This summer I had the joy of designing and curating an editorial content day at the breathtaking Cairnwood Estate, a venue that feels like it was made for timeless wedding inspiration. With its ornate architecture, soft historic charm, and rooms full of delicate details, it became the perfect canvas for a vision centered around elegant greens, classic textures, and vintage-inspired design.

But the heart of this editorial actually started somewhere unexpected! I first met Ashley and Mark while photographing another wedding (they were guests attending). Something about their energy immediately stood out to me. They had this effortless warmth together, and I remember thinking how beautifully they would photograph. So, trying not to sound totally creeper-ish, I asked if they had ever modeled or if they might be willing to step in front of my camera sometime.

As luck would have it, they said yes!

A few months later, when I began planning this editorial day at Cairnwood Estate, I knew Ashley and Mark would be the perfect fit and I reached out as soon as we had the date set. Despite being married for years — and already parents to two adorable boys — they happily stepped into the roles of bride and groom again for the day. And it was the perfect fit. They were so relaxed, joyful, and genuinely fun to photograph that it never once felt staged.

The design vision centered around Cairnwood’s beautiful Green Room, a space that completely inspired the aesthetic. The room’s soft green walls and ornate architectural piping felt classic and almost storybook-like, so the styling leaned into a theme I kept coming back to: pearls and pears.

Delicate strands of pearls appeared throughout the details, paired with fresh green pears and soft citrus tones. The cake design was especially inspired by the room itself — a vintage-style confection with intricate piping that echoed the decorative molding and patterns within the space. It felt perfectly at home sitting against those pale green walls, and it was a beautiful work of art created by Patricia Ann Cakes.

The overall look of the editorial leaned toward an old-fashioned elegance, the kind that feels timeless rather than trendy. Soft greenery and fresh florals added an organic element that balanced the refined architecture of the estate.

One of my favorite elements from the day was the paper suite and detail work created by Chelsey, owner of The Rude Rabbit. We had several design consult chats over the phone and email threads for months ahead of time. We had so much fun chatting up our visions and color pallets. Chelsey blew me away with every piece she created - each was thoughtfully designed and beautifully executed. The invitation suite featured a handprinted illustration of the Cairnwood Estate itself, which added such a personal, artistic touch to the stationery. Escort details were displayed as elegantly written scrolls attached to glasses — transforming the drink display into something both functional and visually stunning.

These kinds of tiny details are what make an editorial feel immersive — each element layered intentionally to tell a cohesive story.

From the grand staircases to the sunlit terraces overlooking Bryn Athyn (and you can peep the lovely Cathedral in the background of some of their portraits), every corner of the estate offered another moment of beauty. And through it all, Ashley and Mark brought so much genuine joy to the day that the images feel natural and romantic in a way that just can’t be manufactured.

Styled shoots are always special to me because they’re a chance to dream a little — to explore ideas, collaborate with talented creatives, and bring something beautiful into existence simply for the love of the craft. I love working with super talented local peeps and getting the privilege of photographing the products and elements they bring to life for our shoots! See below for the full list of the wonderful vendor team that helped me put this gorgeous day together!