 Way way back we had the honour of co-ordinating Amelia & Peter's incredible boho back-garden barn wedding. Amelia & Peter planned their whole day around a beautiful family homestead and the most incredible barn I've ever seen. They planned every detail including home grown flowers, illustrated table plans and the most dreamy colour palette. Let me take you through their day... In the back garden there was this incredible open fronted barn that Amelia & Peter used for their ceremony space. Dried bunches of flowers, wreaths & chandeliers hung all around and encased the couple and their loved ones for the I Do's. On the lawn adjacent Amelia and Peter has erected a beautiful stretch tent to have their reception dinner...  I love when weddings 'feel' like their couples, every little detail had me swooning and it was the most perfect day for Amelia & Peter. In the morning my jobs included putting out all the last minute things that needed doing on the morning of and co-ordinating with the caterers and on the day suppliers. Guests started arriving and taking their seats ready for the ceremony. I loved how both bridal and grooms party utterly complimented each other but weren't matchy matchy!
 When it came to the ceremony, the gorgeous couple said their I Do's and read their personalised vows to eachother under a stunning dried floral chandelier made by Amelia's aunt from flowers grown in the garden of her sister & mums house.   Once the couple were pronounced husband & wife I handed out the confetti ready for all important confetti toss photos...
 Amelia & Peter's guests went straight into a drinks reception and enjoyed cooled beers and drinks which I'd set up in this charming rustic setting. Lawn games, couple photos and good times were had till the guests were ready to take their seats for dinner. 
The photographers on the day were my absolute favourites The Wild Bride, I don't get to do many weddings with Emilie & Jon but I love it when we do. They have a way of capturing their couples so naturally and perfectly. Seriously how stunning are these photos. Of course their beautiful dog had to get in on the photos too!
  When it came to the Stretch Tent the wonderful Prickly Pear Tents set up the perfect base for dinner & speeches.... The tables were decorated with wildflowers in jam jars, illustrated woodland animals and insect table names and urns and buckets of plants & flowers. There was a beautiful flow from outside to in and it was the perfect setting for the day. I don't know about you but I adore photos of happy people enjoying food, wine and good times <3    
I can't thank Amelia & peter for asking me to be a part of their day. It was the kind of wedding I adore and that utterly sums up what Lo & Behold Bespoke are all about!  Suppliers:
Photography - The Wild Bride Co-ordination - Lo & Behold Bespoke Dress - Needle & Thread Celebrant - Grace The Day Stretch Tent - Prickly Pear Stretch Tents
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 So it's time to share with you the campaign shoot for Lo & Behold Another Wedding Fair 2023. It was my dream to take the second AWF to Coldeast from the first time I visited. I peered in from the outside to the Orangery and fell in love with the space, the mosaic room in particular. The decorative floor is a wonder, the light that floods in from all angles and the stone walls - Ooosh... such a beautiful space. I was thrilled when I met with Kathryn from Coldeast and was delighted when she said she'd love to host the fair! From there the ball started rolling and we started planning a shoot to launch the fair. I took my inspiration from this room and the concept for shoot was born...
I bought together a team of local suppliers and wow... I am so in love with the results. Lots of texture, drapery, details and luxe points of interest aside minimal abstract décor items.  I designed a suite of stationary taking inspiration from the floral mosaic floor and the natural stone walls of the room. Choosing matte, hammered and textured card complimented by simple fonts and minimal floral illustrations. We styled the stationery alongside the beautiful shoes, bags & jewellery from Freya Rose. Look at those heels alongside that floor! Talk about a matchmade in heaven!!  When it came to the tablescape, I wanted to add height, lots of texture and an abundance of flowers. So I added blocks beneath layers of draped fabric in the middle of the table. I then arranged a collection of white abstract vases and candlesticks. Steph from Rabbit & The Rose bought along the most beautiful collection of flowers and excelled my vision of a minimal colour palette! We set the table in a mirrored recess in The Orangery meaning the décor doubled in the reflection. 
As soon as I created the moodboards I knew who I had to ask to create the cake for the shoot. I met the lovely Bonita at last years AWF and her textural, layered, delicate cakes were perfection for what we wanted. They really are like edible pieces of art! 
When it came to the models we decided to choose 3 female models rather than use a couple, to create an editorial look and to showcase diversity and appeal to more future brides! Dominique, Maz & Rin were all recommended by the lovely Nicola from Velvet Queen who also chose the wedding dresses. All beautiful gowns from the designer Evie Young Bridal. The gorgeous Yasmin Bilgic did all the hair and make up for the shoot and the girls looked stunning! We decked the girls out in Freya Rose jewellery and shoes and Peridot Bridal veils. 
