Elopement Shoot Inspired by Wuthering Heights

Oh dear readers do we have an absolute TREAT for your eyes this evening. A stunning couple portrait shoot captured by the brilliant Esme Whiteside Photography and inspired by the drama, passion and love of Wuthering Heights. It features real life couple Marilyn Coles and Roland Walet and comes with such wonderful ideas for your couple imagery as well as inspiration to the couples amongst you who are flirting with the idea of eloping. The location was in the awe-inspiring Yorkshire moors.

Esme is renowned for the dark and dramatic editing quality to her images. She has this wonderful ability to capture a story within each and every image, as well elevating the texture and movement of both the couple, their attire, accessories (I mean just look at the ruffles of that dress) and their surroundings. With today’s elopement shoot Esme wanted to create..

…something really raw and intimate, out in the elements with a slight adventurous feel, really emotive and moody and gritty, to inspire couples wanting to go small, how beautiful small outdoors weddings are.
Esme Whiteside

It is no secret that this pandemic has shook the wedding industry to it’s core but, rising from the ashes of a decimated 2020 season is the re-evaluation, and reminder, of what getting married is truly about. A much needed refocus on the individual needs of the couple and their vows, as opposed to the needs of their guests.

2020 has triggered a growing desire amongst some couples for smaller, intimate weddings as well as reigniting the trend for UK elopements. We have such beautiful countryside in the UK and it is so nice to see more couples choosing to get married in landscapes like we are featuring today.

Don’t get us wrong – we will always love a big massive wedding on Festival Brides and have everything crossed that we will return to normal this summer. But, after the past 12 months and everything we have learnt about leading a less chaotic life, there is something so tempting now about a small wedding. A day that is completely designed for you and no-one else. If your heart is leaning that way, if small is for you, then we say go for it!

Esme shares with us more details on her gorgeous elopement inspiration and the small team who helped make it happen.

Enjoy lovely people.

Raw and Intimate…

Words by Esme Whiteside

Inspiration for this shoot was definitely a modern elopement meets Wuthering Heights. My photography is dark and moody, and I’m always inspired by the outdoors and the Brontes, so we decided to create an elopement inspired shoot, on the Yorkshire moors, inspired by the Yorkshire moors!

We wanted something really raw and intimate, out in the elements with a slight adventurous feel, really emotive and moody and gritty, to inspire any couples wanting to go small, how beautiful small outdoors weddings are.

Emma is always my go to florist, she has an almost fine art look with her flowers, and her choice of stems, arrangements, and colour palettes are always spot on. Her style worked perfectly for this, and the bouquet was a moody and wild arrangement, with pinks, purples, browns and pops of cream. The ranunculus and chocolate cosmos really were showstoppers in this bouquet, showing how slightly darker arrangements are totally beautiful!

We wanted a bit of an alternative feel to this shoot, to suit our couple Marilyn and Roland. Their personal style is definitely more alternative, and I wanted to show off Marilyn’s beautiful tattoo art!

The gown was from Millia London, and really gave the Kathy meets Carrie Bradshaw vibes. I wanted a non white gown, to fit the moody, alternative feel, and the lilac grey dress was perfect. The tulle blew in the wind and created the most incredible atmosphere, and the colours all pulled together perfectly with the brown moorland and grey/purple heather.

Daniella is another of my go to suppliers. I can always trust her to create beautiful cohesive looks, and she did exactly that with Marilyn. We opted for a relaxed bridal hair look, with soft waves to blow in the wind. With makeup Daniella went for flawless skin, with a pop of blush for that flushed cheek, which looked amazing to suit the outdoors, running around on the moors vibe, a super smoky eye with a pop of blue eyeliner in the waterline, and classic pillow talk on the lips.

Overall we just wanted to create an alternative runaway elopement, bridal with lots of mood and grit! To inspire couples who want to do something adventurous and outdoors!