You mentioned you want to plant highbush cranberry and common elderberry in the future- they are great in soil where feet can get wet at times. If you want a more upright shape try to keep deer away until the growth is above their reach or your shrubs will be just that- low shrubs lol.

Planted several of both. It was pleasing just 2 weeks ago to see about 50 cedar waxwings come by and take the last of the berries off the cranberries