“Love Is Simple” was all about capturing the overwhelming happiness that comes after the formalities of the day, with the focus purely on the joy of being newlyweds. The intention for a night-time shoot was to be able to display the soft romance and love during the evening celebration and the first dance.
Focusing on the intimacy of a beautiful venue in the wintertime, the magical festoon lighting against the night-time sky captivating those unique moments shared by a couple on their wedding day. The contrast between the darkness and soft lighting is a humble depiction of the simplicity of love, which was the inspiration behind this shoot. To include a colour pop, reds and pinks were included by the florist, stationary, make up artist and stylist to add an element of vibrancy to match the crispness of the rest of the shoot and bring some warmth to a (literally) freezing day!
Although the outdoors in winter brings some complexity to a photoshoot, (paired with the unexpected snowfall!), it offers a true reflection of a wedding day with more weddings in the UK actually taking place outside the summer months.
The bride was dressed in an ivory, strapless wedding gown with a romantic sweetheart neckline. The simplicity of this gown complimenting the inspiration behind the shoot, with the sleek A-line shape and train, perfect for a classic bridal look. This was paired with the groom wearing a crisp, fitted black tuxedo complete with bow tie, (because what is more romantic than that?!) supplied by Chimney Formal Menswear. The bow tie was later undone as the evening progressed, reflecting the reality of a relaxed evening celebration.
Kate from Kate Atalay Bespoke Hairstyling created two bridal looks for the shoot to carry the story from day to night. Firstly, an elegant romantic updo to fit the double diamanté headband which then transformed to a soft wavy down style to marry into the floral headpiece for a relaxed evening.
To highlight the dreamy, romantic feel of the shoot and elegance of the dress, Becky from Legendary Makeup chose subtle warm toned bronze on the eyes with individual lashes for added drama for the bride. A pop of glossy pink on the lips perfectly complemented the beautiful bright floral, with glowy skin bringing a bit of light and dimension to the outside shots.
As the name suggests, the centrepiece of this venue is the most iconic willow tree, adorned with reams of soft fairy lights and a starlit dancefloor laying perfectly underneath, waiting for the shot! The Willow Tree in Bourn is such a stunning setting for a summer or winter wedding, but even more magical in the snow, embracing the romantic surrounds.
The flowers, creatively composed by the talented Chloe from Beautiful Blooms, complimented the wintery wedding feeling, with jewel tones and a pop of white. Using roses, calla lilies, orchids and an array of seasonal flowers she created a large whimsical bouquet with delicate trailing greenery. To match the relaxed teepee vibe, the model was styled with a flower crown and the signage and tables were styled with co-ordinating blooms.
Miss Carlysle and Co styled the shoot, focusing on using fairy lights to add a sense of romance outside under The Willow Tree and creating the design of the tablescapes with some winter inspiration. The florals were bold reds and pinks so the styling included sage green, dusty pink, light pink and gold meaning the focus on the florals was not taken away. Gold and sage green are trending colours for 2023, you can easily add gold accents into your styling through the gold rimmed glasses, gold candlestick holders, gold cutlery and gold rimmed charger plates, simple but very effective. The table runners added texture to the layout, with glass cylinders, candlestick holders and tealight holders to add the glow to the table. The place settings were gold rimmed charger plates with gold cutlery and sage green napkins in a knotted style.
Videographer Josh Hyde was able to capture the details in their truest form. The picturesque, unanticipated snow created a beautiful backdrop to film the couple, the venue, and the work done by all other involved suppliers. Then with the guidance from the talented Caroline Acaster, the natural and authentic imagery produced encompasses the entire inspiration behind this shoot and perfectly captures the story.
Suppliers:
Bridalwear & Accessories: Lily Francis Bridal
Venue: The Willow Tree, Bourn
Photographer: Caroline Acaster Photography
Videographer: J. Hyde Weddings
Models Couple: The Paynes
Hair: Kate Atalay Bespoke Hairstyling
Make-up: Legendary Makeup
Groomswear: Chimney Formal Menswear
Florist: Beautiful Blooms
Stationery: Kates Crafts
Stylist: Miss Carlysle & Co
Bridal Shoes: Pink Pepper Studio
Neon Lights: Lightbulb Moments
Dancefloor: Starlight Event Management
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