This story really starts about a year ago when I began planning the styled shoot I'd been dreaming of. Now, if you're reading this and you aren't in the wedding industry you may not know what a styled shoot is. To be clear, this is for sure not a real wedding, but it is real work and I can certainly attest to that. When I first started talking to my husband about what I was planning and all of the businesses I was meeting with he was super confused. The question he asked was, "I don't understand, you photograph actual weddings, what's the purpose of putting together a fake one to photograph?" The answer to that question, at least for me, is rooted somewhere in the creative side of my brain. I love each and every couple I work with, but on the wedding day I'm not both the photographer and planner and am only able to see pieces as they come together to beautifully display the couples' personality. A styled shoot is the perfect opportunity for wedding professionals to create their own narrative from start to finish. For many of us we entered into business because of the things that would wake us up in the middle of the night, the dreams we had and the sketches that would play out in our minds. Our creativity, though not always the sustenance of our business, is typically the passion driving us. Think of styled shoots like our playground...or a carefully conducted dress rehearsal, and hopefully the concept will start to make a lot more sense. 

When submitting these photos for possible publication, below is the blurb I included as an explanation for the driving force behind the day:

This styled shoot features a married couple madly in love at the unique venue The Meadows, tucked away like the Secret Garden in Mystic, Connecticut. The shoot was centered around the theme of my wedding packages: “Your Love is My Lighthouse.” Styling for the shoot, including design of the invitation suite and fabric accents were created by myself and a local designer.

Everything about this couple’s wedding day is focused around the belief that love doesn’t have to be extravagant, it just has to be enduring, simple and true. In a place woven with history of sea merchants and sailors tales, a modern day coastal wedding means embracing the history of the past with nautical ropes, handcrafted rose gold jewelry, and starfish on your wedding cake. Where rainy days don’t exclude you from wedding portraits on the beach, and embracing nautical doesn’t mean your dress can’t have countless layers of tulle.

I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed working with so many amazing local wedding professionals to bring this vision to life. And if you're in the process of planning a real wedding I'd love the opportunity to chat with you! Make sure to checkout the full Creative Team list at the end of this post for a variety of other individuals and businesses ready to help make your dream wedding a reality.

THE CREATIVE TEAM

Venue | The Meadows, Stonington

Gown | Melissa Ashley Brides Casa Blanca Bridal: Tori

Florals | Verdant Floral Studio

Linens | Felicia's Perfect Setting - XO The Girls

Cake | Zest Fresh Pastry

Design & Decor | Tara Lee Interior Design

Jewelry | J. Noelle Fine Jewelry Design

Makeup | Mercedes McCoy Makeup Artistry & Aesthetics

Hair | Lauren Atkinson - The Traveling Comb

Transportation | Joshua's Limousine

Antique Accents | MINE in Mystic

Event Rentals | Spin Enterprise

Coastal Favors, Gifts & Accents | Mystic Knotwork & MW Coastal Goods

Cora is a wedding photographer based near Mystic, Connecticut, photographing love stories throughout New England (and beyond). Cora is a wife, mom and photographer and finds joy in relationships - with her husband, her daughter, family, friends, and couples. Her photographic style emphasizes warmth and romance experienced by genuine people in classic New England places. When on the road or in the air you will likely find her exploring Boston, Massachusetts; New Haven, Connecticut; Block Island, Rhode Island; Hudson Valley, New York; or New York City, New York. Learn More