Leslee Hughes

A Love Reimagined: Joy, Allyship, and the Magic of a Styled Shoot

Being an ally for the LGBT+ community isn’t a passive label. For me, it’s an active practice. It’s showing up, speaking out, creating space, and using my platform to amplify queer voices and stories. As a bridal shop owner and stylist, I’ve had the honor of dressing so many kinds of love but participating in this recent queer styled shoot reminded me how deeply transformative this work can be. For some couples, weddings are not just celebrations of commitment; they’re affirmations of identity, healing experiences, or second chances. This shoot was all of those things and more. It wasn’t about creating pretty pictures—it was about rewriting a narrative that deserved to be seen. I had the privilege of choosing gowns for two of the models for this shoot and although I couldn’t attend the photoshoot the day of, my involvement in the fitting rooms with these couples was special. I reached out to Tony and Elise, the real couple behind these dreamy photos, to share the deeper meaning behind their “pretend wedding”, and why it became something so real.

What Motivated You to Say Yes to the Photoshoot?

Tony – I initially said yes because Elise wanted to. Then the more I thought about it, I wanted a second wedding experience, and to experience the beauty of wearing a wedding dress.

Elise – Tony and I got married 17 years ago, when we were both very different people, and neither of us out as queer. We no longer display our wedding photos at home, because they don’t represent who we are now. I got excited about the opportunity to see ourselves, our current selves, represented in a wedding scene. Modeling also sounded fun to try.

The Astraea Experience: Discovery and Delight

Tony – Was nervous showing up in a masculine body to a wedding gown shop, that I would feel out of place. But upon walking in the door I felt comfortable and at ease, they were expecting me and weren’t thrown off by my body or looking at Elise expecting her to be the one in the dress. I was surprised at how good I could look in so many different styles of dresses. I was blown away at how many options they had. I didn’t think it was possible to look or feel that beautiful, I was surprised at how amazing the dress looked on me.

Elise – I had a lot of fun supporting Tony as he tried on dresses. I took it upon myself to remind him to try new things, and to be picky, and to have fun. Leslee did a fantastic job of sensing Tony’s style and selecting dresses and accessories for him.

Modeling Moments: Behind the Scenes

Tony – I expected to feel like I was participating in a thing *for* the venue, but it felt like the venue was doing it for *me*. I didn’t feel like a worker, it was clear they wanted to make the day feel special for me, even though it wasn’t a real wedding. It was very sweet. Modeling was harder than I expected, sometimes posing in an “act natural” way was less natural than I expected, like pretending to dance, it was hard without the music and crowd to add to that mood.
Elise – I expected the photographers to be more particular about our poses, but they really encouraged us to interact with each other naturally. There was a lot of camaraderie amongst the models, photographers, HMUAs, and wedding coordinator. By the end it felt like we were all good friends! Morgan the wedding coordinator was so helpful in directing us where we needed to go, helping us relax, carrying Tony’s train, etc. It was a busy environment, but not hectic or stressful.

Meaningful moments or details? How did it feel to embody the spirit of love and celebration?

Tony – It was meaningful to have my femininity elevated to a new level and celebrated with pride. But I was distracted by trying to make sure I didn’t mess up the makeup by crying because it was so special!

Elise– Tony and I have daydreamed about a wedding “redo,” and I was secretly hoping that this photo shoot could scratch that itch. The night before the shoot, I had a last minute idea and ran to the craft store for some fabric to make cords for handfasting, something I would want if we ever do actually have a second wedding. At the shoot, I told everyone that we were getting “pretend remarried,” and why. When I asked Samantha, the officiant, if she was familiar with handfasting, she lit up with excitement. What I thought was going to be a small personal addition to a single pose, Samantha surprised us by turning it into an actual, mini handfasting ceremony. Her words were so poignant, and the moment is one I will treasure forever. Everyone was crying, as it turns out we did get remarried! I am so excited to have not only the memories of our true Selves at that altar, but also the photos to display authentically in our home.

Favorite Moments and Style Magic

Tony- My favorite moment was standing at the altar with Elise and the officiant, for her beautiful words about our love during the handfasting. Getting my hair and makeup done by Matthea and Joey. They both made the experience fun, and the results were mind blowing.

Elise – I loved watching Tony experiencing the height of feminine archetypes, getting pampered, being the center of attention, and showered with compliments by literally everyone. He looked so gorgeous! Matthea did an incredible job with my hair, and I kept it up for two days afterwards because I loved it so much. I wish my hair could look like that every day!

The Photos: What They Mean Now

Tony: I didn’t expect that day to be so meaningful. I hope others who see the photos feel inspired to challenge social norms, to dream, and to make space for their authentic selves.

Elise: When I look at these photos, I feel proud. Proud of myself and my spouse for showing up unapologetically queer, proud of our community for lifting each other up, and proud of the joy we created together. These are the wedding photos we’ve always wanted—ones that finally feel like us.

My Final Thoughts: Why It Matters

Being an ally means curating not just safe spaces, but celebratory ones—where authenticity isn’t just allowed, it’s honored. Choosing that gown for Tony felt like more than styling a look. I witnessed transformation, reclamation, and love in its most honest form. It’s a reminder of why this work matters. Of why representation matters. Of why pride isn’t a month—it’s a lived experience that deserves beauty, visibility, and joy every single day. – xoxo, Leslee