“It’s giving Vogue, it’s giving Vanity Fair.” 

(Does a better unofficial testimonial exist? I think not.)

When Alyssa posted this as the caption to her art deco style wedding recap on Insta, I was freaking out. Because not only have truer words never been spoken, but truer words have never been spoken literally only because Alyssa and Kennedy leaned into that delicate balance of curated and quirky that both of said iconic-beyond-iconic magazines are known for. 

And how did they do it? How did they end up with a wedding gallery so effortless, so eclectic, so… timeless?

They went into their art deco style wedding day with nothing but chill vibes, and their photos gave nothing but chill vibes right back.

I mean, does anything say ‘chill’ quite like bringing your dog along for the entire wedding day (no, but actually this gallery is just a game of See If You Can Find Frankie), letting your bridesmaids wear whatever they want, and feeding the wedding guests your Victorian-style, cherry-topped cake off of the same fork?

I don’t think so.

Vendors | Bride’s Ceremony Dress: Bella Rose Bridal | Bride’s Reception Dress: Realisation Par “The Clara” in Lily Devoré Ivory | Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin “Miss Jane” in Leche | Bride’s Earrings: Vivienne Westwood Pearl Drop Earrings | Flowers: Fizz Floral | Rings: Mon Bijoutier | Wedding Bands: Filigree | Hair: Ashlee Ola at Reflect Salon | Cake: Buttercream Cakes and Desserts

How to Get Art Deco Style Photos That Are Both Candid and Artistic

A lot of people think that a wedding photographer is the magic maker of the day, the one who maneuvers the moments into art. 

Now feels like as good a time as any to set the record straight: I don’t make the magic. I capture it.

I mean, yeah, I capture it with a whole lot of technical knowledge and a finely attuned artistic eye, but I can’t do that (and get stunnnnning photos out of it like you see here) if what’s happening on the other side of the lens isn’t laced with effortless romance and classic whimsy.

(Emphasis on the effortless.)

Alyssa and Kennedy had all of that– and then some– down pat. They literally didn’t even care that the camera was there; they just trusted that I had a handle on things, and they focused their newlywed energy on being present with their people. (Exactly how I like it.)

You seriously can’t get those two worked up over anything– not showing up to a locked church first thing in the morning and having to resort to a game of hacky-sack while they waited for it to be unlocked; not having to dash in and out of the rain between group shots with the bridal party clad in their pops of color; not even being so giddy after the ‘I do’s’ that they almost left Frankie the Sheepadoodle behind.

Alyssa and Kennedy went into their art deco style wedding day wanting nothing more than to go with the flow and not force a single thing– and that’s exactly what they did.

That chill mentality started from the very top of the day, with the girlies getting ready at an AirBnB just down the street from the church: coffees in hand and Lana Del Rey blasting over the speakers as bridesmaids and bride sat scattered about the living room floor, cross legged in front of any mirror they could get their hands on.

The Venue Takes the Cake

The candid magic carried on throughout the rest of the day, from me peeking through the doors of the Bridgerton-esque church ballroom to sneak a shot of Alyssa and Kennedy getting some sweet alone time (would you look at the size of that rug?!), to Kennedy carrying Alyssa down the church steps like something straight out of Sixteen Candles.

Everything played out without an ounce of production.

And do you want to know what I think we owe that to? Other than the bride and groom’s ‘just roll with it’ way of moving through their day, of course?

The venues.

(I bet you didn’t think you’d ever hear an art deco style wedding photographer attribute candidness to the venues, but now that you have…)

Alyssa and Kennedy chose venues that were absolutely spilling over with character. There is no shot in their gallery that isn’t in a setting that feels like a blast from the past, that adds to the kind of c’est la vie romance that Alyssa and Kennedy have.

In every single space, Alyssa and Kennedy felt free to be their charismatic, carefree selves. Nothing was stuffy; nothing was orchestrated. It was all already there, and it was made magical as soon as Alyssa and Kennedy stepped into it.

I mean, a moment for the sick church bathroom with its pear and peony wallpaper and pink tile, please?

And another moment for the church ballroom, with its stained glass letting just the right amount of daylight in, rich wood framing every, well… frame, and dark and moody contrast in the ceremony space. It was EVERYTHING.

As for the reception space, we’re going to need more than a couple of moments for this one, especially because we need to fully enjoy the whole feeding-the-guests-off-of-one-fork thing. Is it not the most ‘in the moment and of the moment’ thing you’ve ever seen?!

Gatsby-Esque Art Deco Style Wedding Venue in St. Paul, Minnesota

It’s giving speakeasy. Not only because it has the whole ‘50s vibe down but because it actually used to be an actual speakeasy, hosting the likes of F. Scott Fitzgerald during the Prohibition. Like, the real F. Scott Fitzgerald regularly chilled there, drinking his illegal libations in the ambient glow of this Saint Paul establishment. If you’re not picking up on it: it’s kind of a big deal to have your wedding reception somewhere like this.

Outside of having a super cool history, the Commodore– with its black and white checkered tile, Old Hollywood photos on every wall, and chandeliers reminiscent of a party Gatsby would have hosted himself– lended itself super well to candid and glamorous art deco style wedding photography.

There were so many nooks and crannies for the wedding guests (and Frankie, of course) to hang out in, giving them freedom to scatter and settle wherever felt most cozy and homey to them. The result is what you see here: photos of the littles peeking over the windowsill while they waited for bride and groom to pull up, of arms laid casually over backs of chairs and dim candlelight casting a glow over relaxed faces, of temporary tattoos (designed by the bride herself) pressed into everyone’s skin.

The space gave everyone space to be present in Alyssa and Kennedy’s love story, to interact with each other naturally, to embrace the eclectic and not think about anything but “floating around and having fun” (as was Alyssa’s one wish for her wedding day).

You can’t create a true, vibrant candid photo out of thin air. It comes from you, from the two people so head-over-Miss-Jane-heels in love with each other that you can barely think straight. It comes from leaning your head on your groom’s shoulder whenever you feel like it, from not being fazed by anything that comes up. I mean, it even comes from letting your dog sit at the head table!

Yes, a candid moment is captured by an eye that’s always on the lookout for it (read: mine), that knows exactly how to frame it to make it feel like something (read: also me).

But candid photos that feels as fun and timeless and classic as the ones you see here?

Those are made by you– the (nearly) newlyweds, oh my gosh!– letting yourself give into the magic of the day, to leave the timelines and stressors at the locked church doors and simply live it.