Dia de los Muertos Inspired Wedding Photo Shoot

There are times as a wedding designer, you are just looking to be inspired. Sometimes, we want to create something just for us, and maybe, just maybe, it will inspire a bride to reach far beyond her comfort zone. That’s what this shoot was all about. I had this idea swimming in my head for well over a year. American rustic and arts and crafts had made a huge revival. The subtle, muted palettes were beautiful—but I was ready to shake it up. Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a festival/holiday that is equally macabre, vibrant, and festive and can easily be translated into a wedding. You may think, okay I get the festive and the vibrant, but how can a wedding be macabre? Don’t you say, “‘Til death do us part”?

I’m honestly so in love with this shoot. No detail was left out. It all started at the Maitland Art Center. This former artists colony with it’s Mayan influenced architecture was the perfect backdrop. Floral designer Lee Forrest and his team at Lee Forrest Design hand-painted close to 100 skulls and collected religious relics and iconography from the internet and wherever they found inspiration. The team at Marigold Scott had been studying sugar skull makeup and brought a ton of examples on set. Photographer Olivia Ginn of In Style Imagery took weeks to hand pick the models to make sure they had the right look. It took four separate specialty rental companies to get all the pieces we needed—Over The Top Rental Linens, Orlando Wedding and Party Rentals, RW Events/Weddings by 2+Hue, and Max King Events. Cut the Cake mixed patterns and texture reminiscent of the influence of Spanish colonial rule. Calvet Couture Bridal Boutique found the perfect Alvina Valenta gown and matched it up with jewels and baubles from Jenny Packham and Sabika Jewelry. I went on the hunt for other details and found the amazing Citlali Creativo on Etsy. This boutique stationery company based out of Seattle created custom pieces for our shoot. The last element was the groom’s attire which I found in the eleventh hour at Dechoes Resale.

All the elements are here. But I think you will find this shoot rustic, vintage, and creative with an over-the-top, South of the Border Twist. This isn’t going to be for everyone, but hopefully, you will leave a little inspired and wanting to dream bigger.

Cathrina Dionisio, Michele Butler Events

• Venue: Maitland Art Center
• Photography by In Style Imagery
• Models: Richard Kelada, Amanda Harvey, Melinda Sabina
• Concept by Michele Butler Events
• Cultural Consultant:Martha Power
• Decor Design by Lee Forrest Design
• Linens by Over The Top Rental Linens
• Rentals and Lighting by Orlando Wedding and Party Rentals
• Vintage Furniture and China rentals from RW Events/Weddings by 2+Hue
• Serapes and Mixmatch Chairs from Max King Events
• Hair and Makeup by Marigold Scott On Location Hair & Makeup
• Gown by Alvina Valenta provided by Calvet Couture Bridal Boutique
• Cake by Cut the Cake
• Food: Peach Valley Cafe
• Groom’s Attire purchased at Dechoes Resale
• Stationery by Citlali Creativo
• Additional Jewelry from Sabika Jewelry