Photography: LH Photography and Film, Richmond, MA; Planner: A. Merisier Events, Dix Hills, NY
Bridal boudoir shoots are an intimate and timeless pre-wedding gift for one’s betrothed, offering limitless options in terms of style and overall aesthetic. With Valentine’s Day marking the end of the holiday engagement season – and the beginning of the wedding planning rush – it is now the perfect time for couples to consider what they want to do for their engagement and pre-wedding photography sessions.
Although bridal boudoir shoots are often done solo with the bride-to-be taking center stage, there’s something beautifully intimate about having a private boudoir shoot together as a couple. This stylized wedding editorial shoot, fittingly named “Provocateur,” is filled with boudoir photoshoot inspiration for the stylish bride and groom.
Ashley Merisier – Founder and Creative Director of A. Merisier Event Coordination and Design – notes that some of her couples have opted for a bridal boudoir shoot on the morning of their wedding day, which gives them an opportunity to relax together, practice poses, and bond a bit more with their photographer before walking down the aisle. Taking place at The Mount in Lenox, Massachusetts, Provocateur showcases various aspects of a pre-wedding boudoir shoot, from playful personalities to a stripped down version of a couple’s style.
“We wanted to embody the very essence of ‘Provocative Bridal Bliss,’ and Edith Wharton's The Mount provided the perfect canvas to set that stage,” Ashley shares. “Truth be told, the history behind the walls of the Main House were as equally provocative as the content of our shoot. Ms. Wharton built this home and designed every aspect with deep knowledge of purpose for every room in her estate. It is considered a quintessential writer's retreat in that every year she lived there – except for one – a masterful book was written. As her marriage deteriorated, she also engaged in an affair while living in this home until its sale, when she relocated to Europe. When we performed the shoot, we could only think, ‘If these walls could talk,’ as we set up each room for the models.”
Provocateur is the perfect example of how the location of a couple’s boudoir shoot can provide more than enough inspiration to create a gorgeous set of images. With so many incredible wedding destinations and unique properties available around the world, the possibilities are quite endless.
“The models evoked an astonishing attention to detail when in the bathroom, particularly at the tub and near the sink,” Ashley adds. “These classic bathroom elements, which we've all seen a million times, seemingly came to life when models, Brooklynn and Jarred, stared into each other's eyes. That passion is what wedding vendors aim to display in the quality of our work – who you are, what your love means to you, all in one glamour shot.”
