Square Guest Book: Katie Mae Quilts

Linens + Chairs: Décor to Adore

Models: Javacia Harris Bowser, Laura Turner, Ariana Pellegra, Kathryn Novak

Participating Photographers: Piper Vine, Emily Cotton Photography, Rea Chey Photography, Sara and Co Media, Sage and Satin

See this styled photoshoot featured on Alabama Weddings HERE!

Want to Book an Audio Guestbook of Your Own?

If you’re planning a wedding, shower, or special event and want to add a personal touch that guests actually use—our audio guestbooks are a perfect fit.

We’ve got a special offer!
Book any DJ or photobooth package with Elevated Entertainment and receive a complimentary audio guestbook! 🎉

Click Here to Learn More about our Audio Guestbooks

We’ll bring the vibes—you bring the voices.