Oh there is a thing of beauty of the blog today!! Another amazing wedding inspiration shoot that is taking traditional wedding styling and turning it on its head!
Put together by Laura of Green Earth Flowers and featuring the awesome photography of Zuzi from Stella Photography, English Wilderness takes its inspiration from the ubiquitous wilderness trend shoots we see from America, whilst showcasing the spectacular raw English landscape. Upper House Hayfield, which is situated high up in the Peak District next to a reservoir and surrounded by craggy hills and dramatic forests, was the venue and what a location it is! Rich with stunning countryside views and vast woodland, it most certainly was the perfect place to represent the wild and raw countryside England has to offer.
When asked about the concept of the shoot, Laura said…
We wanted the style to feel quite edgy and alternative as a contrast to the amazing natural landscape, while at the same time being fun and relaxed. We basically wanted to show that couples don’t have to change their individual styles to conform with the typical English ‘country’ wedding theme. We hear of so many brides seeking products to cover their tattoos or feeling they should tone down their usual makeup style for their wedding day, so we wanted to turn these ideas and preconceptions on their head! The models we chose are an actual couple, so we tried to embrace their authenticity to prove that you can have wedding images that truly reflect your individuality.
Love this. Your wedding should be a celebration of you, your likes, your passions, your heritage, the music you love, the art you love, the food you love. Everything that makes the two of you unique should be celebrated at your wedding and I love that this shoot is championing that.
Laura talks us through English Wilderness and all of the fantastic suppliers involved.
Look out for the incredible styling of the bride and groom, the gorgeous flower installations and bouquets and the beautiful backdrops the venue has for couples portraits.
Enjoy lovely people. This shoot is a keeper!
Energy and Creativity…
When we came up with the concept for this shoot we knew straight away who we wanted to capture our vision. Zuzi brings a huge amount of energy and creativity to her job – Stella Photography love to take images with a natural feel that are a bit different, creative and fun, so they were perfect for bringing the shoot to life.
Wild and Remote…
We knew we needed somewhere wild and remote to get the kind of images we wanted, so the location of Upper House was perfect. The estate comprises of 30 acres of private woodland, forests, extensive gardens and 90 acres of Kinder Reservoir, and is nestled within the 6,000 acre National Trust Kinder Estate within the Peak District National Park. We worked on 3 different looks at 3 different locations around the grounds of the venue – firstly a ceremony setup on the banks of the reservoir, secondly in the vast forest and woodland, and finally up on the hills overlooking Kinder Scout and the wild expanses of the Peak District.
Boho Effortless Hair Styling…
Jen of Wildflower Hair Company specialises in boho effortless hair styling that’s never too ‘done’. For this shoot she wanted to portray how you can create both a bridal and edgy look that is unique to your individual style. The first look incorporates loose, laid back waves which have an added edge from Viking style scalp braids on one side of the head. The second look added more braids on each side, along with a quartz crystal crown from Howling Moon which adds a punchy rock style element, softened with high volume and big messy waves. For the final look Jen left out Nina’s bangs whilst braiding the rest of her hair into a messy updo with lots of texture.
Showcasing Three Different Looks…
Sarah wanted to showcase three different looks starting with a fresh natural makeup look – subtle soft tones with a nude lip that would suit any bride. For the second look she made the eyes more smokey, and added subtle highlighting to the cheekbones and a deep berry lip to show how colour and shaping can be incorporated. The third look was dramatic, matt and smoked out – bold brows, sharp contouring and barely-there lip.
Frocks That Rock…
Helen from Rock The Frock bridal boutique provided us with 2 gowns, trouser separates and 2 jackets to create the 3 different looks. As a relatively new business, Helen really felt that the theme, models and venue were super cool and definitely in line with the ethos and vibes of Rock the Frock Cheshire.
Vibrant Florals…
Laura from Green Earth Flowers wanted to move away from a typical bridal look for the flowers for the shoot, introducing more vibrant tones and interesting colour combinations as an alternative to the more popular neutral and blush florals. She constructed a pair of freestanding floral columns incorporating spring flowers, twigs, grasses and foliages to reflect the surrounding landscape, and then added in some darker coral and scarlet blooms to create depth. She created 2 different bouquets – one wide and fan-shaped in sandy tones with bursts of coral and apricot, the second a more dramatic bouquet including rich dark ranunculus, hellebores and fritillaria. She also created a dried flower crown for the final, wild hillside shots.
The Line Up…
Photography: Stella Photography; Gowns: Rock the Frock Cheshire; Hair: Wildflower Hair Company; Makeup: Sarah Meredith; Florals: Green Earth Flowers; Venue: Upper House, Hayfield; Models: Zakk & Nina Fish
