Today’s styled shoot is a real mixed bag of trends, themes and talent so we’re sure there’s going to be a little something here for every couple! Are you ready to be inspired to plan your own wedding extravaganza?
Lindsay of The Jasmine Cottage Studio in North Lincolnshire has been using her time in lockdown to branch out, from wedding photography to stationery, meaning she can now take couples from start to finish on their wedding planning journey and really get to know each bride and groom.
Lindsay knows that capturing the laughter, the tears and the trips on the dance floor is important and should not be missed, from the secret moments to the traditional group photos with a twist. For this styled shoot she teamed up with Elaine Brocklesby of Bride Beautiful at Elsham Hall. Having had such a stress-free and fun experience planning her own wedding at Elsham the previous year, Lindsay knew that she wanted to hold a shoot here too, as a way to showcase her skills both as a photographer and as a stationer.
With a mix of colours and trends such as rustic, winter, peach, navy, metallics, spring, an afternoon tea spread and, of course, boho, the team of local suppliers have created a treasure trove of inspo, that somehow all looks cohesive despite the variety of themes! So get ready to explode the content on your pinterest boards! Let’s dive into this behind the scenes peek…
With images by The Jasmine Cottage Studio
CONCEPT
Lindsay says: Lockdown 1:0 was quite a lonely time for me. I am such a people person so I missed weddings and interacting with my couples and fellow suppliers so much that I was itching to do something creative. What lockdown did provide me with though, was the time to see where else I wanted to take my business. My arty juices started flowing and my brain went into complete overdrive. Not only do I provide photography as part of my services under The Jasmine Cottage Studio but stationery too, and I really wanted to build a collection of products I could offer to future couples.
I also wanted to show couples that nothing needed to be compromised if they were to host a more intimate wedding. Micro weddings need not be any less flamboyant or lack in the personality of those getting married when compared to the larger gatherings we have been so used to, and so it was important for me to showcase this. It was heart-breaking to hear from so many couples not getting the day they had dreamt about and so I wanted to highlight that you could still have the gorgeous dress, beautiful décor and the stunning backdrop. I wanted to capture all of these elements through a styled shoot!
LOCATION
The location of the shoot was a gorgeous rural barn setting, Bride Beautiful at Elsham Hall. As I was a bride here myself, just a year before, and it gave me every excuse to get myself back to the venue and relive some truly happy memories! Plus, I knew Elaine and her team would be able to help execute the vision I had perfectly; various themes in the most stunning location! That is the beauty of Elaine’s work. Not only does she provide her couples with a gorgeous venue, but a truly unique wedding planning and venue styling service. It is all under one roof here and couples have such a vast choice of what they can have on their wedding day.
So often during open events, we go to venues and just see one set-up; rustic, minimal, contemporary. Whereas with this shoot, I wanted to showcase more than one and provide couples with all they inspiration they needed – from rustic to boho, peach vibes to opulent navy-copper – it would all be here, under that one roof, to really show off what Bride Beautiful at Elsham Hall is all about! Whether it be in the rustic barn, the outdoor pavilion or an intimate ceremony in the Garden Room, no matter what the theme or how many people you may have as part of your special day, you can still have it all here.
STYLING
From the photos, you will see that multiple themes were used; Rustic Winter, Peach Vibes, Navy-Copper, Cool Spring, Afternoon Tea and Boho. I met with Elaine and I explained I wanted to launch some new stationery designs and during our brainstorming session, we came up with the above. Our excitement levels soared and so I headed home and immediately began working on mood boards for the shoot. From that our vision came to life! I didn’t have to worry at all about how the décor or styling was going to be because Elaine and her team would take care of all that. I knew it would be amazing! We scheduled regular catch-ups to make sure we were both on track and continued to share lots of ideas ready for the big day, turning it all around in approximately four weeks.
People often ask why I do both photography and stationery but the two connect so well, as they allow me to get to know my couples more intimately and really allows me to get the centre and feel the essence of their day. I had been wanting to expand my range for so long and to delve into the world of wooden signage and acrylic displays.
I wanted to find a supplier who understood what I was trying to achieve by expanding my stationery collection and so I teamed up with The Perfect Wedding Shop who supplied me with the signage. They must’ve thought I was crazy with the artwork I had put together and what I wanted to achieve but they helped bring my ideas to life!
