TLDR: This past spring, I captured these black and red wedding photos during a luxury editorial styled shoot for photographers in PA. This team of vendors meticulously curated every detail of this drama-filled, avant-garde shoot inside a 19th-century venue outside of Philly. More details on the elegant red draping, floral design, and attire included below!
Back in April, I shared these beautiful garden-inspired Elkins Estate wedding photos from my editorial styled shoot with Cultivate Retreats. Today I’m sharing the second half of that styled shoot, filled with black, white, and red wedding ideas.
In fact, with Taylor Swift’s engagement in the news, this editorial feature felt more fitting than ever. If you’re curious about her wedding style, here’s a prediction: corset dresses, gloves, avant-garde details, and lots of red.
Keep reading for inspiration for your fall and winter wedding color palettes!
Our Host: Cultivate Retreats
Cultivate Retreats, created by @cultivateretreats and @avonnephotography_, stretched the vision and creativity for part two of this dreamy editorial. I loved working with the unforgettable vendor team that brought this black and red wedding theme to life!
Pennsylvania Wedding Planning and Design
Planning | @madisonmoseley.events
You know how, towards the end of Taylor Swift’s I Bet You Think About Me music video, everything turns red? That’s exactly what this Cherry On Top editorial styled shoot at Elkins Estate felt like, sans snooty groom in the form of Miles Teller.
Dark red linens draped the walls, black and red wedding centerpieces lined the S-shaped banquet table, black and white pillar candles burned bright among silver candelabras, and tulips softened the otherwise modern decor.
Red glass goblets, custom place card coasters, and beaded edge chargers completed this dramatic, high contrast reception decor design.
(These black and red wedding table decorations are giving Christine Quinn’s darkly elegant 2019 nuptials in downtown Los Angeles.)
The Venue: Elstowe Manor at Elkins Estate
Venue | @elkinsestate
Elstowe Manor at Elkins Estate is part of a family of 28 venues managed by Landmark Venues. Their portfolio of luxury wedding venues spans across New Jersey and Pennsylvania, with Elkins Estate situated conveniently outside of Center City Philadelphia. Elkins Estate will soon welcome two additional event spaces on the property—The Chelten House and The Stable.
The checkerboard floor inside the reception space was the perfect backdrop for this black and red wedding theme.
You can read more about the Elkins Estate wedding cost, venue history, and booking details in my full venue guide on the blog.
Read more: 18 Luxury Wedding Venues Within 90 Minutes of Wilmington, DE
Wedding Couple Models
Models | @eric.x.elisa
Eric and Elisa are a professional modeling couple based out of NY, CA, and Italy. Their energy and chemistry radiated throughout the shoot. It felt like their overall look was tailor-made for this black and red wedding theme! And considering they just got engaged in July, it’s almost as if they were practicing for their own day in the spotlight.
“What if I told you, that for this moment between us, the whole universe had to be created”
Corset Wedding Dresses From House of Bridal
Shoes | @Bellabelleshoes
Jewelry | @marianmayatelier
Gowns | @house.of.bridal
This shoot featured two corset-top dresses, instantly reminding me of Miss Americana herself. One can rarely don a red lip or a corset anything without a reference to the modern day queen of corsets: Taylor Swift.
Her release of TTPD in 2024 ushered in a new style era overnight, which incorporated many variations of the corset top. And her repeated styling of corset tops has been documented as part of her overall “style formula”.
The first dress, worn by Elisa, was from Corston Couture in style Temptress. It features a historically inspired corset, a draped, fitted skirt, and detachable sleeves, all in silk satin material.
The second dress from House of Bridal features a gorgeous beaded corset top dress with exposed boning, modeled by Victoria (@itsvictoriacatherine).
These red arm-length gloves are also giving Taylor vibes similar to the Lael Osness gloves she wore in I Bet You Think About Me.
Philadelphia Wedding Furniture and Rentals
Rentals | @whitegloverentals, @visionfurniturephl
White Glove Rentals and Vision Furniture killed this wedding setup—as per usual! They chose alternating black and clear acrylic chairs for the ceremony and luxe, cushioned black, white, and gold chairs for the reception. The sleek, modern furniture paired perfectly with the black and red wedding theme.
Red Wedding Flowers Design
Florals | @acottagegardener
I’m obsessed with how A Cottage Gardener arranged an opposite floral palette from the garden-inspired Elkins editorial. Floral designer Kim Bakke paired monochromatic red roses, carnations, celosia, and amaranthus to create these beautiful cascading arrangements for the ceremony and reception. Her expert artistry pulled the entire black and red wedding theme together.
Dark Red Draping And Linens
Draping | @onqproductionsevents
Linens | @bbjlatavola
The start of the show was the epic all-red backdrop installed by On Q Productions. Posing Eric and Elisa against an all-red backdrop made their looks pop in this high contrast color scheme.
The backdrop draping was a perfect complement to the matching red table linens arranged by BBJ La Tavola.
Black and Red Wedding Invitation Suite and Stationery
Stationery | @happy.tears.papel
Not to be missed are the elegant red and black wedding invitations that set the tone for this opulent day. Photographing the black-and-white checked envelope liners, perfectly matching the reception room floors, completely satisfied my designer heart!
Wedding Videography and Content Creation
Content | @thetwentyfourdiaries
Video | @afilmbyvisulian
Anna (@thetwentyfourdiaries) and Julian (@afilmbyvisulian) expertly captured wedding content creation and videography during the shoot. They both came in with a unique storytelling approach that documented this editorial effortlessly.
I highly recommend choosing video vendors who can jive with your photo team and other vendors on your big day; these two are as good as it gets!
Wedding Hair and Makeup Artistry in PA
Makeup | @undergroundartistry
Hair | @bridalbyregina
I think it goes without saying, Elisa, Eric, and Victoria were glammed to perfection by this amazing hair and makeup team. Elisa’s bold blush played off the red theme so well, and Eric’s perfectly gelled curls were neatly arranged in a sleek bun. Victoria’s loose, elegant updo with romantic face framing curls paired beautifully with her detail heavy wedding gown.
Booking Your Philadelphia Wedding Photographer
This black and red wedding theme at Elkins Estate was proof that luxury wedding design doesn’t always have to mean soft or subtle. With bold florals, dramatic draping, corset gowns, and a color palette straight out of a Swiftie daydream, this team created a wedding vision that was equal parts high fashion and deeply romantic.
If you’re looking for something unconventional and want your photos to feel timeless, stylish, and a little unexpected, I’d love to be your Pennsylvania wedding photographer! Let’s make magic together.
SUBMIT A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY INQUIRY
Elkins Estate Wedding Vendor List
Host | @Cultivateretreats @avonnephotography_ Planning | @madisonmoseley.events Venue | @elkinsestate Floral | @acottagegardener Content | @thetwentyfourdiaries Video | @afilmbyvisulian Stationery | @happy.tears.papel Makeup |@undergroundartistry Hair | @bridalbyregina Shoes | @Bellabelleshoes Rentals | @whitegloverentals @visionfurniturephl Draping | @onqproductionsevents Linens | @bbjlatavola Jewelry | @marianmayatelier Gowns | @house.of.bridal Models | @eric.x.elisa
Lindsey Ford is a Pennsylvania and Delaware wedding photographer capturing weddings all over the East Coast, including Philadelphia, PA, and is ready to help document your special moments. If you’re ready to book your Philly area wedding photography, inquire here to reserve your wedding date!
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