So there you have it... a little bit of inspiration ahead of our 2023 fair which takes place at the wonderful Mansion at Coldeast over the weekend of the 23 & 24 September. You can find out more by visiting our new website (Just click on the link below)
A huge thank you to all the superstars who contributed to the shoot! Concept, Co-ordination, Styling & Stationery | LO & BEHOLD BESPOKE Photographer | BON AMOUR WEDDINGS Videography | I WILL FILM Venue | THE MANSION AT COLDEAST Shoot Co-ordinator | BETH AT THE BARN Florist | RABBIT & THE ROSE Cake | BONITA BAKES Dress Boutique | VELVET QUEEN Dress Designer | Evie Young HMUA | YASEMIN BILGIC Veil | PERIDOT BRIDAL Shoes & Jewellery | FREYA ROSE LONDON Models | DOMINIQUE, MAZ & RIN Hey all... what a surreal time we're in... I hope you're all keeping safe, at home if you can and looking after your personal health and your loved ones. I've been so busy chatting to all our couples and trying to postpone so many weddings... this is such a hard time for everyone... for couples who have been planning their dream day for months / years only to be told they've got to wait even longer and for suppliers who are loosing out on jobs they've planned for and for the income they need to keep their lives goings. We've been so lucky that we've been able to accommodate all but 1 of our 2020 couples but it's not been easy... However I'm trying to focus on the bigger picture and I know this is so much harder for our couples and anyone who's had to postpone their big day. I was inspired by a post I saw online where someone was offering postponement cards and I thought what a lovely thing to do... So I've created some of my own... 5 different designs varying from heartfelt and traditional, to fun and cheeky (gotta keep your sense of humour in times like this) I'm offering these designs for free to anyone that wants/needs them... If you're interested please get in touch with me by email... let me know the name of the design you like and the names / dates and I'll email you back a PDF version which you can print or send by email to your guests! xx Oh... also... obviously if you'd like a bespoke design creating I charge £25 an hour for stationery work and I would LOVE to help you out! x Ami
 Happy Friday my loves.... What a feast for the eyes I have for you today... We met Roo & Ben back in 2018 at MCWF and from that first meeting we just knew they were our kind of people.... They were planning an incredible London Wedding and asked us along to be there all day to style and set everything up and ensure things ran smoothly throughout the whole day.... From laying tables to cutting cake for the guests and setting up the evening cheese.... serving the toast to finishing touches...we were there BTS all day ensuring everything ran smooth and it was such a joy to help make this whole day as perfect as it could be. We also had the opportunity to work with industry powerhouses The Wild Bride and The Costa Sisters on this wedding so you know it's gonna be good!! So, as per usual expect a LOT of incredible pics... I suggest grabbing the biggest mug you can find and a donut (thanks Festival Brides for the morning snack inspo) and sit back and enjoy.... as always full credits at the end and my musings throughout! Roo and Ben you are just the most awesome, lovely and generous couple ever, thank you so so much for having us play such a big role in your special day! We love you! <3 Lovaine & Jon captured the morning prep so beautifully and I love how all the little details pull together and help set the scene for the day.... the colours, the tones, the little details all hint at what's to come... a laid back and effortlessly cool London wedding.  Roo & Ben said their 'I Do's' in the incredible Asylum Chapel and this being our second wedding there we knew what to expect... This beautiful dilapidated building holds such charm and beauty within its crumbling walls and historic stained glass... whilst it's not everyones taste, we flipping love it and this wedding ceremony was a match made in heaven... Lots of candles, modern signage and more then a couple of heartfelt speeches and readings... what more could you want?!  
  
   No words needed to accompany these ceremony pictures except wow! As the guests headed onto the reception Venue Roo & Ben hung back and had some incredible couple shots and they are just perfection!! <3
 A hop, skip and jump across London Town and the couple made their way to their reception venue, the equally awesome AMP Studios, also ran by Maverick Projects. These converted Railway arches were the perfect backdrop for this bohemian urban set up.... The graffitied walls and industrial pavilion alongside the fresh greenery and a jolly crowd, with drink in hand, made for the perfect wedding reception.      When it came to the details we can't take any credit, for it was all thought out, created and sourced by our bride and groom.... from homegrown succulent favours to couple mix-tapes, handmade dreamcatchers and a guitar guestbook, the ideas are so beautifully 'them' it just works... I have said this time and time again that 'staying true to you' on your wedding day ensures a wedding that compliments you and your love story.... It feels real because it is!
As the guests were taking their seats ready for dinner & speeches the bridal party snuck outside and had some photos and I love how friggin cool they all look!   Now, let's talk about the meal set up.... this is always the biggest part of wheat we do and this epic (and big) reception meal was no exception... three long trestles and a top table in a horse shoe set up including individual place settings.... We laid everything out here as the venue is a dry hire space. The tables were adorned with grey cloths, foliage runners by Wabana Flowers, our vintage cut glass candlesticks sat perfectly beside handmade concrete tea-light holders and perspex place names... I dunno about you but I think it looked incredible... a perfectly match for the arched space, a mix of rustic, modern and urban! Roo & Ben also hired out all of our cut glass decanters for their table wine and they look SO MUCH NICER then just using the wine bottles... Please let us know if you'd be interested in hiring these for your wedding / event!   With the meal consumed and the speeches toasted it was time for the cake... Not being able to choose just one Roo & Ben had 2 amazing {and delicious} cakes alongside a stack of classic glazed krispy kremes because why the hell not! After they cut and consumed their first slice I helped serve the rest fo the guests as they grabbed a slice ready for the first dance.... 
