Bright whites, earthy greens, and ornate golds blend together with harmonious ease in this beautifully composed wedding shoot, shaped by the romantic, soul-stirring sound of stringed instruments. The musically inspired scene unfurled in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania, at historic Hingework, a light-filled studio housed in a converted cigar box factory and shared by a growing community of creatives. With forms redolent of clefs and quavers, vines garlanded the exposed brick walls in lyrical fashion. The bride, a violinist who plays with Vivace Strings, incorporated her beloved 100-year-old violin into the nuptial tableau. In both sight and sound, her fellow musicians also made an appearance, with cinematography of the event set to the quartet’s achingly lovely rendition of “Gabriel’s Oboe.”

“The details were at once minimalist and rich,” says photographer Rebecca Shivers. “Between the storied space, the antique violin, and the musical stylings, a feeling of timeless elegance was evoked.”

Styled Shoots

Hung above the dessert display, a hand-embroidered hoop lent a homespun touch. Vines made of thread mimicked on a small scale the real ivy that climbed whimsically along Hingework’s whitewashed walls in musical curlicues and squiggles.

The Baker’s Table created a duo of rustic yet refined cakes for the occasion. This four-tiered beauty was iced in combed buttercream and wreathed with olive branches. Its simplicity tastefully offset the showiness of the stand.

The thoughtful styling was the work of Simply Delightful Days, a husband-and-wife event design studio based in southern Pennsylvania. This exquisite tablescape got the Midas touch in the form of burnished gold flatware, gleaming striped glassware, and gilded floral china from Treasured Rentals. A runner of eucalyptus leaves studded with purple artichokes brought in an element of naturalness and balanced out the sumptuous look of the place settings.

The bride wore a gossamery gown from Posh Bridal Shop. The Mansion on Main, a local salon and spa with a focus on organic hair care, gave her a classically elegant updo that paired well with a light and fresh makeup look by Blush Beautiful.

If Lady Godiva were a cake, she’d look something like this head-turning pastry: nearly naked and flecked with edible gold leaf.

For an endlessly romantic altar backdrop, calligrapher Alana Berry lettered Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 18” onto a life-sized sheet of paper.

Fittingly, all of the floral components were designed by Forte Florals, the owner of which happens to be a classically trained violinist who approaches her art with the musical definition of the word forte in mind.

‘Black Knight’ scabiosas and fresh foliage boldly intertwined in the bride’s sylvan crown. Her bouquet featured a lush, classic mix of peonies, anemones, eucalyptus, and Queen Anne’s lace.