Eternal Love, a Vintage Inspired Cemetery Wedding

October 30, 2021 Abbey Stewart

From Kristen, Veils & Tails Photography:

This is the story of eternal love, and a couple that relives the best day of their lives once a year at the cemetery where they rest.

On a foggy afternoon in October of 1920, Constance and Sandha were married in a perfectly intimate ceremony. The story goes, since their deaths in the late 20th century, they can be seen by mourners and visitors each All Hallow’s Eve, walking the graveyard. Every year, the bride Constance awakens at her resting place, discovers herself young again, feels the thrill of life once again, and begins searching for her love. Her husband Sandha always finds her, takes her hand, and they reunite, remembering their beautiful full lives together. This is the day they celebrate their undying love, over and over again. As they walk and dance through the memories of the most special day of their lives, their wedding day, they recall the fateful guestbook passage that has kept them returning to this moment year after year. By the end of their reunion, they light their way back to their resting places with a lantern and candlesticks, before kissing goodnight once more.

Disclaimer: This story is entirely a product of my imagination! Any names shown on gravestones in the images have been added in digitally, and do not depict true people.

I was inspired to create this story with my love of both vintage Hollywood and old-fashioned ghost films. What I love about this type of story is the idea of afterlife, and thinking about what moments we would come back to. With a love that’s true, why wouldn’t we relive our wedding day? An amazing team came together under the direction of myself (Veils & Tails Photography) and The Sacred Events planning, to create this scene which has elements that can surely be used in a real life wedding as well, with a gorgeous color palette and an emphasis on the stylishly vintage. I didn’t want this shoot to feel creepy, but rather like a peaceful memory.

Vintage details abound in this remembered wedding day at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. A simply written invitation tells us this was probably a backyard wedding, with only the closest of family and friends. With a timeless palette of deep mauve, smokey blue, eggplant, ice gray, and pine, the gorgeous florals come back to life atop dessert and sweetheart tables under the shade of a wise old tree. With twisting curly willow, cascading greenery, dahlias, roses and more, the arrangements by Xquisite Floral Designs reflect the age and beauty of this love story. Clearly a couple with a sweet tooth, the table is strewn with delectable autumn treats from Suga Shoppe and a cake by the talented Melanie Baker that looks as if it’s turned to stone. The tables are dotted with photos from the couple’s lives together.

The bride’s hair and makeup is modest and classic, by NV Glam Studio. The look is completed with vintage-inspired jewelry pieces from Olive & Piper, while the dress combines new and old style with on-trend lace sleeves and an elegant open back, from Daisy Styled Dress. The models are a real couple, and though I gave their characters fake names, I tried to keep them consistent with their backgrounds. Their union would have been quite out of the ordinary and possibly taboo during that time, which adds another level of poignancy to their story.

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