So there you have it, the most incredible day for the loveliest {and most cool} couple... anyone that can pull off a 'DON'T BE A DICK' neon sign on their wedding days is good in my books!!  Suppliers:
Photography | The Wild Bride Styling, Prop Hire and on-the-day Co-ordination | Lo & Behold Bespoke Wedding Venue | The Asylum Chapel Reception Venue | AMP Studios Flowers | Wabana Flowers Dress Supplier | Helena Fortley Bridal Boutique Dress Designer | Lenora by w.too Grooms Attire | Zebel Bespoke HMUA | Makeover Box Celebrant | Samantha Kelsie Videography | The Costa Sisters  What a flipping delight I have for you today... Not only has Joasis Photography created the most stylish and stunning photographs which capture this incredible day... but we have a special place in our heart for this gorgeous couple... We were there when Rachael proposed to Francesca so it was so incredibly special to be there when the girls said their I do's!!! The couple wanted to inject a bit of bohemian decor into the very urban, edgy and cool venue they'd chosen, the awesome Peckham Springs... They wanted colour, joy, boho details and a day focused on fun, love and laughter.... and once you've had a scroll through I'm sure you'll agree they got the day they wanted..... I'll dip in and out through out the post with my thoughts and will of course also list all the suppliers at the end as I usually do.... If you want to hear more from the girls about their day and what inspired them, head on over to Junebug Weddings too as they've just been featured on this incredible wedding website too!! So sit back, grab a cuppa and make your Friday lunchtime a little bit more special!! 
The joy of having 2 brides... is double the amount of beautiful bridal beauty and these girls did not disappoint!!! Their morning prep was a beautiful blend of gritty London realness and beautiful boho touches... Peckham Springs was the most perfect venue for them... not only was it super close to their home, but a blank canvas waiting to be transformed..... Lots of versatile spaces and quirky touches.... it was a joy to work in and we can't wait to go back!!  The girls did loads of DIY for their wedding and we helped bring it all together and add a few finishing touches.... The couple asked us to create a bespoke colourful seating plan picking out corals & blues which would run throughout their day... we also made handwritten perspex signs which were used throughout the day and helped set everything up on the morning of the wedding... The outside benches looked amazing for the relaxed alfresco dining and the fun remained throughout the day with sweet stations, beer pong, colourful confetti and of course Hank the Sausage dog!! <3 
Peckham Springs is made up of 3 railway arches and the ceremony took place in one of the spaces with a beautiful bespoke ceremony arch... we used a mix of our pagan pampas and wild meadow but with some fun added details.... We hung Rachael's wedding present to Fran, a 'The Ramesys' neon sign and also attached some beautiful flowers put together by John Alan / East Dulwich Flowers to the top of the arch and added in more of our pampas grasses and created an additional floral installation to the right base.... we thought it all came together beautifully and the girls were just wowed!! <3 Their ceremony was a lovey intimate affair with lots of family and friends being involved and I'm sure you'll agree it was the most romantic scene!       Hurray for Confetti shots and those beautiful joyful expressions!! 
Rachael's brother made their girls cake for them as well as all the amazing little individual desserts.... what a talented boy he is!!! 
 Once puddings were had and the guests were chilling the girls snuck away with Jo for some couple shots and good golly..... these are my favourite. The shots in the stairway are like a styled shoot or editorial.... so flipping cool.... and I love the shots of them strolling through the streets... They headed to Bussey Rooftop Bar / Copeland Buildings for some more shots and I'm sure you'll agree... beautiful!!
  such a cool shot.... Jo, you clever clever lady!!!  In the evening the band set up in front of our ceremony arch and it was so lovely to see it being used again... we always encourage our couples to reuse their ceremony arches... such a waste if not... and look how pretty it looks...   The girls also got involved with some smoke bomb action and wow wee..... such amazing images!!  So there you have it... an amazing, fun filled and joyful day.... I hope you've enjoyed looking through the pics and we want to wish The Ramesy's a lifetime of happiness, love, fun times and adventures a plenty! Check out all the supplier involved below...
 Suppliers:
Photography – Joasis Photography Event Planning, Decor & Styling – LoandBeholdBespoke Wedding Venue – Peckham Springs Couple Shots Venue - Bussey Rooftop Bar / Copeland Buildings Floral Design – John Alan Flowers Catering – The Rub BBQ Evening Pizza – VanDough Live Music – Louise Harper & Cool Folk, provided by Music8 Agency Wedding Dresses – Grace Loves Lace, Lihi Hod Hand Painted Jackets – The Mermaid Effect  Hey all and Happy New Year from Maxwell and I... What a treat I have for you.... my first post of 2020... I'm sharing this beaut of a wedding which we were honoured to be a part of last year.... When I received an email from Olivia asking to hire some of our beautiful vintage props for a coastal bohemian wedding to her love Joe... my heart did a little flutter... all the things Olivia wanted from us, were all my favourite things.... her colour palette were MY colours and their day sounded like an absolute dream! It was so lovely chatting to Olivia about her ideas.... she had such a clear vision in mind... she reminded me of me when I was planning our day.... She knew exactly what she wanted and boy oh boy.... it didn't disappoint, she did such a great job setting it all up! From discussing candle colours with Olivia to seeing the first sneaks online... this was a dream wedding to be a part of and I'm so happy to be able to share these amazing photos taken by Jon and Sarah aka Salt & Sea Photography. I'll do a full list of suppliers at the end.... but for now sit back... grab a cuppa and enjoy... Thanks again to Olivia and Joe for letting me share their beautiful day with you all and I wish them all the love as they begin their journey together as husband and wife. Doesn't this just set the most gorgeous scene...? I love the natural tones teamed with the hints of blush, white and green! Their venue, The Cowshed looks absolutely stunning and such a beautiful venue.
