Nov 12, 2020

BORROWED & BLUE DETROIT STYLIZED ELOPEMENT | EASTERN MARKET | DETROIT WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

This stylized elopement started with a passion to creatively capture a real couple in Detroit while cultivating relationships with talented wedding vendors. After planning my first stylized elopement in Detroit during the summer, I was filled with excitement to collaborate and curate a beautifully styled elopement again! Camryn and Davion, the couple, were just as excited to participate, too! As I planned the details and brought together a team of Detroit-based vendors along with The Borrowed and Blue Project, I became even more excited and passionate to provide an amazing experience for everyone involved.

The Borrowed and Blue Project was the beginning of this stylized elopement. They reached out back in June and told me about their passion project, which simply started as a shared jacket. Their traveling jean jacket, which is shipped from bride to bride, only requires a donation to one of the non-profits they hand-selected. Black Girls Code was the one I chose because after teaching coding for a year I realized the massive disparity of people of color in coding, especially Black women. And now I'm passionate about supporting their mission.

As I envisioned the traveling jean jacket, I saw styles colliding, from beautiful white lace mixed with worn blue fringes, burgundy florals paired with burnt oranges, and elegance colliding with an urban environment. I knew Eastern Market and Downtown Detroit would be the perfect backdrop to contrast this beautifully styled elopement.

I was ecstatic when I reached out to LeeAnne’s Luxury Bridal Boutique, and Lori, the founder and owner, was excited to collaborate. She creates a modern luxury bridal experience in Detroit and hand selects the dresses in her shop. Her passion was evident from the first moment she arrived, making sure the dress perfectly fit Camryn and putting so much attention to detail into every aspect of the intricate lace dress. The dress was a perfect juxtaposition with the jean jacket and they flowed together seamlessly.

Camryn looked absolutely stunning in the dress and her makeup was flawless. Seriously, flawless. Regina, the owner of Regina Renay Makeup Artistry, is incredibly talented. Her soft glam makeup was truly gorgeous. And we can’t forget about the details! The beautiful clay earrings, provided by The Bellers Collection, were such a fun pop of color! They matched perfectly with the florals designed by Bride & Bloom as well. Bride & Bloom put an immense amount of passion, love, and talent into the bridal bouquet. It was absolutely stunning! It was everything I envisioned and more. Bride & Bloom even added a custom hand-dyed ribbon that tied it all together.

After getting ready, we headed to the Eastern Market. I love the variety of backdrops and beautiful murals. Unfortunately, it was an absolutely freezing Michigan fall day. Seriously, it was snowing. We didn’t stay long before we headed to the Airbnb to get warm! I found the cutest Airbnb nearby in Brush Park that had a rooftop terrace. We finished the session there, dancing on the rooftop while admiring the Detroit skyline. It was no doubt the perfect way to end their stylized elopement.

Camryn and Davion were truly a joy to work with as well! When they arrived, they were all smiles and were excited to be a part of the stylized elopement. Their energy and excitement were evident in everything they did and it was truly a blast! When I document couples, I aim to capture raw emotion while making them feel comfortable and confident. That was no different with Camryn and Davion. I treated them like I would any couple on their wedding day, making sure they were having fun and comfortable with everything.

Stylized shoots don't have to be "fake.” They can be filled with real love and true emotion. You could see the joy and love from Davion and Camryn. The love and passion from each vendor involved came out in every detail, too. It was an honor to work with such a talented team and I look forward to working with them all again. I’m also excited to witness Camryn and Davion’s relationship continue to grow!

If you’d like to see some behind the scenes from this stylized elopement, head over to my Instagram Reels. But make sure you look through this blog first! It’s filled with giggles, windblown hair, warm embraces, and lots of inspiration if you’re planning a wedding!

All my love,