Friday 30 August 2013

Summer of Love - A vintage-inspired photo shoot

Hello all

Well, we're just fine and oh so dandy after having spent a lovely lazy, sunny Bank Holiday (I know, what were the chances of that?) daarn saarf with our closest of friends.  Only to return to a wonderful treat for the eyes in the shape of our Summer of Love photo shoot being featured on the truly stunning top wedding style blog Ruffled.  Photos are by the lovely Jess Petrie.

Just before this glorious Summer of ours truly started in earnest, I gathered together a host of my favourite wedding peeps - making our way out to the beautiful Derbyshire Peak District, bound for the exquisite Losehill House Hotel & Spa.  A gorgeous venue which I'm happy to say I've decorated in quite a number of varying ways for some of this year's (and next year's!) Brides. And, we couldn't have been better looked after, the staff were incredibly friendly and couldn't have been more helpful or lovely - no wonder so many of you are booking this exclusive venue for your wedding!

I've worked with photographer Jess Petrie and hair and make up artist Jenn Edwards quite a few times on 'real' weddings and shoots and, as we've become really good friends, it was natural they would be our first port of call.  I love the really soft, ethereal quality to Jess' photography and being so lovely she's just brilliant at relaxing everyone right from the outset.





I had the idea for the concept of this inspiration day quite some time ago which I really wanted to shoot during the better weather (lots of shoots happen indoors during the quieter Autumn/Winter months) hopefully both in and outdoors.  I wanted to feature real vintage dresses from the 70's with a slightly hippy, soft relaxed vibe and use lots and lots of daisies and simple white flowers.  A visit to Hayley at Glory Days Vintage was all that was needed and I had a very hard time only choosing two gowns per model! Styling needed to be natural to echo our very 'just picked' vintage look flowers, but brought up to date - no pastiche or fancy dress for us, so we kept it really simple letting the gowns and the flowers doing the talking!


















I had a pre-shoot meet up with Jenn who, as always, was full of some just fabulous ideas on how to style the models. Relaxed, soft and pretty but just a bit edgy were definitely what was wanted with Jenn spending literally hours creating amazing texture to Izzy's paprika red hair. I just adore these amazing lower lashes she applied too - stunning. Messy fishtail plaits and soft romantic up-dos were also just perfect for our blonde (Kate) and brunette (Georgia) models.
Because the shoot was to take place during our busiest wedding period, I turned over the managing and co-ordination of the project to our lovely paid intern, Kate - who I have to say did an amazing job (especially as she was roped into modelling at the end - that's her in the shot above)!









We'd also worked with Julia from Go Glorious who hires great props and provides all manner of lovely styling - I suggested a 'table cloth' of moss along with my tree trunk chargers and tiny daisies, which she cleverly embellished with little buttons and added all those wonderful finishing touches which really help make a wedding. You can see for yourself ...









I'd really admired the fabulously creative Karen Kench from Kettle of Fish for some time and she very kindly specially created some absolutely gorgeous pieces just for the shoot which included hand crafted bouquet brooches, chair backs, ring boxes, place settings and so much more ...











We also asked Amy Worthington of Minniecrafts, crochet whizz extraordinaire, to create some beautifully intricate stockings as a the prettiest 'something blue' you ever did see - here's how they turned out ....  I'm just in love with these little darlings!




Then we had a little think - what was missing? Why cake, of course! So I contacted the amazing Claire Kemp her work is just gorgeous, quite architectural and graphic, but still soft and pretty at the same time - a marriage made in heaven. And that icing. How on earth does she get it so incredibly smooth? The colours of this cake are simply gorgeous and I love the way Claire's interpreted the main theme of daisies both in terms of the motifs but also the colours too - beautiful!








 That was pretty much the dream team until Jenn suggested including her friend, the very lovely and extraordinarily talented fashion designer Lauren Armstrong who is just breaking into the wedding industry and is looking to provide all you Brides with something just a big edgier and different for your wedding day.  On talking to Lauren, it was clear she knew just what we were trying to achieve and suggested designing three just incredible designs which would draw on 70's influences but bring them bang up-to-date.  Capes, fabric, lace, fringing, layering and colours all provided inspiration for the awesome designs which were to be featured. And the rain didn't stop play either as you'll see from the shots ...





Yes, those are real daisies on the hem of this design!







And Lauren even styled our lovely male model, Alex, for us too!



As you can see, it was a pretty full day! I think our little flower curtain of daisies and baubles was one of my favourite flowery designs - but here are a few more of some of the really lovely shots taken by the supremely talented Jess Petrie!

























Well that's it! It took a lot of hard work, time, creativity and quite a few pennies too to bring you this inspiration shoot and (a bit like giving birth) at the end of every one I do I think never again!!!! Then, I look at what we did together, think of just how wonderful it is to be able to express yourself so creatively ... and then, I know I'm hooked!  I just can't help myself, I'm already thinking about the next one ....

I hope our ideas have given you some ideas for your wedding day, let me know if there's anything you feel you might want some help with we'd just love to hear your thoughts - so leave a comment as it's always so great to hear from you.

Right, off to work on today's wedding!

Back soon

Tracey x

My thanks to everyone involved and for all their hard work, patience and incredible talent ...

Floral Design and Concept: Us! Campbell's Flowers
Photographer: Jess Petrie
Venue: Losehill House Hotel & Spa
Hair and Make Up: Jenn Edwards
Accessories: Karen Kench, Kettle of Fish
Styling: Julia Harrison, Go Glorious
Vintage Dresses: Hayley Neil, Glory Days Vintage
Dress Designer & Male Model Stylist: Lauren Armstrong
Blue Stockings: Amy Worthington of Minniecrafts
Models: Izzy Lindley, Kate Waters, Georgia Symonds & Alex Davies

If you need to, you can also find us on:-

websitefacebooktwitterpinterestYouTube










No comments: