As you know, unless you’ve been living under Hagrid’s hut, the Harry Potter Wedding Shoot was featured on Green Wedding Shoes last week! But seeing as Jen the editor couldn’t exactly publish all 100 images I sent over (I don’t think the typical American’s attention span is long enough for that), I’ve decided to show them off here!

The entire idea for a Harry Potter-themed wedding shoot began when Bree returned from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in April and was suffering from acute Hogwarts withdrawal. The conversation went something like this: “OMJEEZ LET’S DO A HARRY POTTER SHOOT!”

We asked Tyler of Voila! Event Studio to come on board to lend her coordination skills, and from there, everything else fell into place. Susan from Lost Creek Winery was gracious enough to allow us to use the vineyard grounds, and it was an incredibly picturesque backdrop for the shoot. We definitely lucked out there!

Our dessert table was originally going to contain a cake, but because of a last-minute crisis, we were left without anyone to create one for us. It ended up being a blessing in disguise though, because then Bree found Mom’s Apple Pie Company in Leesburg and they provided us with the pies for the dessert table. Best part? We got to take the pies home afterwards. SO DELICIOUS!

Harry Potter wedding dessert tableHarry Potter wedding dessert tableHarry Potter wedding inspiration shoot

 

Maggie from Maggpie Vintage Rentals was SUCH a Godsend- she brought a whole truck load of amazing antique props! The desk for the pie display, these suitcases, the chairs for the reception table and much more.

Harry Potter wedding inspiration shootHarry Potter wedding inspiration shoot

 

Tyler’s sister Leta, it turns out, is an accomplished calligrapher. We asked for simple tags to go with the antique skeleton keys as escort cards, and she HAND DREW the names to perfectly match the font from the books! In case you need some sweet calligraphy, I definitely recommend Decorative Lettering by Leta Layne. Also, each escort cards has the name of a somewhat obscure character from the book.

Harry Potter wedding inspiration shoot escort cardsHarry Potter wedding inspiration shoot escort cards

 

Another table from Maggpie. All of these little floral arrangements were done on the spot by MelleFleur (you’ll see more of her work later!) and they were so perfect for our separate tables and such.

Harry Potter wedding inspiration shoot pumpkin pasties

 

In case you’re wondering, the desserts on these plates are treacle tarts, lemon squares and pumpkin pasties!

Harry Potter wedding inspiration shootHarry Potter wedding inspiration shoot pumpkin pasties

 

Ok, so the drink table is definitely one of my favorite set-ups we did that day. All of the drinks were taken directly from the book- the Butterbeer, Polyjuice Potion, Liquid Luck (Felix Felicis!) and Pumpkin Juice. Weswen Design perfectly executed the drink cards- how magical is that font??

Harry Potter wedding inspiration shoot butterbeerHarry Potter wedding inspiration shootHarry Potter wedding drink display butterbeer

 

See those yellow bits in the Liquid Luck? Those are real gold flakes.

Harry Potter wedding felix felicis drink displayHarry Potter wedding inspiration shoot polyjuice potion butterbeer pumpkin juiceHarry Potter wedding inspiration shoot

 

The reception table set-up was going to be crucial- Bree and I were very particular about having it perfect. We were dreaming of a dark wood farmhouse table but had no idea where to look for one. By the grace of God, I stumbled upon Concepts Created‘s ad on CraigsList- Brian and Susan make farmhouse tables from reclaimed wood using old school techniques. He graciously agreed to drive this table (made of wood from 1821!) up from Charlottesville for the day so that we could use it in the shoot. Let’s all agree right now that we couldn’t have had a more perfect table!

Harry Potter wedding inspiration shoot reception tableHarry Potter wedding inspiration shoot reception table

 

The chairs were brought on Maggpie’s truck and the mismatch-y, eclectic feel we were going for was spot on! Maggpie also provided the antique green and ivory dinnerware you’ll see used for each place setting.

Harry Potter wedding inspiration shoot reception tableHarry Potter wedding taper candles wine bottles

 

The menus- a Weswen design once again. Wendy, have I told you lately that I love you?

Harry Potter wedding inspiration shoot menuHarry Potter wedding inspiration shoot invitation suite

 

The invitation suite was what I was most excited to see Wendy design, and it was perfect! Bree and I gave her our basic ideas, and Wendy took it from there. In case you can’t read it, the “Accept” blurb says “This sounds better than the Quidditch World Cup!” and the “Decline” bit says “I am not paying for some crackpot old fool to teach him magic tricks!”

Harry Potter wedding inspiration shoot invitation suite

 

Our guestbook! We loved the idea of using a scroll, similar to the parchment they use in the book.

