for the love of disco

do you know the story of the couple that fell in love, got engaged, planned a wedding, and then had to postpone or cancel it due to a global pandemic threatening the normalcy of the world as we know it?

it’s a pretty famous one. almost like thousands of people can relate.

michelle gonzalez photography captures romantic moment during elopement with couple holding hands

but this story is a little different in that this couple didn’t just have a wedding planned for 2020. this couple— a free-spirited, adventurous, and dynamic duo—was planning the burning man of destination weddings. if you’re not familiar with burning man, imagine an idyllic, utopian community comprised of thousands of people who make the pilgrimage to the black rock desert in nevada each year to camp out, get off the grid, and experience a weekend of genuine connection.

many women dream of an ornate interior lined with chairs and linens, florals and decor. but gaby & jaz had other plans.

“join us for a camping trip at the great sand dunes national park”, said the caption of a picture that was sent through instagram to all of their family and friends. talk about unique in every single aspect. but you gotta love an eco-friendly wedding invitation.

fast forward to november 2020. i am in the process of curating my portfolio, planning styled shoots, all in an effort to attract my ideal clientele. in this time, i am focusing on style, design, & color schemes.

lesbian couple celebrating elopement with disco balls — and then it dawned on me that up to that point, i had only ever received one inquiry for a gay wedding. out of the dozens of couples i had spoken to, only once did a gay couple approach me with an interest in hiring me to design and plan their wedding. something about that didn’t sit well with me.
i knew that in order to effectively promote a business that is welcoming to everybody, whether they are a part of the LGBTQ+ community or not, i needed to take matters into my own hands.

while i have known gaby for the majority of my life, gaby & jaz as a pair, are friends i made along the way that happened to have a love story i could relate to—one that was likely not easy every step of the way. a relationship that, clear to anyone that has ever spent time with them, is the epitome of balance. more importantly, they’re two best friends that just happen to be in love. and if there’s anything i live to be a part of—in one way or another—it’s a good love story.

minimalist wedding table setup with disco balls hanging

so when i reached out to gaby and they both agreed to take part in the elopement-style photoshoot, i was beyond thrilled. teaming up with michelle gonzalez photography and vmf film co. just happened to be the icing on the proverbial cake.

while i longed for a black & white, mixed-metals look, i knew i wanted to bring out the golden tones, too. that’s where michelle’s beautiful editing style and artistic composition comes in. bring on victoria’s dramatic, edgy, and iconic cinematography and i knew we were going to make magic at the studio that day.

together, we utilized the crisp, naturally-lit space at little rivers studio, which is located in miami, just north of wynwood and the design district. we worked together to set up the tablescape, as well as perfect the art of suspending multiple disco balls in a set of effortless clusters.
with a few dozen of the shining orbs, some of which were the creation of the atomic discoteca (formerly known as la discoteca), we curated a full dinner + dance party for the happy couple celebrating their love.

different look rentals helped us set the scene with their sleek and modern tableware, which matched almost a little too perfectly with the masterpiece that was flour & fleur’s two cakes. gaby & jaz moved & grooved, but also got a chance to kick back and enjoy the comfy stylings of lavish event rentals.

so, while it was no camping trip in a national park, that november afternoon was surely a day to remember and a set of photos worth going through—time and time again.