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Personal details, intimate settings and intentional components comprise a new wedding trend being embraced by couples choosing to simplify both the actual wedding day and the overall vibe. Alyssa Hannigan of Alyssa Christine Photography (alyssachristine.com) and Gabe McMullen (gabemcmullen.com) sought to shoot a minimal concept wedding to show couples that they can have a “stunning wedding while not being overwhelmed.”
In many ways, a pared-down wedding focused on the couple’s selective guest list, a smaller venue and distinctive decor can actually leave everyone feeling like they just attended a small, intimate dinner party instead of an large impersonal event. Everything Hannigan envisioned centered around the theme of making wedding days less hectic. “I wanted my vision of a calm, intimate, and intentional wedding to come to life. Normally wedding days are so fast, crazy and chaotic!” she exclaims. The trend is actually taking off nationally, and is dubbed the “microwedding.” The next step for Hannigan was finding the perfect location to shoot her idea.
After visiting Passenger Coffee in downtown Lancaster, Hannigan knew the clean, simply decorated space would fit the mold of the concept she envisioned. Using a real couple as models, she endeavored to show couples that they can create “a stunning wedding, while not being overwhelmed.” Renouncing traditional rites of passage for more meaningful touches lessens the burden of the days of the over-the-top wedding.
Hannigan worked with local husband-and-wife event planners Heidi and Isaac of Tucker & Co. (tuckerandcompany.co), and Heidi fully embraced the idea of the shoot. “Brides and grooms will hopefully continue to feel free to plan as little or as much as they want for their big day,” says Heidi. She adds that couples should embrace being able “to celebrate with only their closest friends and family in their own unique way, cutting out all the excess.” The result clearly shows no details missing.
When it comes to selecting design details, Heidi always opts for a natural approach. “I love natural things,” she says. “Decorating with florals, greenery, fruits, wooden pieces, glass, and lighting” simply adds to an already beautiful venue and enhances an outdoor location, making the look straightforward and uncomplicated, yet stunning.
Passenger Coffee (passengercoffee.com), a fresh space in downtown known for its delicious brews and sustainable practices, has hosted various events in the past, like wedding rehearsals as well as baby and bridal showers, according to co-proprietor Crystal Weaver. “It’s definitely a unique and classy place to hold a small party,” says Weaver. Available off-hours for private events, the shop can hold 30-50 guests. Since coffee shops can be great places for couples to meet and hang out, Hannigan chose Passenger Coffee to highlight that couples can incorporate “alternative spaces” that hold a “special place in a couple’s heart.”
After creating a “mood board” on Pinterest, Hannigan sought all local vendors and allowed them to take creative control of their individual contribution. “When you give a creative person freedom to make what they love, you’ll get amazing results!” says Hannigan. Working with Tucker & Co., everyone knew Passenger Coffee would be the perfect “modern space full of great natural light” and that it would also work well with the vision of a cocktail reception theme followed by a coffee and sweet treat bar. Lancaster Stroopie Company (stroopies.com) provided chocolate-dipped stroopies and Sunshine Bakery (facebook.com/littlesunshinebakery) added the rest, including heart-shaped goodies displayed on simple white serving trays.
The concept of the reception allowed Hannigan to “focus on the intimacy between the couple.” Using models who were recently married allowed for genuine moments, despite the stylized shoot. “As a photographer, I am fueled by the small, quiet, in-between moments, and I think that I really wanted this fuel to come out in the ‘look’ of this shoot,” adds Hannigan. In addition to the Passenger Coffee photos, the couple can be seen in various locations throughout downtown Lancaster.
Using all local vendors for the jewelry, printed pieces, dress, hair and makeup, flowers and table decor was intentional from the start. Hannigan wanted to “showcase many talented local vendors for brides- and grooms-to-be in the south central PA area” specifically. “We wanted to show how choosing small business vendors local to them can truly make their wedding one-of-a-kind,” says Hannigan.
Creating a wintery feeling with the mixed greens and white and crimson flowers, Custom Florals by Heather Heagy (customflorals.com) perfectly captured an elegant mood without huge, towering displays. The groom’s boutonniere held selections from each color and he wore a crimson tie to match. The bride’s gown from Posh Bridal Shop (poshbridal.com), simple from the front with surprise detailing on the back, additionally fit the modern, graceful intentions of all of the collaborators.
Looking at Hannigan’s photos leaves the beholder stunned that so much beauty could be captured with so little. Favoring “less guests, less props, less traditions” and focusing on a couple’s “specific tastes, interests, friends, and family,” Heidi perfectly sums up how cutting out the excess can actually fill the day with more of everything important.
Local Vendors
Venue: Passenger Coffee, Lancaster
Photography: Alyssa Christine Photography, alyssachristine.com
Attending photographer: Gabe McMullen Photography, gabemcmullen.com
Jewelry: Melissa Scoppa, melissascoppa.com
Gown: Posh Bridal Shop, poshbridal.com
Printed pieces: S.E. Creative, instagram/s.e._creative
Hair & Makeup: Bonafide Ginger, the-bonafide-ginger.com
Tablescape items: Mise en Place, miseenplacekitchenstore.com
Florals: Custom Florals by Heather Heagy, customflorals.com
Sweets: Lancaster Stroopie Company, stroopies.com, Sunshine Bakery, facebook.com/littlesunshinebakery
Planners: Tucker & Co., tuckerandcompany.co
