My spouse and I booked a non-binary wedding couple photoshoot for our 14th wedding anniversary celebration. We were married in 2007 we had many happy years together as husband and wife. But in 2021 my spouse realised they were non-binary/trans. The person I had married as a man discovered their female inner self during Covid lock-downs. It was very wonderful watching Rachel emerge and become a happier and more whole person as my spouse (or wife) rather than my husband.
Booking a wedding couple photoshoot was personal to us, both as a celebration the the years spent together and as a renewal in our new identity as an LGBTQ+ couple.
Dress design
When we were married I made both out outfits. I made a green and gold silk dress with gold lace detail and feature waterfall train for me. I hand embroidered the train and my shoes with fuchsia flowers. For Rachel (then by another name) I made an 18th century style silk longline waistcoat, also embroidered on the pockets to match my floral train. Her gold silk cravat was made of the same silk as my skirt. Visit this post to see more pictures of our wedding day and the other garments I made for bridesmaids and groomsmen.
In fact the embroidery on the train of my dress wasn’t finished on my wedding day – a fact about which I was always very sad. With so many outfits to make for the whole wedding party, not to mention two other paying clients who had the same wedding day as me, my own dress was my last priority. It took me 14 years but I had eventually finished the dress and this photoshoot was a celebration of that as well as finding Rachel’s new non-binary self.
As well as wearing things I had made for our original wedding day we added a little extra for the shoot. Rachel designed a skirt for herself, which I made for her (she even did some of the stitching herself) and a few of the photos were taken in ‘Rachel’s new wardrobe’ with a little green eyeliner to match thrown in.
The antique necklace that is handed down in my family from mother to eldest daughter on her wedding day can be seen in my first wedding photos, worn conventionally on my neck. But for the photoshoot I wore an ethereal colourful wig (I often colour my hair but it wasn’t coloured on this day) and added the necklace as a forehead ornament.
Photography of a non binary wedding couple
Working with Katie from the alt wedding company for this photoshoot was a real pleasure. She has such a relaxed and accommodating style. Even my spouse, Rachel, who was feeling quite self-conscious about revealing herself to the camera was able to be herself and shine.
Locations
Rachel and I were originally married at St Nicholas Church in Charlwood. It is a very old church and has a wonderful churchyard around in which we were able to have pictures taken on our wedding day, and later to recreate some of those moment during out non-binary couple photoshoot. We also visited a big house near-by and took some photos in the garden there. Stanhill Court, now a hotel, has been a part of my family’s history so taking creating our new chapter together on that patch of ground was very special. I have a coupl of pictures of my family living in the house on my About me page.
Non-binary couple photoshoot published
This photoshoot was published on the uncoventional wedding blog so head over there to see a few extra pictures.