Now... let's just take a moment to appreciate the stunning tones Olivia's bridesmaids were wearing, I mean just wow... Her and her girls looked so beautiful! 
It was at this point that the guests all huddled into the cosy little ceremony barn and vowed were exchanged and husbands and wives made! 
   I love these shots of the newlyweds opening a massive magnum of champagne... such a fun idea for a celebratory toast! Plus those scones are summertime canapé perfection!!
 The couple and bridal party snuck away for a few gorgeous photos which are so beautiful...
   Now these are the photos that really make my heart sing... It's always such a joy to see how people use our props and Olivia certainly has an eye for it.... trestle tables were draped with fabric and our mismatched vintage bottles and brass and glass candlesticks look like a dream... Seriously... so so beautiful!  
beautiful huh????  Also can we take a moment to appreciate these stunning looking grazing platters created by The Shellfish Pig! Yum 
Also... whilst we're on the subject of food.... wow to the cake and cheese cake tower too!   After lunch the couple snuck away from the party to have their couple shots taken in front of a backdrop that literally took my breath away! Those ponies, that coastal shoreline.... just so incredibly stunning!   
  And there you have it.... what an incredible wedding.... I'll leave you with one last shot of the newlyweds under a tree draped with our fairy light curtains... officially the prettiest use of our fairy lights ever I think you'll agree!!!  Suppliers:
Photographer: Salt & Sea Photography Venue: The Cow Shed, Freathy Farmhouse Table Decor: Lo&Behold, Additional Table Decor: Keeping it Vintage and Beyond Vintage (Napkins & Runners) Tableware: Abbotts South West Candles: Ester & Eric Caterer: The Shellfish Pig Flowers: Ruby Alice Design Table Flowers: Flora & Fern Floral Design Hair & Make Up: Jennifer Hull Dress: Karen Willis Holmes Joe’s Suit: Reiss  Last month we had the honour of helping out on Ally & Alan's gorgeous pagen inspired back garden wedding... We knew this beaut of a couple from Southsea; Ally is a fab illustrator and is incredibly creative so when she reached out to me last year about helping with their wedding i knew it was going to be a good one... and I wasn't wrong! We were asked to come on board to help with styling, prop hire and on the day co-ordination... helping things run smoothly all day. We also helped out in the run up with styling ideas and I'm so proud with how it all came together on the day... Ally & Alan got married in Basingstoke, Hampshire. They had a beautiful simple ceremony at the local registry office... which couldn't have complimented they colour scheme any better... they then headed back to where Alan's family live... They had their wedding breakfast in the local village hall and then took the party onwards to their parents back garden (which just so happens to be the coolest back garden ever!) Let me talk you through their beautiful day... (I'll credit all the suppliers at the end but all photo graphs are by the gorgeous Harriet Brown)
Ally got ready at her mother-in-law's home with all her best girls... The theme for the day was pagen, rustic, beautiful with lots of foliage, natural textures and a colour palette of pink, green, blush, taupe and white. Rose Clover created the most beautiful flower crowns and bouquets for all the girls, lots of soft textures and beautiful flowers, which complimented the girls perfectly in their mismatched white dresses. 
  How gorgeous are these looks these two lovebirds are giving each other during their ceremony...?? Talk about Swoon!!! <3  
For the reception we created a beautiful bohemian backdrop using our vintage crochet shawl, lots of neutral drapery, lanterns, tassels and a hell of a lot of pampas!! For the table cloths I helped Ally choose some gorgeous dusky pink fabric from our local fabric shop... We wanted to create a pagen inspired theme, so we used foraged ferns & foliage in addition to eucalyptus from Rose Clover to create a natural focus runner down the middle of the table. Tree slices were then dotted along the central of the table along with our classic brass candlesticks and bright pink candles! Hand-made natural linen napkins were tied with frayed edged ribbons and rose gold cutlery sat alongside classic white crockery. I'm probably biased but it looked stunning! For the top table we also added pampas and gypsophila to the table garland. At the other end of the room our 'Utterly Intoxicated to Each Other' banner hung behind a heavily laden dessert table featuring handmade sweet treats by all their family and the most incredible cake made by Ally the night before the wedding!     Once the meal was done and the dessert table devoured the whole party headed two doors down to the most beautiful and epic back garden you ever did see... Think tree houses, built in bars and hidden fire pit dens. Guests lounged on our rugs under shady trees, played games, drank Pimms and listened to the joyful songs played acoustically on a guitar. I absolutely adore the shots of Ally & her sisters frolicking under our canopy.... So dreamy... I want to hire this out to so many more weddings purely for photo ops! <3
   
     Amazing huh?? We worked way into the night running the free bar for all Ally & Alan's friends & family and watched the day unfold and the sun set behind the trees... It was so beautiful and such an honour to be a part of... Here's a few of the people who played a part in ensuring this day was as gorgeous as it was...
