Seriously, could Brooke + Collin be any cuter?! This real couple starred in our “Lovingly Retro” styled shoot in the Summer/Fall 2024 issue on newsstands right now. Here, we highlight their experience modeling for us and more tidbits about them, along with more photos showing just how in love they are!
On Collin: Groom’s own suit, shirt and shoes; Tie from Macy’s
On Brooke: Jewelry from Macy’s; Gown from Always Elegant Bridal & Tuxedo; Shoes from DSW
What made you want to model for this photo shoot?
Brooke: It’s always been an ambition of mine to model—playing dress up all day in beautiful dresses? What’s not to love?!
Collin: My wife.
Tell us about your modeling experience.
Brooke: Truly it was a dream come true. I loved every look; all of the vendors were so kind and incredibly talented—honestly it made me want to have another wedding.
Collin: It was great—the energy was very positive, and it was such a pleasure to spend the day with the team.
How was modeling with your significant other?
Brooke: Wonderful! He gets nervous in front of the camera but I think doing it together just made it easier for both of us. Natural chemistry and all.
Collin: We had a great time—modeling was always something my wife wanted to do. I’m not sure I’m qualified to model in the looks department, but no one’s looking at me anyway.
On Brooke: Veil and earrings by Blair Nadeau Bridal Adornments; Gown from Ellis Blake Bridal
On Collin: Suit, shirt and shoes from Tuxedo Den; Tie from Macy’s
Did you relate to the concept/theme?
Brooke: I did! My own wedding was a mix between whimsical / boho glam, so I absolutely loved the whimsical florals, and the retro vibes were also really cool.
Collin: There were a lot of themes, so that’s hard to answer. I would say the overall theme of using real people in real venues in the Sacramento area resonated with me for sure.
What was your favorite part of the shoot?
Brooke: Getting to wear all of the beautiful dresses and being made up in looks I would never have picked for myself but felt stunning in. I truly felt like a princess all day!
Collin: The people that put the shoot together and everyone involved in the production—such great energy from all involved. The outfits weren’t bad either.
On Brooke: Earrings from Mariell; Gown from The Bridal Box
On Collin: Suit, shirt and shoes from Tuxedo Den; Tie from Macy’s
Tell us about your love story. How did you meet? What was the proposal like?
Brooke: We met on a dating app! (Who doesn’t nowadays?) It took about three months of scheduling and cancelling before we had our first date and we were nearly inseparable after that. We were together three years before getting engaged. Collin got my mom, sisters and best friends involved in a scheme to lure me to the bar where we made our relationship “official” to propose and caught me completely off guard! It was so sweet—the icing on the cake was that he also planned a surprise engagement party at our house that same day with our larger friend group and both of our families. My best friend was even waiting with a white dress for me to wear at the party!
Collin: We met on Hinge like six years ago. I proposed to her in Maggie McGarry’s in San Francisco, where I asked her to be “official.” I had all of our friends behind the removable wall. Once I popped the question, everyone popped out from behind the wall. Good times were had and great memories were made.
Tell us about your wedding day.
Brooke: It was a dream. I still get butterflies when I think about it. The theme was weekend in the country, colors were in the sunset pinks, rust and rose gold. I’m an extra person so we had a huge bridal party (10 on each side). My bridesmaids and I did a choreographed dance for Collin. Our friends still talk about how great the music was, the food and the speeches. Truly couldn’t have imagined a better day than what we had.
Collin: It was amazing. We had about 140 people there at an intimate venue (shout out to Hidden Grove in Woodland). To have everyone we love celebrating our union was truly an unforgettable experience I’ll remember almost all of for the rest of my life.
On Brooke: Hair bow and earrings by Blair Nadeau Bridal Adornments; Gown from Always Elegant Bridal & Tuxedo
On Collin: Suit, shirt and shoes from Tuxedo Den; Tie from Macy’s
If you could offer any advice to engaged couples, what would it be?
Brooke: If you can, take some time to try to enjoy just being ENGAGED (!) before the planning process—it all goes so fast and planning can be stressful, but find those moments of joy and remember it’s all worth it!
Collin: Be sure you’ve lived together for at least a year before you pull the trigger and get married. Being able to coexist in harmony is far more important than initial physical attraction.
On Brooke: Earrings from Azazie; Gown from Always Elegant Bridal & Tuxedo
On Collin: Groom’s own suit, shirt and shoes; Tie from Macy’s
Anything else you’d like to add?
Collin: Thank y’all for the amazing experience and making us feel like models for a day.
On Brooke: Jewelry from Macy’s; Gown from Always Elegant Bridal & Tuxedo
On Collin: Groom’s own suit, shirt and shoes; Tie from Macy’s
Special thanks to our real couple models, Brooke + Collin, and all of the professionals who contributed to this feature!
To see more from our “Lovingly Retro” styled shoot, click here!
Blog post by Real Weddings Magazine’s Editorial Contributor, Emily Peter-Corey.
Photos by Capture Create Studios/copyright Real Weddings Magazine.