Displaying my stationery was so important to me too. I didn’t want to have simple flat-lays but for it all to be as one within each theme. The navy-copper conveyed such elegance and I wanted to show this within my stationery too. By incorporating copper pipe stands, the stationery really came into its own and set off the scene beautifully. It became a firm favourite on the day and who would’ve thought this theme and style could be set so perfectly in a rustic barn? Another reason why Elaine is so good at what she does!
As for the rest of the dream team, I knew immediately that I wanted Michelle O’Brien of Polka-Dotty Cakes on board! From a personal and professional point of view, she was my star baker. She did our wedding cake for us where we received the most compliments. As soon as she saw the mood boards, she was sending me her sketch ideas and so I knew her cakes would be incredible and they did not disappoint. Four of her cakes were on display that day, evoking her talent at the highest level!
With Elaine’s eye for décor, luxury was the heart of her sweetheart table set-ups. Whitehouse Event Crockery’s portfolio oozes elegance and glam exactly where it was needed. From candy pink goblets to gold cutlery, they had it all and complemented our themes perfectly. And the florals? There was no other choice other than Sarah Richards Floral Design. Her bouquets were filled with rich colour and her floral crown was assembled with such perfection! Devon, our bride on the day, looked beautiful and certainly with the boho theme, Sarah’s crown was the ideal creation!
ATTIRE
Elaine contacted all the suppliers to get them on board. She has this natural ability to instil trust and enthusiasm and so I knew as soon as she told them about our project, they would jump at the chance!
Wendy Ashton of UNVEILED Network Member Osh Gosh Gowns instantly knew the designer she wanted to showcase on the day; Tiffany’s Bridal Dresses. Wendy’s eye for detail is incredible and so as soon as she was aware of the different themes, she knew this would be the brand to have as part of our shoot. Detail was key for Wendy and why wouldn’t it be? The intricate work of these dresses is truly exquisite and so it was important for me, and for both bridal boutique and designer, to capture these beautiful elements.
As for the suits, our groom on the day, Jack Simpson, looked super stylish in his classic tweed suit from David Jason Menswear. Julie Cooper really adds a personal touch for her clientele and is always a delight to work with. I was so excited when I heard Elaine got her on board! Jack looked so at ease in his suit and due to its versatile look, he looked so smart when posing for those classic groom shots under the pavilion but then a second later, looked completely relaxed; suit jacket off and sleeves rolled up, perfect for those boho vibes!
BEAUTY
On this occasion, we sadly did not have any professional hair and makeup on the day but our model, Devon Katie Riley, did herself proud by doing it all! Her dark locks were waved beautifully, and her makeup matched perfectly.
RESULTS
We all had the best day! I really like to think that I’m a relaxed photographer to work with, but I found myself, inwardly, spending all my time worrying about everyone else, as I wanted to make sure they were happy!
Whether it be working on a styled shoot or an actual wedding, it is important for me for everyone to have fun and be themselves and this was what this day was all about. We laughed, we joked and each of our personalities shone through, whether it be through camera or stationery, cake or décor, because our job is to make couples’ wedding days memorable; just how this day was!
We made sure that we all worked in a COVID secure environment but, in the end, you would never have thought it. For me, this was so important, as I also wanted us all to have a collection of photos to show couples who remained still undecided on their wedding plans, that you could still have the perfect day, even during these sad times, without compromise.
The highlight of the day for me was when Jack got his acoustic guitar out! We had a great time listening to him play and was perfect for the boho setting! Devon was in her element (she had to pose with the strings too of course) and it really made us all smile. On that day, we could forget about all the heartache from the year and just be our creative selves, which felt like a breath of fresh air for us all!
Now, I am just looking forward to getting back into photographing weddings once again! I love chatting away with newly engaged couples and there seem to be a few now! It is a great feeling and I am excited to say that I have got a packed 2021, with bookings now being taken for 2022 and 2023. I am currently working on more stationery collections too so if you have any ideas, maybe yours could be added where you could even have a special mention!
As for Bride Beautiful at Elsham Hall, this shoot could not have happened without the vision, expertise and care from Elaine. She is an incredible talent and couples are so lucky to have her!
