In between wedding planning for my couples, I coordinate fashion editorial concepts to provide ongoing wedding inspiration. Mrs T’s Victoria Sanders bridalwear shoot at The Cherry Barn in Sussex captured the eyes of industry powerhouse Rock My Wedding. RMW fell for the stunning embroidered dresses I sourced from Victoria Sanders bridalwear.
This sensational styled shoot is a celebration of love and diversity. It gives inspiration to brides who are looking for dresses with colour and embellishment. Allow me to take you through the shoot and all its comprising elements and fabulous suppliers.
Photography
Hester Barnes Photography & Film captured the diverse shoot which styled five bride-to-be’s. The shoot gives style inspiration for brides, grooms, female couples and flower girls. It exudes individuality and flair, with a fun, kick-back-and-relax celebration of these fabulous women.
Bridalwear
For this photoshoot, Mrs T Weddings worked exclusively with Victoria Sanders bridalwear. Having worked for Matthew Williamson, his trademark influence can be seen in her stunning designs. Every dress is handmade in her London studio, often featuring exquisite embroidery and embellishments. She is perfect for brides who are looking to incorporate colour into their dresses. The dresses were accompanied by bridal accessories from Rachel Sokhal. Posies by Chirpee Flowers brought together wheat and country garden flowers to look freshly plucked from the beautiful orchard fields surrounding The Cherry Barn.
Hair & Beauty
Carla and Maxx from Cesca took control of hair and make-up. Cesca took her beauty inspiration from the English garden elements that feature in the intricate Victoria Sanders bridalwear. Spring colours of lilacs and sky blue in her eye pallettes, mixed with hints of berry tones. This vibrant splash of colour across eyelids and lips was balanced by a creamy finish to skin, with touches of balm on the cheeks.
Venue
Shot at The Cherry Barn in Sussex, the venue nestles in the beautiful English countryside, within a 400-acre farm in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The surroundings are a photographer’s dream, filled with numerous focal points for couples’ photography. There is a traditional orchard and a romantic lake with white picket-style bridge. In a nod to the location, bottles of local Sussex winemaker Hoffman & Rathbone’s award-winning English sparkling wine feature throughout.
Outdoor Orchard
Plush ‘Pretty in Pink’ seating from Locate to Create created a set of thrones in the apple orchard. Leather trunks, suitcases, coffee tables, silverware, a typewriter and gramophone from A Touch Of Vintage complete the rustic setting. Statuesque floral arrangements from Chirpee Flowers intersperse between the seating using a vivid dream-like combination of colours including delphiniums, teal pampas, pink cafe au lait dahlias and roses.
Outdoor pagoda ceremony
The set-up for the outdoor ceremony kept to a minimalist, natural feel. Locate to Create used wooden chairs and vintage rugs to create an aisle leading to The Cherry Barn’s wooden pagoda. For the female couple ceremony, Chirpee Flowers created an arch of open roses and peonies for the couple to meet beneath. To show some alternative flair and colour, a ribbon curtain set in a birch wood frame was used for Jordan and Roddy’s ceremony. The fluttering ribbons create beautiful movement in the photographs and a fun, festival vibe.
Table dressing
The table dressing for the shoot has a gorgeous rustic vintage brief. Wooden tables from Locate to Create laden with vintage china plates, candlesticks and coloured glass goblets from A Touch of Vintage. An explosion of colour came from the bold, architectural flower centrepieces by Chirpee Flowers featuring kniphofia, helenium and grasses.
Having a wealth of prints and colours on the tables, the wedding stationery and favours were elegant and minimalist. Polka Dot Creations used handmade torn-edge paper for the invitations and menus. The paper incorporates seeds and petals making them fully sustainable and plant-able. The order of the day signage uses organic calico fabric, helping to protect the environment. The favours double as place settings and contain traditional sugar almonds by Bomboniere by Maria. The treats were enclosed in delicate ivory tulle, with a soft flower sprig and elegant satin ribbon.
Blackbird Catering created a superb menu that varied from delicate high-end starters to sumptuous and hearty sharable feasts. Dishes were served on beautiful ceramics and vintage china.
Cake
Cobi & Coco Cakes provided two different wedding cakes for the day, showcasing some of the most exquisite life-like sugar flowers. A soft, pale cake was decorated with handmade peonies, dahlias and roses in neutral pastel shades. Touches of luxury feature with gold-edging and a jewelled bee in a nod to the gorgeous orchard setting of The Cherry Barn. The second cake showcased brighter sugar work of a beautiful English flowers, with handmade peonies, roses and woodland foxgloves and bluebells.
Groomswear
For this summer ceremony, the groom, Roddy, is wearing a fabulous Mendo Paris two-piece linen-mix suit. His double-breasted suit was made-to-measure and personalised with peak collar and patched pockets. Mendo’s traditional style mixed with modern design makes for a unique, classy look suitable for both formal summer events and casual-chic settings. With free personal styling from academy-trained specialists, Mendo take measurements by video-call making them the perfect choice for wedding planning during the coronavirus restrictions.
First Dance Lesson
Bringing the shoot to a close, our models each received a dance lesson from Alison, founder of The Love of Dance. Alison choreographs wedding dances and plans hen dance parties and event entertainment. ‘Part of my first dance lesson process is to help a couple feel empowered to confidently perform their routine on their wedding day. Having a final rehearsal of their first dance with me, at the wedding venue, can help a couple become familiar with the dance floor and venue layout. Roddy and Jordan learnt the beautiful Foxtrot; while the girls got to grips with some salsa moves, popular with hen parties and flash mobs for a bride and her tribe.’
