So this October saw us take to the English country side, with our complete Bride Tribe of phenomenal suppliers and create something I feel was truly special.
The wedding and events industry is becoming more and more creative, with more planners taking on the role as stylists as well as planners (such as ourselves) and suppliers making those out of the box ideas a reality! It's an exciting time and means that brides, grooms and party hosts can really push the limits of their celebrations and really create unforgettable experiences for themselves and their guests.
We like to put together styled shoots to really demonstrate where we can take our ideas and showcase the amazing suppliers we love to work with. I think this really helps our clients get those initial sparks of inspiration going for their own events, which we can then enhance with our experience. It is important to make sure that what we showcase is achievable, so that others can use our inspiration.
The inspiration for this shoot was all based around the season it was set, autumn. My aim was to celebrate a very British autumn/winter, focusing on the change of light and the beautiful colours at that time of year. Rich colours, romantic flickering candlelight, a palette of jewel tones, the scent of marshmallows toasting over a crackling open fire and an abundance of blackberries. The result was cosy, festive and atmospheric; perfect inspiration for the season.
I had a list of the suppliers that I wanted to work with on this shoot. All of whom I think are great at what they do and fitted the brief of the project. So they were all sent a picture of my moodboard, to get across what I was envisaging.
A few months later we all ended up lighting a massive fire pit at the beautiful High Billinghurst Barn and creating the beautiful photos you see in this post. It was a bit of a grey day and the weather a bit drizzly, so we had to time the outdoor shots, and get them before it got too dark. Sophie Duckworth was our photographer and not only is she a total gem, but a true professional, capturing everything I had hoped and putting up with my shot suggestions. We also had the amazing Gary from Capital Content filming the whole day. He not only put together a time lapse of the set up but created a beautiful video of the shoot.
I really can't rate the team we had highly enough. They are such creatives. Mad Lilies created some floral heaven, featuring an array of different roses in both red, berry and pink shades. We had touches of a deep coloured astilbe, some pampus grass on our amazing floral arch, asparagus and umbrella fern and plenty other absolute beauties were used to create some stunning floral features.
Another real focal point of the shoot was our amazing S'mores station. I felt that s'mores were the most befitting of sweet treats for autumn. When I spoke to Fen from MonAnnie Cakes with my idea, she took it, ran with it and created something even better! The pictures speak for themselves, but the taste was out of this world delicious! She created a selection of delights including heart shaped marshmallows dipped in dark chocolate, caramel marshmallow pops and marshmallow petit four. We then styled the station, with hanging tealight globes, filled with treats, candles and florals. I created lots of layers using wooden crates to create height, which is always nicer to the eye.
I was lucky to have both The Toast and Couvert on board with the shoot, who hire out amazing props and and tableware. Using their items I created I simplistic, moody tablescape, with fairy lights galore as a backdrop on the beautiful original barn, where there were touches or green ivy popping through. Black plates, with gold cutlery, some amber crystal glasses loaned from The Packhouse and a lot of candles. The finishing touches were beautiful autumn leaves featuring gold calligraphy by Girls Gotta Script, as our place cards and a sprinkling of foliage.
Other details from the shoot were the stationery set provided from The Lovely Drawer and our table plan, which again was layered with leaves featuring more gold calligraphy. I styled up a vintage wooden drinks trolley with the focus being the delicious gin made by Stovells. There were a few comments of wanting something like that at home.
The dresses featured were two very different gowns, provided by Miss Bush in Ripley, Surrey. For the indoor shots we used the stunning ‘Maggie’ by Eliza Jane Howell; a highly decorative tulle wedding dress with deep v neckline, ethereal flowing skirt and intricate pearl and crystal embellishments. The second gown was a Jesus Peiro number, style 7071, a long-sleeved lace panelled wedding dress in Chantilly lace and tulle, with a simple round neck and elegant square back. The suit was from Stephen Bishop in Woking. we went for a navy 2 piece suit and added a brown tweed waistcoat and tie to match the berry tones.
We had some autumn inspired jewellery featuring acorns and leaves from Agnes Walker Jewellery, including a gorgeous head piece and matching earrings, necklaces and bracelet. Makeup and hair was done by Hayley Lovelock with berry lips and touches of gold.
These pictures definitely depict a sense of warmth and romance and hope they are a source of inspiration for you.
Thanks again to all the suppliers that helped bring it to life
Lauren x
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Planning and Styling | Bluebird Creative
Photography | Sophie Duckworth Photography
Videography | Capital content
Venue | High Billinghurst Farm
Flowers | Mad Lilies
Patisserie | MonAnnie Cakes and confectionery
Dresses | Miss Bush Bridal
Suit | Stephen Bishop Suting
Jewellery | Agnes Walker Jewellery
Hair and makeup | Hayley Lovelock
Stationery | The lovely Drawer
Calligraphy | Girls gotta Script
Tableware | Couvert
Props | The Toast
Gin | Stovells
Fur and glasses | The Packhouse
