The Moon and the Stars: A Dreamy Michigan Style Shoot

Kim Swain of Inner Light Photography had the vision for a celestial-themed style shoot that would bring the moon and the stars to wedding design. Kim adds, “The shoot was a culmination of ideas from myself and Kayla at The Lost Forty. I’m a huge fan of vintage sci-fi and I’ve had a celestial styled board on Pinterest for years but have never had time to pull off a styled shoot. Kayla reached out to me last year about collaborating on some stuff that was a little less mainstream and we immediately hit it off and started planning this shoot right away.”

Kim and Kayla quickly started to come up with design ideas for the shoot. They knew that they needed a space that could offer an ethereal atmosphere. Kim says, “We wanted somewhere Michigan-based with lots of room and dark space with lights, but also could have that space-like feel without being too campy.” Res-Les Farm ended up being the ideal spot. Their open field and large venue space made it possible to curate a feeling of celestial light. 

“The curved metal barn with the lights was what struck me as perfect for this, but there were so many other aspects of it that fell into place so perfectly when we got there,” says Kim. “The ceremony area where we placed the moon, etc., and the open field facing west so you get that awesome glowy sunset light!” We love that the team utilized every space on the property to highlight how you could use the entire venue.

The dress is a true showstopper in this shoot. Its black tulle base mixed with golden, moon decals is breathtaking. The team was not sure what they were going to do for the dress when they first planned the shoot. Kim explains, “We were looking at doing a dip-dyed at first but this one popped up in my Instagram stories for sale from another photographer and I knew I had to have it for this and purchased it immediately.”

The team used faux florals for the shoot to create a one-of-a-kind bouquet. “We are both really focused on eco-consciousness and sustainability,” notes Kim. “Real flowers can be a huge strain on the environment (especially some of the species we featured in the bouquet). With faux, you also have the advantage of them looking great through the whole time they’re in use, and you will have your bouquet forever! No waste!”

Cordial Punch Press designed the black and white invitations as a nod to the space theme. Kim adds, “My favorite part about this suite was the font. I feel like it has that sci-fi feel with a sprinkle of David Bowie.” We love the font along with the watercolor technique. 
 

The cake is another highlight of the shoot. The dark macarons are a reminder of spacial textures. We also love that black is used as the main color in this design. Showing off the idea that bright and airy style isn’t the only design fitting for a wedding cake. Kim says, “I knew I wanted it a little celestial but with some edge, my only requirement was that lovely melty drip and some gold. I sent Kaci Bakes some inspiration and she took it from there and totally nailed it!”
 

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