Suppliers: Photography: Harriet Brown Dress: Hope & Harlequin Styling, Props & On-the-day Co-ordination: Lo & Behold Bespoke Florals: Rose Clover  I have know Freya Rose for a while now... When she moved her designer shoe HQ & showroom back to Southsea a few years ago we received an invite to her shop opening and from the moment I saw here gorgeous heel designs and met Freya we got along and I admired her. Freya is an artist and her intricately detailed heels and modern bridal classics are just swoon worthy... Freya is also such a lovely person and as a fellow Southsea resident I was thrilled when Freya asked me to help style and plan her wedding and all the beautiful details that would be involved. She was passionate about using lots of local suppliers from Hampshire so it was a privilege to help on her big day. I worked with Freya and Matt over the 5months they were wedding planning and helped them fine tune their styling ideas and a concept for their big day. Although the idea changed and morphed a few times both Freya and Matt were adamant they wanted a beautifully classic day with tasteful & elegant decor. The final styling concept for their big day was a very minimal colour palette, mainly white with hints of gold. Classic & minimal; a modern take on an English Country wedding. We helped the gorgeous couple in a few capacities in the run up to and on the wedding day itself. We worked closely with Freya & Matt to design and print their wedding stationery... this was all done in house by us (you can see more of what we created below). We also created all their gilded place names and seating plan. Freya & Matt hired lots of props from us for their reception and we were on hand over 3 days to set up the space, help change it round in the eventing, assist at the reception with tasks like the guestbook, sparklers & fire pit and pack down the following day! And what a glorious day it was... the sun shone all day, the gorgeous little details were all perfect and Freya, Matt & their Bridal party all looked incredible... and obviously the shoes were to-die-for!!! Their wedding was also shared on Love My Dress so do click here to read a heartfelt blog post from Annabel about their beautiful Wedding... To Freya & Matt, thank you for asking us to help on your big day... we loved it! <3 As always we'll comment throughout and a full list of suppliers will be at the end... enjoy x
Freya got ready at home with close family and our lovely friend Carrie Lavers perfectly captured the getting ready process, bathed in golden light! These photos are just beautiful and perfectly showcase the stunning accessories Freya created and chose for her big day. I've also included a couple of press photos from Freya Rose of 2 of her stunning shoes (she had 3 for the day)... Check out the details on the heels.... you'll notice Freya & Matt's initials monogrammed into the base of the heel.... so incredibly special and what an amazing keepsake of your wedding day!
I think you'll agree Freya looked incredible in a bespoke Sanyukta Shrestha gown! Her bouquet of tumbling foliage and white blooms was created by the lovely Ava from Blossom Boutique. Freya also wore a stunning necklace of rare blue moonstones and diamonds made by her lovely mum and jeweller, Barbara Tipple as her 'something blue'. Freya & Matt got married at St Hubert's Church in Idsworth, a little church sat a top of a hill in the middle of the english countryside... Incredibly idyllic and picturesque! Freya was given away by her lovely brother and I love the intimacy of their ceremony photos... Carrie has a way of capturing all those stolen glances and little moments...  St Huberts is beautiful inside with hand painted Roman murals on the walls... the Church itself in one of the oldest in the Uk, built back in 1053AD. See if you can spot the order of service front cover designed by Freya's son Johnnie!    
 Iv'e just got to comment on how incredibly beautiful Freya's bridesmaids look!! I am especially in love with the silk jumpsuits worn over the lace tops... just wow... I swear every time these ladies walked past me at the reception I couldn't not stare... haha... And of course all worn with Freya Rose shoes and my favourite boots too!! <3    Their reception was held at the lovely Park House & Space Hotel near Midhurst.... We got on with the venue so well we've added them to our Recommended Suppliers and can't wait to work there again! The Venue is just beautiful and on a sunny June afternoon it was just perfect...   The wedding breakfast was held in the barn & barn extension... The decor was kept minimal and classic... White table cloths and napkins topped with a little something special... The gilded Lunaria and place cards which were laid in every place setting above individual menus printed on vellum all created by us! The centre pieces were statement floral arrangements by Blossom Boutique in hand picked individual vases bought by Freya. The top table was adorned with a wreath of lunaria, gysophilia and dried white leaves... We also added in our clear glass vintage cut glass candlesticks and beautiful pearlescent taper candles. We also created a beautiful photobooth backdrop with fairy lights, drapery and more flowers. A small table was set up with a polaroid guestbook station which we manned in the evening (a new service we will be offering) 
Freya & Matt snuck away for their meal and headed to the Rose Garden with Carrie for their first set of couple portraits... 
Here's the stationery we designed and created for Freya... Vellum printed details were laid above a printed macro flower photo taken by Freya. Tied with hand cut chiffon ribbon they were sent off to expectant guests in belly banded envelopes. I gilded all the place names on heavy weight hammed ivory card and each one was accompanied by a sprig of dried Lunaria and more gold leaf! I was so proud of this stationery suite.... Freya & Matt had a clear idea of the look they wanted and it was a joy to create for them. If you'd be interested in commissioning us to design & make your wedding stationery please get in touch! 
 The catering staff at the venue created the main meal (which was incredible... I was there for the tasting!!) and in the evening Freya & matt bought in The Southsea Deli to lay on a wonderful Mediterranean feast!!
