City Chic Wedding Shoot at The Deaf Institute

With the news last week that two of Manchester’s most iconic music entertainment venues, The Deaf Institute and Gorilla, were closing due to the pandemic, and then being saved from closing this week by Tim Burgess and Tokyo Industries, sharing today’s city chic wedding inspiration shoot captured at The Deaf Institute is bitter sweet. It is wonderful news that The Deaf Institute and Gorilla has been saved but the music and entertainment industry is suffering hugely due to the pandemic and it is breaking my heart. So many incredible grassroots performance spaces are closing, so many jobs are at risk. It is just unfathomable and it is getting to me today. Many of these city music venues also offer their space for weddings too. In fact, the wedding industry is closely linked to the entertainment industry in many ways so we are all in this together.

If you would like to help save the music venue industry, then Music Venue Trust is a great place to start. There are links there about how you can support grassroots music venues in your local area as well as donate to the GMV Crisis Fund if you can afford too.

So onto today’s cool, slick, sexy, industrial chic wedding inspiration shoot, captured at The Deaf Institute. Planned and curated by Kate at Florence & Vera Events, the shoot comes with an earthy colour palette of nude, blush and marsala, dried flowers, sexy modern bridal and groom styling and chic luxe decor, all beautifully captured by Kate McCarthy. It explores three different couple looks (the silver sequin cape with pink feathers by Electric Plume at the end is epic) as well as a constant play on contrast throughout with the decor of the shoot and the decor of the venue.

Kate of Florence & Vera Events talks us through the shoot, the incredible venue and all of the awesome suppliers involved.

The Film…

The Shoot…

Take us back…

Words by Florence & Vera Events

…to this stunningly beautiful and stylish set-up. Set in the cool and iconic surroundings of The Deaf Institute in Manchester’s city centre; this blustery, Manc afternoon brought about an explosion of urban and industrial chic, all wrapped up in a fashion-conscious bow! All beautifully captured on both types of film by the amazing Kate McCarthy Photo and video by tremendous Jenny Appleton.

This unique music hall was built in 1877, originally as an actual institution for the ‘deaf & dumb’ but was sat derelict until 2008 when it was bought and re-imagined as a concert hall and gig venue. Now hosting concerts & club nights The Deaf Institute is dipping into the world of private events and, lucky for us, WEDDINGS! Kate McCarthy shot her first wedding here back in 2018 and fell completely in love with it in a totally new way – weddings are IMPECCABLY run there by the force that is Natalie and her killer team.

“It has swiftly become my very favourite Manchester city centre wedding venue – when I was lucky enough to return last month for Harri & Jamie’s wedding I had a BALL and could have stayed all night!”
Kate McCarthy

This shoot brought together some of the best in the industry. Planned and curated by Kate at Florence & Vera Events, the palette consisted of natural and earthy tones, featuring nude, blush, marsala and dried floral design and hues. Florence & Vera Events provided an abundance of props and tableware. Using their signature brass candlesticks, this provided the perfect contrast to the stand-out and super cool venue that is The Deaf Institute. A venue like The Deaf Institute doesn’t actually need much in terms of adornment – its own gritty splendour is the perfect setting- Sian and her team at The Flower Lounge created and designed stunning florals for the tablescape and for an outstanding backdrop. Alongside the table décor, a beautiful array of crockery and glassware, supplied by Whitehouse Event Crockery and styled by Florence & Vera Events.

Muted Glory…

Focus on the table dressing with gorgeous low-footed stone bowls, brass candlesticks and an array of beautiful coloured candlesticks in all of their muted glory. The Flower Lounge used delectable ingredients of café latte roses (my fave!) ranunculus, lissianthus, clematis buds, butterfly ranunculus, daucas carota and LOTS of dried flowers in the oh so cool heavy vases. The exquisite bouquets were adorned with beautiful tendrils of Silk & Purl ribbon.

The cake was a spectacular three- tier creation by Sarah at Pink Cocoa Cakes, incorporating the stunning blue and darker hues, accompanied beautifully by the textured and floral decoration. It was made for that venue! The earthy, textured menu cards, place names and stationary suite, stylishly created by Natalie at Jellypress, worked in harmony with its surroundings and really made the tablescape pop. Just breath-taking.

Divine Wedding Dresses…

The cool-gal Helen from Rock The Frock Cheshire and her DIVINE collection, stole the show with her gorgeous wares, choosing looks which were simple yet sexy and modern. From rock star bride with a hint of Stevie Nicks, this eclectic mix ranged from a grey dip-dye dress, Pulp Fiction by Lucy Can’t Dance, to a showstopping silver sequin cape with pink feathers by Electric Plume. There were bridal separates and a silk bomber jacket by Otaduy. Kooky accessories featured shoes by Charlotte Mils and Amina Crown by Glorious By Heidi. Our gorgeous groom, Duffy, was kitted out in a decadent tux by Whitfield & Ward.

Statement Looks…

Our outstanding models, Duffy and Frankie, did us all proud and the atmosphere was electric. Thanks to the magnificent Gemma Walker for her insanely talented hair styling and the exceptional Lauren Poole, who is a wonder with her make-up artistry. They created statement looks every.single.time.

Kate McCarthy flexed her photography muscle on this one and produced the most epic montage of shots, demonstrating all the exceptional suppliers involved in this. She is a talent to admire. Jenny Appleton created the outstanding video story for all to see! That really is a sight to behold too. This is a styled shoot of dreams. Thanks to everyone involved.