This past weekend, I collaborated with Macy of Borrow My Vintage to make a styled shoot idea I had in my head come to life. I wanted to create a woodland styled LGBTQ wedding. I was inspired by whiskey, evergreens and old leather. Macy worked her magic once again by pulling together the perfect furniture and decor pieces to bring my idea to fruition. She sent me a photo of a pair of leather chairs she picked up at an auction and I knew it was meant to be! Perfectly tailored, not over the top, and a little earthy. Being LGBTQ friendly vendors, we feel it important to represent ALL couples, so we intentionally created a more masculine set. I wanted to take a break from the overly curated wedding blog look and create a simple theme that could truly showcase love.
Andi’s Invites once again designed a gorgeous invitation suite for our shoot, and I love how she kept the design clean and masculine to fit our theme. Instead of a traditional wedding cake, we stacked some yummy donuts from Daylight Donuts. I handmade the feather boutonnieres with some feathers sourced through my friend at the Waterfront HyVee Floral Shop. All of the other wardrobe styling was taken care of by our real married couple, and I’m so impressed by how well they took my directions!
This styled session features two of my good friends! The rings featured are their actual wedding rings (and yes those diamonds are real!) – custom designed at Kay Jewelers. These guys have actually been married for almost a year, but didn’t get a chance for a true portrait session. I’m so glad they agreed to let me photograph them, because they did and were game for some hiking in the woods with me. And I’m kind of in love with all of their images. They just have so much love for each other and it shows in every frame!
As a side note, I’ve heard through the grapevine that LGBT couples are facing some discrimination as they plan their weddings, including here in the corridor. As a wedding professional, I am a deeply passionate advocate for marriage equality. Being one of the Iowa City gay friendly vendors, Danielson Photography takes inclusivity very seriously and I will always run a business that welcomes couples from all backgrounds, regardless of religion or sexuality. In addition, I can help you connect with other Iowa City gay friendly vendors to create the wedding of your dreams! To contact me to discuss your wedding plans and photography needs, click here to submit a form directly to me.