As day turned into night a packed dance floor was ensured due the the awesome band the couple booked. The P.Y.T's played everything that ensured people would get up and dance... and boy did they!! As the sun set we debuted our new fire pit (get in touch if you'd like to hire this for your big day / event!) and Matt sneaked off with Freya in her second sensational evening gown for some more couple portraits in the nearby woods... That golden light were just beautiful I think you'll agree... So there you have it... What an incredible day... We'd like to wish Freya, Matt & their beautiful family the happiest of lifes together! <3 
  Suppliers:
Photographer - CARRIE LAVERS Planner/Stylist & Stationery - LO & BEHOLD BESPOKE Church - St Hubert’s Church in Idsworth Reception Venue - PARK HOUSE HOTEL & SPA IN HAMPSHIRE Wedding Dress - SANYUKTA SHRESTHA Hair Accessories - LILA ACCESSORIES Shoes + Veil - FREYA ROSE LONDON Jewellery + Rings - BARBARA TIPPLE Groom’s Suit - TURNBULL & ASSER Bridesmaid’s Dresses - TOPSHOP + GHOST Flowergirl - TEA PRINCESS + CHRISTIAN DIOR + LILA ACCESSORIES + custom FREYA ROSE LONDON shoes Page Boys - John Rocha Florist - BLOSSOM BOUTIQUE Cake - Sue Pike (a family friend) Entertainment - THE P.Y.TS (VIA HEADLINER) Catering - THE SOUTHSEA DELI Hair Stylist + Makeup Artist - AMANDA CLARK  Good Afternoon gorgeous creatures.... Have I got a treat for you today... I have been waiting to have the time to sit down and share this beautiful wedding with you FOR AGES (and that's not an exaggeration - this beaut of a day took place back in February!) I got chatting to the lovely Shakira after she spotted a wedding we did featured in Brides Magazine and came to me asking for help styling her big day to partner Robert. We started chatting about her and Robert's gorgeous day and I was captivated from the start.... They had visions of a simple, elegant but modern winter wedding at the beautiful Northbrook Park. With a colour palette of gold, grey and dark green with pops of rich deep burgundies it was truly going to be a feast for the eyes! I helped Shakira & Robert throughout their wedding planning journey advising them on styling ideas and helping to come up with a concept for their reception and ceremony. The day itself was wet and windy but the love and warmth that shines out from the photos by Harry Michael of their gorgeous family are testament to the incredible day had by all! 
As you can see Northbook Park is just beautiful... even on a drab February... The venue is finished to a beautiful standard and benefits from having separate areas for ceremony, reception and all the bits in between... Shakira & Rob has their ceremony in the beautiful Vine Room... I worked with the lovely Liz from Flower & Fern to create a simple boho luxe aisle with mixed foraged foliage, pampas grasses and a mix of candles, bottles and vases. We also adorned the fireplace with loads of flickering church candles and more foliage... the room is so beautiful that it really didn't need much. 
 How blooming gorgeous do they both look? I adore the genuine smiles and Harry has captured everything so beautifully!! Shakira's gown is by Eliza Jane Howell and her stunning Juliet Cap veil is by Megan Therese couture bridal accessories. Liz created the most perfect bouquet for Shakira and the soft tones and textures are just dreamy!   Shakira & Rob's beautiful children Noah & Esme were their flower girl and page boy and weren't they just the cutest little munchkins?? Harry and second shooter Sally Faith caught so many gorgeous details from the day and these little teasers below are some of my favourite... they tell the story of the day through the little moments and details.... <3 For their Reception Shakira, Rob & their friends and family headed to The Orangery. A huge space which over looks a courtyard garden. We styled the space using pale grey table cloths, forest green napkins and lots of touches of brass and gold. In addition to asking us to set up and style the two spaces Shakira and Rob also hired lots of lovely bits from us including brass and vintage cut glass candle sticks, brass vessels and our mahogany and brass tables stands...together with more florals from Flower and Fern the reception looked incredible! After the ceremony we relocated all the foliage and pampas to the top table to create an incredible full garland which was interspersed with candles and glass tea light holders.... As daylight faded and the fairy lights twinkled into the night the space got even more magical... Some of my favourite shots are of Shakira in our Peacock Chairs surrounded by fairy lights! 
    
I couldn't not share these stunning photos of Shakira with her best girls who all looked incredible in floor-length dark green gowns and black leather jackets... 
Equally how dapper do the boys look in their classic black tux's and bowties.... a beautifully timeless and and handsome look I think you'll agree!   After the reception the couple were joined with all their guests back in the vine room to cut the cake before the evening fun began....Shakira & Rob also hired 3 different cake stands from us which were topped with three incredible looking cakes...the most tasty looking of the three being one topped with dripping caramel sauce and mini donuts!! Urm.... Yum!!   What an incredible day huh?? A huge thank you to Shakira & Rob for asking us to be such a huge part of their big day... you can also follow Shakira & Rob online... Since their wedding they've launched a new social media platform called Not Just A White Wedding which ensures that POC are represented in the wedding industry! A cause you know we truly support so go give them a follow!  Suppliers:
Photographer: Harry Michael Second Shooter: Sally Faith Venue: Northbrook Park Stylist & Prop Hire: Lo & Behold Bespoke Florist: Flower & Fern Dress: Eliza Jane Howell Veil: Megan Therese Couture Bridal Accessories 
Ohhhh Have I got a treat for you today.... but be warned.... it's a bigun'!!
