This shoot was originally part of a two-sided project with two photographers and two planners! Hosted on a private residence outside of Philadelphia, we used all five acres to create a whimsical, eclectic vibe. When it came down to making a set for this shoot, I wanted to do a couple of projects that I thought would be fun decorations for a wedding, as opposed to a ceremony or reception space.

The swing is a popular prop with my clients—who doesn’t love the idea of being able to be a little silly on their wedding day? My father and I made the swing together—I had concerns that if I bought it from somewhere, that it might not hold together. It’s made from a stair tread and strung up with industrial-level rope. I also created a fun greenery chandelier. I’m not much of one for heights, so it was definitely an experiment for me.

When it came to casting, I went in my usual direction. One of the brides is actually a client of mine; I love her and her green hair so much, and she was completely open to modeling. The other bride, Camilla, is a marathon runner and pulls off the suit look well. And as you can see from the photos, she has a whole lot of personality. For a bridesmaid, I used Tamara, and she was willing to bring her son Evan to the shoot.

For colors, I went with a deep plum blouse for Camilla, and a burgundy on Tamara for a bridesmaids’ dress. I’m no florist, so I went with what was available locally to me at the time. I found burgundy flowers and a ton of greenery at Produce Junction, a farmer’s market type grocery store in the Philadelphia area. It’s a great inexpensive way to have flowers at your wedding without breaking your budget. The designer, Lillie Couturier, is a Philadelphia-based designer that creates a wide variety of designs. What I admire about her is that she always seems to catch the client’s personality in her work. —from the event planner, Events by Merida

Whimsical swing set wedding inspiration

Whimsical swing set wedding inspiration

Whimsical swing set wedding inspiration

Whimsical swing set wedding inspiration

Whimsical swing set wedding inspiration

Whimsical swing set wedding inspiration

Whimsical swing set wedding inspiration

Equally Wed: The Ultimate Guide to Planning Your LGBTQ+ Wedding
Whimsical swing set wedding inspiration

Whimsical swing set wedding inspiration

Whimsical swing set wedding inspiration

Whimsical swing set wedding inspiration

Whimsical swing set wedding inspiration

Whimsical swing set wedding inspiration

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Photographers: Hailey Photography and Yael Pachino Photography

Planner and Set Designer: Events By Merida

Designer: Lillie Couture

Hairstylist: Elyse Sara

Models: Cole, Camilla, and Tamara