There is something quietly extraordinary about a love story that unfolds in full view of the creative work that shaped it. For Halston Shannon, founder and Creative Director of HALSTON Cinematic Wedding Invitation Studio, love and artistry have always lived in close proximity. His studio was built around capturing the beginning of love stories. Now, the designer is living one of his own.
Halston and his fiancée Ruth Denord, a Registered Behavior Technician, brought their engagement session to the elegant interiors of Whitehurst Gallery in Tarpon Springs, Florida, where the aesthetic was deliberate and deeply personal. Photographed by fellow Coterie member Kareem Virgo of REEM Photography, the session drew its visual inspiration from Tiffany & Co.’s About Love campaign, channeling a refined, old money sensibility with a warmth that is distinctly their own. The couple’s Haitian Creole heritage surfaces throughout their story in the most heartfelt ways, from the “Marye avè m” sign at their proposal to the Konpa dance lessons Ruth shares with Halston at home.
Their wedding is set for September 19, 2026, at Gran Paraiso Gardens in Miami, FL, and the invitation, designed by Halston himself, is already in progress.
“We look forward to seeing our vision for the day finally coming to fruition, and for our guests to experience our love in its most authentic form.”
How did you meet and how did the proposal happen?
We met on Instagram in the middle of April 2019. Our first date was that following week, and we became official a month after that. We were sure about each other from Day 1.
Five years later, on April 14, 2024, Halston knew it was time to propose. He had told me he wanted to try a new brunch spot he had found, and I agreed. Little did I know, he had booked the private room, invited a select group of our closest friends, and had been coordinating with my best friend about the decor and how to make sure I would feel as special as possible. The most meaningful piece of decor was the “Marry Me” sign written in my native language of Haitian Creole: “Marye avè m.”
Describe your engagement session. Did you have a theme?
We went for a refined and old money look that also had a personalized touch to our love story. Our approach was inspired by Tiffany & Co.’s About Love campaign with the Carters.
What did you do on your first date?
We went to Deja Blue Restaurant in Parkland, FL.
What is your favorite thing to do as a couple?
It is hard to identify just one thing, but we love to Bible study with one another first and foremost. We also love to watch funny YouTube videos together, try new foods from different cultures, and bring each other into our own respective creative worlds. Whether she is teaching me how to dance Konpa or I am getting her opinion on a recent design for a client, we love being part of each other’s worlds.
How has wedding planning been so far?
Wedding planning definitely can have its overwhelming moments, but we have embraced the journey and have embraced being the authors of our special day. In the midst of the obvious challenges that everyone goes through, such as budgeting accordingly, temporarily adjusting our lifestyles to save up, and choosing wisely with our vendors, we keep God at the center of everything. That is ultimately what allows us to keep at it and ensure the day will be successful.
What are you looking forward to most on your wedding day?
We look forward to seeing our vision for the day finally coming to fruition, and for our guests to experience our love in its most authentic form. Having our friends and families together all in one room with God orchestrating it all means the world to us, and we cannot wait to see how it all unfolds.
Vendors
Photography: REEM Photography | @photosbyreem Invitation Design: HALSTON Cinematic Wedding Invitation Studio | @halstonshannon