This shoot was so much more then just a styled shoot, It debuted on Love My Dress on May 21st aka World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development as part of #changetheweddingindustry campaign which was spearheaded by the fantastic Hakeem & Jasmine. You can read all about that on this post over on Love My Dress and please do take the time to read the feature as it's such an important cause which we all need to pay attention to and do more to change!. But here, in this space, I'm going to explain the creative process behind the shoot and how everything came about... so sit back, grab a cuppa (and a plate of biccies) and enjoy... {as always... suppliers linked at the end xx} Nude Morocco | A Concept
As you know, we organise one big styled shoot a year, whilst we collaborate on others throughout the year, curating our own shoot is a way of showing potential customers our style, our response to current trends and prized pieces from our collection. It’s also a way for us to inspire others, to push the boundaries and continue to create new exciting content and beautiful timeless images.
I was in the early stages on planning our 2019 shoot when the lovely Jenna from Wonderland Invites got in touch and suggested a collaboration... Jenna's bohemian aesthetic compliments our style perfectly and it seemed timing was just right... We were both planning a muted colour palette shoot, which was heavily inspired by ethnic textures and detail. Combining our ideas, I created a moodboard and we set out contacting suppliers who complimented our vision and shoot, which we called Nude Morocco. The first of many incredible suppliers we confirmed was Nadia Meli; a Brighton based photographer who I had been following online for a while. Whilst we had never actually met I felt an affinity to Nadia and her way of shooting; her love of seeking out the details and appreciation for soft tonal colours. Nadia had previously asked about collaborating and I just knew this was the shoot for us to work together.
So good huh?!?! Thanks Robin... I know you had a super busy time to turn this round in so I'm grateful!! Now... You've had a little tease you ready for some photographic fun.....?
The next supplier confirmed was our stunning venue. I had seen images of the incredible Larmer Tree online and instantly fell in love with it. When I visited the site and met with the lovely Alice to look around I was amazed as it fit our brief perfectly. Luckily for us Alice loved what we do and welcomed us to use their venue as the perfect backdrop and focal point for the shoot.
Larmer Tree is home to 11-acres of gardens set in the heart of Cranborne Chase; an area of outstanding natural beauty on the Wiltshire / Dorset border. Created by General Pitt Rivers in 1880, it’s an extraordinary example of Victorian extravagance and vision. The gardens hold a unique collection of ornate buildings, ranging from the spectacular singing theatre to the magical roman temple. The majestic trees and intimate arbours create secrecy and surprise while the open lawns and magical gardens welcome guests to wander through hidden walkways and discover the unique charm of this beautiful setting. “Quite the prettiest sight I ever saw in my life” - Thomas Hardy | 1895 Whilst there is so many buildings we could have used... The Roman Temple was my favourite.... It was the perfect backdrop for our colour palette and I'm sure you'll agree looked incredible when set up for a ceremony! 
Flowers are always a huge part of any shoot and this one was no different. Jenna & I had big visions of dried palms and soft textures and luckily for us the lovely Lisa from Lily Lupin Floral Design was on board from the get go having also been wanting to do a shoot like this for a while… She outdid herself and created detailed and wonderful floral compositions using varieties of dried textures and grasses interspersed with muted pops of colours from anthuriums and orchids… We also worked together creating alternative bouquets. I loved the idea of creating something the bride and bridesmaids could carry like a traditional bouquet but that afterwards could be saved and hung on the wall as a keepsake… Flowers are such a huge investment for a wedding and we both loved the idea that these could be enjoyed forever! You can see some photos of these a bit further down....
When it came to our girls I sought out beautiful diverse and stunning women. Emma, Priyanka and Sara were all incredible and such a joy to work with. I can't thank these ladies enough...
Making sure the models looked and felt amazing was a really fun part of the shoot… I wanted to dress them in soft delicate colours but done in a tasteful and modern way. I was also keen to seek out garments, finishing touches and accessories that related to our ethnic & Moroccan inspirations. The Bride wore a bespoke fringed gown from Poppy Perspective, which hugged and showcased Emma’s curves. An incredible sunburst veil and feather belt from Ashley Wild Bridal and stunning rose gold heels with a mother of pearl and brass lattice heel from Freya Rose completed the look. Our Bridesmaids Priyanka and Sara looked incredible in cream soda coloured Maids to Measure gowns… What I adore about these dresses is that the same styles come in variety of sizes or you can mix and match the styles but keep the same fabric colour & material… This ensures a perfect fit and everyone feels and looks their best regardless of their dress size. They also both wore incredible Freya Rose shoes / boots in ivory! I have been swooning over the boots Sara was wearing for years! haha All the girls also wore the most beautiful jewellery from The Vamoose. Kathryn had sent me a huge selection of tasselled earrings, natural stone necklaces and stunning pendants… I broke my heart a little returning it all after the shoot and every piece was handmade with so much love and attention! 
