The PEM team was presented with an awesome opportunity from Lightshed Photography in Salem to take a walk on the wedded side and create a 3D walkthrough of the museum atrium, dolled-up as if we were hosting a wedding reception. The final product will not only highlight our picturesque celebration space, but will also show — in great detail — how stunningly unique a PEM wedding can be.

And in anticipation of our expansion opening this year (which will offer more spaces for that special day), we thought, why not take this project a step further and shoot a whole new wedding ad campaign?

With our graphic designers, photographers (led by the talented Bob Packert), creative directors, event staff, facilities crew and an incredible line-up of local vendors, we worked to capture the marital magic. And while staging an entire fake wedding requires time, effort and coordination, there was something we could not necessarily plan for — chemistry. Or so we thought…

We started our planning process just as I imagine real weddings are orchestrated, by thinking of everything that could go horribly wrong. Brainstorming began with sharing advertising photoshoot horror stories from our past — like struggling to snag a shot of a couple cuddling their dog on the couch, only to discover that both models hated dogs. So when we discovered a model, who we not only had a connection with but happened to be married to another model with the same agency, we knew it was the only way to go... fate, some would say.

As part of our communications team, it is always fulfilling to share these sorts of stories, even when they are through our creative advertising. And while writer H. G. Wells once claimed, “Advertising is legalized lying,” I would like to think it is not that black and white — because behind these images, sometimes there is real love.

"There are a million little things that make our jobs amazing,” notes Natalia, “but ultimately it is so incredibly special to be part of that heartfelt joy.”