Harry Potter wedding inspiration shoot guest bookHarry Potter wedding inspiration shoot quill and inkHarry Potter wedding inspiration shoot quill and ink

 

When Melanie of MelleFleur arrived with this bouquet, my heart nearly stopped. She took everything I said I thought we wanted and made it look 108X more amazing! The fiddlehead ferns are my favorite part- they look so whimsical and quirky! She perfectly blended the purples, greens and ivories that we were looking for. And I love the way Zach’s (the groom) boutonniere turned out- it’s so different than anything I’ve seen before!

Harry Potter wedding bouquet fiddlehead fernHarry Potter wedding bouquet fiddlehead fern scabiosa podHarry Potter wedding inspiration shoot boutonniere

 

When Ashley came out after spending some quality time with JLindsay Hair Design and Donna KZ Make-up, Bree and I squealed! She looked amazing, even more perfect than we’d imagined! We were SO blessed to score a dress from Punk Rock Bride, and it was a match made in heaven for our shoot. Stephanie, the owner/designer, invited us into her studio and let us choose our dress from her entire line. Isn’t it perfect??

Harry Potter wedding inspiration shoot butterbeerHarry Potter wedding inspiration shoot reception tableHarry Potter wedding inspiration shoot dress

 

Look! It’s Trevor! Lol. The shoe clips were DIY-ed from leftover fabric that Christina from Zazzaretti Bridal sent along with our gorgeous hairpiece, which you’ll see more of farther down.

Harry Potter wedding Trevor purple green shoe clips

 

Look! The program was made to echo the Daily Prophet! What do you think of it?

Harry Potter wedding the Daily ProphetHarry Potter wedding inspiration shoot pumpkin pastiesHarry Potter wedding inspiration shoot bride and groomHarry Potter wedding purple green gold bridal hair pieceHarry Potter wedding inspiration shoot

 

Oh Ashley, these images make me melt. You are so beautiful!!

Harry Potter wedding dress bride inspiration shoot Harry Potter wedding dress bride inspiration shoot Harry Potter wedding dress bride inspiration shoot purple green bouquet

 

I have to send a huge “thank you” to my brother Ethan for providing approximately half of the groom’s outfit, and to Andy, Bree’s husband, for providing the other half. We were at a complete loss as to how to dress Zach until about a week before the shoot. Andy let us borrow his brown cords and purple tie, and Ethan lent us his brown suede vest and his moleskin blazer, and a sweet pocket watch!

Harry Potter wedding inspiration shoot groom brown suit c

 

I put these in here because they make me laugh every time I see them. lol

Harry Potter wedding inspiration shoot

 

More MelleFleur goodness.

Harry Potter wedding bouquet green purple twine fiddlehead fernHarry Potter wedding inspiration shoot teapot teacup

 

Jessica of JLindsay Hair Design did SUCH an amazing job on Ashley’s tresses. Bree and I gave Jessica a haphazard description of “messy, British, not a side chignon, and somehow incorporating a braid,” and she gave us this amazing ‘do. It perfectly shows off the hairpiece by Zazzaretti Bridal!

Harry Potter wedding inspiration shoot purple green gold bridal hair piece

 

Portrait time!! I love these!

Harry Potter wedding dress inspiration shoot bride groom Harry Potter wedding dress inspiration shoot bride groom Harry Potter wedding dress inspiration shoot bride groom Harry Potter wedding dress inspiration shoot bride groom wineryHarry Potter wedding inspiration shoot groom brown suit pocketwatch

 

Favorite portrait from the whole day.

Harry Potter wedding dress inspiration shoot bride groom wineryHarry Potter wedding dress inspiration shoot bride groom wineryHarry Potter wedding dress inspiration shoot bride groom Lost Creek wineryHarry Potter wedding inspiration shoot groom brown suit purple tieHarry Potter wedding dress inspiration shoot bride groom Lost Creek wineryHarry Potter wedding dress inspiration shoot bride groom wineryHarry Potter wedding dress inspiration shoot bride groom Lost Creek wineryHarry Potter wedding dress inspiration shoot bride groom Lost Creek wineryHarry Potter wedding inspiration shoot guest book

 

None of this would have been possible without our amazing team of vendors, and Bree and I are so incredibly thankful that they were willing to spend the time and energy to make the shoot a success.

You made it this far? Good for you!

Happy Monday!

Harry Potter Wedding Inspiration Shoot

October 24, 2011

  1. Of course I made it this far!!!! I also stalked your page since you hadn’t posted a link yet. I was just that excited!!! These are SO amazing! Why can’t GWS use more images???? I love the photos of the little details, like the hairpiece and the liquid luck! Such a magical shooT!

  2. Susan says:

    Abby, your photos are stunning. I don’t know how you managed to scale down the number for the wedding blog entry! Every time I visit your website I wish I was getting married all over again so you could be our photographer! We didn’t even have a professional photographer = pitiful wedding pics! Anyway, we love, love your creativity with the pics.

  3. Jean Hensley says:

    Everything is amazingly beautiful! What a beautiful setting. The desserts look so good.
    Bride and groom are just perfect. Super, super job. Congratulations to you and your team for this beautiful shoot.

