H&H Weddings

In my lifelong quest to dispel stereotypes and create beautiful things (simultaneously, when possible), I am often thinking about concepts for photo shoots! This idea came to me a while back, and it was too good not to come to fruition.  

The idea for this shoot started pretty simply. The words “dapper hour” came to mind…a happy hour consisting of a dapper group. As I thought about it, I realized that this had to be a group of dapper women. There are so few places for masculine women and transguys to find clothing that I wanted to highlight the places that make a point to cater to this community. We lucked out with six beautiful models!  

Soon, the word art deco started getting tossed around and it was a sure-fire way to create the perfect winter/ New Year’s Eve décor and attire inspiration. A curated list of about twenty vendors all came together to make this incredible shoot happen! With suiting from J.Crew & Saint Harridan, a jumpsuit from & FOR LOVE, headpieces by Hushed Commotion and jewelry from Greenwich Jewelers & Gunner & Lux, these models were outfitted to the nines! I love that we were able to play with so many variations on classic suiting. One model wore a full suit, another wore a vest and trousers, while another wore suspenders. We were truly able to showcase a range of attire for a range of people. I genuinely think that anyone looking for inspiration can find something that would suit them in this shoot!  

We chose to work with more femme models, too, as we wanted this to be an inclusive shoot! Jumpsuits are one of my favorite wedding trends right now, so I had to have this one from & FOR LOVE. Again, we aimed for variety with our models. A short sequined dress, a stunning silk jumpsuit and a camisole with cigarette pants ran the gamut in terms of garb.  

Leah, of Color Pop Events, was a total rock star through the planning process! She had so many great ideas and helped me make my dreams a reality. She also brought in the star of the show, Remy, our dapper French Bulldog!  

Brookelyn Photography created so many beautiful images, we still can't stop drooling over them!  

The backdrop was set perfectly by 501 Union, with the help of Juli Vaughn Designs on floral duty and Octavia & Brown’s exquisite pieces!  

The beauticians on set, Nicole Sievers & Styles on B kept the models fresh and impeccably styled.  

With a palette of gold, emerald green and black guiding us, we really couldn’t go wrong! We stuck with some traditional art deco elements such as the design on the cake and infusion of gold everywhere, and the bar cart, but we wanted this to feel modern, too. The florals were much more lush than typical art deco décor and the graphic glassware made things current. One of the best additions to the shoot was a wall of paper feathers, designed and created by Gina Paola Design. She blew us away with this piece that fit in perfectly with our palette! Gina also created an illustration of a French Bulldog in a bowtie, which added a touch of dapperness to the bar!  

Sincerely Jackie took the illustration to the next level by using emerald green foil to emboss the coasters. Drink flags with the bulldog and “cheers” added a festive touch to the Bon Affair bubbly, which was perfect for our toast!  

The other elements on the bar were custom macarons by Swallow My Words. Min, the fabulous baker behind the company, finished the treats off with classic art deco patterns.

Finally, Purslane Catering created a delicious gin cocktail for the crew to sip on. It was finished with a black sugar rim for good measure.  

Looking at the finished product, my favorite thing about this shoot is that you could use it for wedding inspiration or living room décor. It is so versatile and inclusive! Oh, and totally luxe!