Knowing the girls were going to be dressed to the nines it was important to get the right HMUA on board who would be able to transform the girls and make them feel even more beautiful. I had previously worked with Yasmin Bilgic on another styled shoot and I was so impressed with her skills. Yasmin bought onboard the lovely Meliha Akbas to assist on the day and together they ensured the girls hair and make up was perfection… We left hair natural for Sara & Emma and added soft curls to Priyanka. For makeup we wanted it bohemian, soft and subtle with lots of pinks and blushes highlighting the girls natural beauty!
Will, our handsome groom was brilliant on the day and such a wonderful, kind, patient man! He looked sensational in a customised pink Dolce & Gabbana jacket (which had been embroidered by Beth Parry from BB Embroidery) and other garments loaned to me by my incredibly fashionable fashion designer friend Francis Campbell.
When it came to the stationery Jenna designed the most incredible suite inspired by Larmer Tree... Soft tonal shades of mink, nude and blush with added gold wax seals, champagne tassels and an envelope featuring the iconic theatre stage backdrop. It was timeless, elegant & sophisticated and complimented the jewellery from The Vamoose perfectly! Kathryn from The Vamoose designs and hand makes everything , her pieces are inspired by natural history, a growing collection of vintage finds and an exploration of traditional crafts. The quality of the incredible stones she uses and the attention to detail just blew me away!
When it came to the décor I was in my element… I wanted to ensure everything fitted the brief, was beautifully executed but also was achievable to future brides and grooms. The ceremony, with the soft pink Roman Temple as a feature point needed little else to make it perfect. Ceremony chairs from Purple Door Props and a cascading floral entrance to the temple by Lily Lupin was all that was needed. We created an intimate circular ceremony setting, something we had at out own wedding and adored.
Can we just take a moment to swoon over this veil from Ashley Wild?? Seriously.... It's so gorgeous and Ashley went above and beyond for me on this shoot, not only loaning me a selection of veils but also making me two bespoke pieces for the bridesmaids to wear... more on that below...
When the lovely Lucy from Sparkle Bakes asked if I wanted a cake for the shoot I jumped at the chance as I'd worked with Lucy before and her cakes are to die for! I shared the moodboard with Lucy and she chatted to Lisa about the flowers we were using and designed and came up with this incredible simple elegant cake which just fitted together with the backdrop, the florals, everything!
When I visited Larmer Tree and met the lovely Alice who kindly showed me round I was blown away by all the details and beautiful backdrop possibilities... Without a doubt my favourite was this incredible huge tapestry which was found hiding away in a loft space... I was blown away by the detail, the colours and textures... It tied in so beautifully with everything I had bought together especially the gold embroidery on Will's Jacket and the textures in the bouquet!
The reception and after party set up style was ‘grown up bohemia’. We loaned a fantastic double peacock chair from Olivia from The Collect Collective who also was a huge help on the day, assisting with the setting up and styling. She was such a joy to work with and has a really similar sense of style to me so I could trust her to work one step ahead of me and get things laid out ready for me to come in and make final tweaks! I can't thank her enough as anyone who does shoots know time has a way of running away with you!!
Whilst we have a collection of individual peacock chairs, when Olivia reached out to me and offered me loan of the MAMA love seat I couldn't say no....it made a huge statement as top table double throne! We created a soft textured tablescape lined with moss, Moroccan lanterns and tiny ceramic bud vases & vintage stoneware bottles filled with peach orchids and dried flowers. I made detailed place settings and teamed these with handmade napkins. The draped fabric-seating plan from Grey & Copper looked sensational when teamed with more incredible florals, miniature weavings from my friend Alice aka, Vander Hume and our own ceramic tasselled dream catchers which we made for Most Curious. 
I don't know about you but I just love these images and when the models got involved it just bought the table to life... It's a party I want to go to!!
The last set up of the day was a chill out bohemian style tent / lounge set up and we had such fun layering vintage nets and lace curtains to create an intimate and dreamy place to finish the night…
Olivia also bought along some of her stunning solstice chandeliers, which we hung from the centre of the tent over low level bamboo tables! I can imagine chilling out here as the sun sets, fairy lights twinkling and prosecco free flowing! This set up definitely had a more relaxed bohemian feel to it and so for this section of the day the girls kicked off their Freya Rose heels, added stunning bespoke Kimonos by Ashley Wild Bridal and Emma changed into a relaxed fringed gown again from Poppy Perspective. The ethnic Moroccan inspired detail on the back of the dress was what caught my eye and it was the perfect dress for twirling around and dancing barefoot under the stars! 
We couldn't not use the incredible singing theatre whist at Larmer Tree, this stunning curved back stage was the idea platform for an impromptu dance party especially when the space hoppers come out to play!
I can't explain how much work these shoots involve... they're harder work then a job and are like planning your own wedding day, but it's something I enjoy so much and part of that enjoyment comes from selecting and approaching skilled suppliers to bring their items together!
I couldn't bear to send these incredible items back without first having a place and doing a mini shoot showcasing all the wonderful details from the shoes, the jewellery, the stationery, the weavings and the button holes.
So there you have it, an incredible shoot (even if I do say so myself) and all for a brilliant cause. Please do head on over to Love my Dress to check out the feature there, to hear not only my words but something from lots of the suppliers involved about why they wanted to get involved! Thank you again for everyone that helped make it all possible!
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