  4. What a perfect recap of the day and all the amazing vendors that made it possible. Those portrait shots are AMAZING abby. And I love all the additional ones of some more of the details that you posted. Accio amazingess!

  5. I love you too, Abby!!!! What a great post. Thank you for being so kind to include me in this amazing opportunity! SO fun!

  6. Kari Jeanne says:

    LOVE these!! So creative and amazing. Love the amount of thought and detail that went into this – such a great job to all those involved!!!

  7. Awesome. Your love of fun really shines through — but your demand for professional product also means the shoot turned out brilliantly.

    Mom’s Apple Pie … yummmmmmmmm

  8. Tim Field says:

    OK, tell what was on the program and are Zach and Ashley a “real” couple, I will be so bummed if they aren’t!!!! oh and here is one of my man cards…..

  9. Faye says:

    I LOOOOOOOVE THIS!

  10. Abby Hart says:

    LOVE!!!! Amazing job as always, Abby!

  11. *sigh* What incredible photos and details.. I’m still smitten with this shoot and don’t think I’ll get over it any time soon! And those escort cards were HAND DRAWN? Wow! Incredible work. This couple truly is magical!

  12. Maria says:

    So great! Worth the wait!

  13. Mary Marantz says:

    I love everything about this Abby!! Fantastic!

  14. Sarah W says:

    Love it Abby! You are fantastic and crazy talented and I adore the HP idea. 🙂

  15. […] more about the making of this shoot, visit Abby’s fabulous blog post here. LD_AddCustomAttr("AdOpt", "1"); LD_AddCustomAttr("Origin", "other"); […]

  16. Sarah says:

    Such a fun shoot, I am obsessed with everything!! You all did such an amazing job…you should be proud!

  17. I’m in love with this styled shoot! You all did such an amazing job! Such a fun concept too. 🙂

  18. Laura Gordon says:

    WOWZA! So totally 100% awesomeness! I love the escort cards, the drink table, the place settings, the guest book… everything! And the grooms outfit turned out perfect 🙂 I love, love, love this shoot!!

  19. Sarah W says:

    Wow absolutely amazing!!!

  20. This is so fun and still so elegant and classy! Nicely done!

  21. Lizzy says:

    dearest abby… i can not even tell you how much i LOVED the pictures from this shoot. i feel like your pictures get better and better every single shoot you do. this one was genius. and pulled of SO elegantly. incredible girl. simply incredible.

  22. Kathy says:

    Adorable couple, awesome wedding – very unique. Best wishes.

  23. Michelle says:

    You had me at Harry Potter! Wow! Truly beautiful; there’s nothing about this that I don’t love!

  24. Emma Barker says:

    I absolutely love this Abby! Your style is exactly what I am aspiring to be as a photographer! Amazing work!

  25. Kayla says:

    I love this SO much!! Absolutely beautiful..photo shoot and couple! 😀
    I love the Harry Potter Theme.

  26. […] more photos, visit Abby Grace Photography. Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like this […]

  27. Moriah says:

    Abby, these are stunning. Such an original idea captured so well.
    Simply AMAZING.

  28. […] In the meantime, check out these two posts inspired by Happy Potter for additional ideas. One features an engagement photo in a Slytherin theme via Capitol Romance. Hope to visit this blog which I find totally amazing, unique, fun and so beautiful too!  The  other post is a styled photo shoot by Abby Grace Photography, with lots wedding decor details,  http://www.abbygracephotography.com/2011/10/24/harry-potter-wedding-inspiration-shoot/ […]

  29. […] Seth have somewhat recently taken a huge liking to men’s fashion. Ethan actually styled our Harry Potter wedding shoot groom AND the groom from our latest styled shoot (you’ll see that soon!), so his taste in […]

  30. […] Abby Grace‘s Harry Potter Wedding Inspired shoot…for all you Harry Potter fanatics out there this is seriously the COOLEST/cutest/greatest thing ever! http://abbygraceblog.com/2011/10/24/harry-potter-wedding-inspiration-shoot/ […]

  31. […] work is on Buzzfeed!! Our Harry Potter styled wedding shoot is from almost three years ago, yet I continue to get hits on my blog from it. Last week, a rep […]

  32. […] Ezra Pound Cake / Invitation Map- Little Page Turners / Espresso Sign- Inky Girl / Guest book- Abby Grace Photography / Sorting Hat- BG Productions VIA Off Beat Bride/ Snitch Ring- House On Hudson Etsy / Wand Favor- […]

  33. […] Photo credits: 1. Dress – Grace Loves Lace / 2. Key escort cards – Deer Pearl Flowers / 3. Flying keys – Kara’s Party Ideas / 4. Butterbeer & elixir of life – Wedding Chicks / 5. Hogwarts stamp – Magic Stamp / 6. Invitations – Wedding Chicks / 7. Floating candle holders – The Berry / 8. Cocktails – Abby Grace […]

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