Celebration of Queer Love on Film

Queer love deserves to be seen in all its forms. A story that’s documented without filters, assumptions, or traditions attached. Julienne and Bee’s elopement felt special from the moment we first spoke. Two people crafting a celebration of their love created entirely on their own terms, grounded in twelve years together. Shot on film, their elopement was an ode to their connection. A day distilled to the moments that mattered most to them.

Being apart of the LGBTQ+ community myself, I understood the importance of being fully seen on a day so special in ones’ life. My connection to the queer community was not just personal, but shaped how I captured stories like theirs, prioritizing authenticity and care.

The Schema for Choosing Film | Fine Art Elopement Photography

Julienne and Bee were drawn to film from the very beginning. They spoke to the “romance” of film photography and conveyed a deep pull to the way film managed to show people as their honest and unfiltered selves. To them, film carried an emotional truth that made images feel real and special. It was exactly the medium they wanted to document their elopement, reflecting the same sincerity found within their relationship.

They first discovered my work while searching for LGBTQ+-aligned film wedding photographers, and they resonated with my documentary approach to capturing elopements and weddings alike. They also valued having a queer photographer that they could trust. Someone they didn’t feel the need to explain or minimize themselves to. The trust was a foundational part on how I was able to capture their day.

Candid Getting-Ready | Western MA Film Elopement Photography

Their ceremony took place at Flora Farms in Haydenville, MA, a setting that echoed the same attributes that they loved about film itself: soft, natural, and quietly blissful. A blend of open grass, winding paths, and colorful flower gardens created an environment that effortlessly aligned with their vision for their intimate ceremony. Choosing an elopement allowed them letting go of any typical traditions that didn’t feel true to them, and for them Flora Farms offered the perfect grounds for doing just that. 

The elopement, just attended by themselves, the officiant, the musician, the florist, and myself aided in creating the perfect, loving atmosphere where they could focus on one another.

The early afternoon unfolded with a gradual getting-ready. Julienne stepped into a hand-crocheted a beautiful, purple floor-length dress for the occasion. Bee matched them beautifully, with a white lace suit coat paired with olive green pants. Flora Farms completed their looks with handcrafted crowns, tying back to the land they so intentionally chose.

Flower Field Ceremony | Film Wedding Photographer

The blooming flower field at Flora Farms was selected as the place for their ceremony. The lush expanse of flowers became the backdrop for their vows, surrounding themselves in colorful nature. I joined the officiant and the musician at the entrance of the flower garden, waiting for Julienne and Bee to make their way down the path.

Their musician, Sona, who was also Bee’s singing teacher, sat to the side and began the ceremony with soft, hand-strummed guitar, as Julienne and Bee entered the garden together. Having a musician that knew them helped in underscoring the intimacy of the event, grounding their celebration in the familiar.

Jo, their officiant, guided the ceremony with warmth and ease, carrying them through each of their planned ceremony events. It began with a shared book reading of An Awesome Book of Love! by Dallas Clayton and Worm Loves Worm by J.J. Austrian, in which Julienne and Bee alternated reading each page aloud to one another. Their voices carried words that echoed their values, love, joy, and commitment.

This was followed by an exchanging of gifts, where Julienne had created a felt book, a hand-stitched keepsake reflecting a variety of textures and colors. Bee had created a carousel book of landscapes and scenes, connecting to their shared memories. They served as tangible reminders of how thoughtfully they loved one another.

The Tea Party | Queer Film Wedding Photography

After their ceremony, Sona, Julienne, and Bee wandered to a nearby patch of grass, shaded by tall arching trees. It was here they shared their first dance. Sona sang and played Hozier’s “Sunlight” as they swayed in each others arms. Full of smiles and laughter. The true happiness that came from being wholly present with the person you love.

They then transitioned into a simple, intimate tea party in Flora Farm’s Rose Garden. The table, styled with a patterned table cloth and ceramic plates and cups shaped like leaves and flowers. There contained chocolate-covered strawberries, homemade jam cookies, and small tea sandwiches cut into shapes of butterflies and flowers, each small detail carrying the intention of their fairy garden-esque tea party.

Before leaving Flora Farms, we briefly returned to the flower field to admire the rows of blooms and the buzzing life. It felt important to pause and take in the place where they had just said “I do”.

Couples Portraits at Smith College | Film Elopement Photography

As the afternoon light softened, we shifted from the rural serenity of Flora Farms to Smith College’s Capen Garden. The transition felt smooth, moving from green and tended-to fields to a more curated botanical space, offering new textures, tones, and backdrops. In Julienne and Bee’s eyes, Capen Garden was a perfect complementary spot to share some moments amongst its floral archways.

They found a quiet place to sit and revisit the handmade gifts they had exchanged earlier. Documenting these pieces in garden’s soft light allowed their details to shine. The felt book was filled with layers in a variety of mediums, incorporating acrylic charms of their cats, felted and beaded animals, and a variety of natural scenes. The carousel book shined with its unfolding landscapes, created with cut paper and beautiful illustrations. Their shared histories were artistically translated into thoughtful handmade creations.

We wandered through the varied archways in the Capen Garden for their couples portraits. They moved together with ease, sharing small kisses and holding each other close as the day came to a gentle close. The last frames felt like a ribbon tied around the last moments of their elopement. Warm, tender, and true to who they beautifully are.

Why Film for Queer Love Stories | Massachusetts Elopement Photographer

Film photographs have a unique way of capturing softness. There is inherent intention to shooting film, as each frame has to be deliberately chosen. It can’t be rushed, and it illuminates the moments held within it. That slowness and intention mirrored what I saw in Julienne and Bee’s love for each other. The warmth film brought honors love in its most genuine forms, being unapologetically itself.
The deliberateness film naturally requires is part of what makes it so meaningful for queer couples, whose love may often be misrepresented. It creates space for their story to exist on its own terms, with the visuals that reflect the emotions present in the moment.

My philosophy as a storyteller is rooted in witnessing rather than directing. I want my couples to feel free to express their love in whatever way felt right. Whether that translates to laughing through portraits or sobbing through vows, my role is to create space for you to convey your love and to document it with care.

Queer love should be captured with an eye that recognized its depth and with a process that honored its authenticity. Film allows me to do exactly that. Neither your love or your ceremony had to fit a mold, and your photographs shouldn’t have either. If that resonates with you, I’d have loved to hear from you. Inquire here.

VENDOR CREDITS

Photographer: Photography: Castillo Holliday Photo + Film | @castillohollidayphotoandfilm 
Assist: Emilie Dumas | @emme_dumas
Venue + Florals: Flora Farm | @florafarm_ma
Second Location: Smith College Capen Garden
Live Music: @sonaminas
Officiant: @farminacivic

RESOURCES:

Castillo Holliday Photo + Film: Elopement Investment Page

Castillo Holliday Photo + Film: Inquiry From