Why the getting ready outfit should be prioritized and built around you and how the wedding day changes when it is.
Most people think a good queer wedding look comes down to the fashion, the actual outfit itself. It doesn’t.
It comes down to whether you recognize yourself in it. That’s the difference, and makes all the difference in the world for queer folks. And it’s why I approach styling the way I do.
This week, I’m walking you through a recent shoot I had published — one look at a time. Not just what it looked like. But why it worked. And how it was built.
Because the outcome is one thing, but the thinking behind it is what actually changes everything.
The outcome
A one-of-a-kind dress built from antique, repurposed fabrics.
Paired with sculptural jewelry — vintage-feeling red carpet earrings or handmade work from a queer Indigenous designer. Finished with soft 80s-inspired curls and red ballet slippers.
The wedding look reads romantic, but not traditional. Intentional, but not overworked.
The part most people miss
This wedding look works because nothing is trying too hard to be “bridal.” It’s referencing something older. More personal. Less performative.
And that’s what makes it land.
The Build
The getting ready look is the most individual moment of the day. Before the audience, before the performance. It’s just you — and how you see yourself.
In a shoot centered on radical self-expression, that moment couldn’t be generic. So, we prioritized one-of-a-kind garments.
For Lyric, that meant this dress, made from antique, repurposed fabrics from By Liv Handmade in Brooklyn. (We rented her, the Gigi dress, and she happens to still be available in the shop if you’re interested).
Layers of vintage sheer tulle and antique textiles created something that felt both: photographable and slightly… off-limits.
Not inappropriate. Just not entirely explainable. That tension matters. Because most “getting ready” looks are designed to be consumed.
This one wasn’t. This wedding look was designed to be inhabited.
We wanted Pearls
But not the kind that reference a tradition most people don’t get access to. Because a lot of queer people don’t have the experience of a supportive grandmother handing something down on their wedding day.
So instead, we sourced a pearl necklace from House of Sutai, a queer Indigenous brand. Irregular pearls. Slightly different. Still classic — just not obedient to it.
And the Shoes
The getting ready wedding look wouldn’t be the same without ruby red ballet slippers. A quiet nod, if you catch it.
Most people assume…
that vintage is either: something you wear as-is or something you can’t access. That’s not true. There’s always a third option. Repurpose it. Rework it.
Shift it just enough that it goes from something old to something you.
You don’t have to choose between…
something meaningful and something that actually works for the moment. You also don’t have to rely on what the wedding industry tells you is “necessary” just to feel finished.
There are other ways to arrive at a look. More specific ones. More accurate ones. More you-worthy ones.
This is the kind of queer fashion styling work I do with clients — we’ll get into more of it in the next look (Chantelle’s getting ready look).
Follow the creative team on Insta
Creative Team:
Planning/Design/Producer: Aprill Gordon @Tulleandtinsel_Events
Fashion Stylist/Creative Director: Kati Kons @portraitofabrideonfire
Stylist Assistant: Olivia Cantrell @ocantrell_
Photography: Jasmine Kerbel, @jasminekerbel
Lighting Assistant: Logan Schooley, @logansphotog
Content Creation: Liz Cipriani, @contentbyliz_
Floral Design: Lee Matalone, @fieldfloral
Venue: Strawberry Hill Petersburg @strawberryhillpetersburg
Makeup & Hair Stylist: Carla Pressley, @Carlapressleyhairmakeup
Stationery Design: Patricia Heffner, @ohelevenstudio
Rentals: Rent-E-Quip, @rentequipva / DC Rental, @Ceventrentals
Cake Designer: Justin Ross, @JC_desserts
Couple: Lyric and Chantelle @lyric_simms @ceepeekay
Published in @greenweddingshoes