Words by Melissa Crawford, a planner at Devoted To You Events
Not every bride imagines herself in a gown, and not every bridesmaid feels comfortable in a dress. I think that the wedding industry as a whole needs to do a better job of making people feel comfortable when they want something different and then make it easy and accessible for them to find something comfortable.
I noticed that women in suits on a wedding day is something that is highly underrepresented. Then, I got the email from SuitShop that mentioned that they were launching a women’s line of tuxedos and suits. I was so damn happy and wanted to show that women can be sexy and feminine in a pants suit. To show that a woman can feel like a bride without wearing a dress. I wanted brides everywhere to see that they can break free of those socially acceptable wedding norms and feel good about it.
On Instagram, I stumbled upon Alyssa and Olivia. Instantly I admired how happy and carefree and just completely enamored with each other they looked. Their love radiated through their photos, and it was infectious.
Around the same time that SuitShop launched the line, Miranda from Community Flower Shop had asked me if I wanted to do a styled shoot at a new venue in town called ‘This Is Red.’ As soon as I saw it, I knew that this was the place to showcase the women’s tux’s and that Alyssa and Olivia would be perfect for it. So, I gathered up some courage and reached out via DM. Hoping that they would take me seriously and not write me off as a complete weirdo!
Thankfully, Alyssa excitedly responded to my message and said, ‘YES!’, they would love to participate, and the rest of the pieces and vendors fell into place.
I wanted to show that love is love in the shoot and that all love is absolutely beautiful no matter what.
Alexa, from Wild Native Photography, was the absolute perfect choice for this. Her ability to capture emotion and color and love in a different way than any other photographer does is uncanny. I look at all the photos of Alyssa and Olivia and how Alexa captured them, and their love, as pure artistry.
I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better overall vendor team. Everyone took my vision and perfected it way beyond what I thought could be possible, and because of it, we were able to showcase something near and dear to my heart.
Love is Love.
“It wasn’t all love and fairy tales as we want to imagine. There was plenty of hardship coming out as gay to ourselves and to the world, but in the end, we knew that all we wanted and needed in life was to be a family. Being a part of such an amazing photoshoot allowed us to feel like beautiful, strong women together as a lesbian couple meant everything to us. We want to show women in love around the world that you can dress how you want. Be whoever you want as long as you are doing it with love in your heart.”
– Alyssa & Olivia [lovers]
Photography by Wild Native Photography
Cake Mediterra Cake House
Ceremony Arch, Side Tables & Couches Old Souls Event Rentals
Chairs Elegant Chair Cover Designs
Florist Community Flower Shop
Hair Marissa Julin
Lovers Alyssa & Olivia
Makeup Artistry by Emily
Paper Products Hungry Heart Ink
Planner Devoted To You Events
Table Assignments Scarlet Day Calligraphy
Tabletop Rentals Eventioneers
Suits SuitShop
Venue This is Red
