Dark Hues For An Intimate Wedding Inspiration Shoot

Anyone who reads this blog regularly will know that I really like dark and moody wedding styling (see here)...so when Carrie Lavers sent us over this dramatic inspiration shoot, my heart skipped a beat. I love how luminous the blooms from Lily Lupin, the stationery by Geri Loves Emi and the sparkling Jenny Packham gown look against the dark interiors of the venue, there's still plenty of light to be found in this shoot. And there's no lack of romance here either - with an abundance of flowers including some of the most gorgeous peonies I've ever seen! The whole team behind this shoot are some of our favourites, so if you're on the hunt for talented, stylish and seriously lovely suppliers then do get in touch. After you've swooned over all this pretty of course...

The Inspiration

Carrie the Photographer: Geri (from Geri Loves Emi) and I have always talked about doing a styled shoot and when I moved to Winchester 2 years ago and visited The Green Man I knew that this would be the perfect location for our shoot. We then met Lisa (from Lily Lupin Floral Design) and Harriot (Jemima Cakes) at a wedding fair and we instantly bonded over our love of all things wedding related! We had our team! Atmospheric, quirky yet romantic were the themes running through the styled shoot which suits my photography style down to a tee! I loved the darkness of the venue with streams of beautiful natural light coming through which I used to highlight details and create a beautiful contrast in the images enhanced further by our chosen colour palette of rich emerald greens offset by beautiful pale pinks.

The Venue

The Green Man is the hidden gem of Winchester! Dark atmospheric rooms with hidden treasures, beautiful wooden fireplaces and an amazing bar filled with spirits and wines. Upstairs is a beautiful room ideal for formal dining with a two grand fireplaces and plenty of seating with mismatch dark wooden furniture. Downstairs is a more industrial room with exposed brick and cool lighting. This can also be used for more formal dining but as it is positioned conveniently next to a boutique cocktail bar we decided to set it up for the party and created bespoke pink cocktails to match our theme.

The Dresses

To compliment the venue we wanted a dress that was sleek but with plenty of sparkle. It had to be Jenny Packham. Exquisite Brides is the place to go in Winchester for your perfect wedding dress. After discussing the theme with Natalie she pulled out Nashville. The beadwork is stunning but then we loved the contemporary sheer cut out detailing. We also had beautiful Ghost bridesmaid dresses in the beautiful emerald green colour way and a two piece for our bride to change into for the evening. Shoes were supplied by Exquisite and we also had a selection of vintage accessories from the amazing Stardust Years Vintage, which has been voted one of the best vintage shops in the country.

The Flowers

The Green Man is full of wonderful quirky spaces and Lisa created amazing bold arrangements, using the gentle pinks and rich emerald green colours to match our theme. One of the fireplaces was the perfect backdrop to design something a bit wild, so Lisa created a feature using foxgloves, peonies, roses, Scabious and plenty of fresh foliage. Candles always add a touch of magic so we used plenty of vintage brass candlesticks to dress the space and create a romantic ambience. Lisa loved the idea of big bold flowers in a wild and whimsical style, which is reflected in the loose, luscious bridal bouquet, flower necklace and floral arrangements. For the evening Lisa created a modern floral arch to create a backdrop to the dance floor.

The Cake & Sweet Treats

The cakes from Jemima Cakes were divine. Harriot created separate cakes for a dessert-style area, representing different elements of the romantic, atmospheric theme. Passionate about creating a whole area that is inspirational and contemporary, allowing designs of the cakes to connect with the table with trailing decorations and flowing foliage amongst cakes. A semi-naked finish to the cakes, combining crisp lines and unfinished edges with fresh & dried fruit, flowers & foliage, reflects elegant, industrial and luxe aspects. To add hints of romantic, the large cake, off white with beautiful pale pink and to contrast the moody, quirky atmosphere one cake deep dark emerald another crisp off white with gold painted slices of dried fruit irregularly placed down the front and onto the table. Harriot loves using florals & foliage that are all British, seasonal and eco-friendly, these help sculpt and form design features adding natural elements to the finished product. 

The Stationery

Geri loves Emi created all the stationery for the day, from the invites to the table plan, place names, menus and signage. The idea behind the design was modern geometric meets botanical. She wanted to keep the design neutral in colour, with emphasis on foliage and greenery, so as to not conflict with other elements of the day. The quirky, eclectic and industrial feel of the venue became the perfect backdrop to the delicately pretty, yet impactful hand illustrated details of the stationery, which alongside the beautiful blooms from Lilly lupin, both complemented and contrasted the day perfectly, creating a modern, edgy yet pretty feel. 

The Beauty

The amazing Amy on behalf of Made Up Brides did an incredible job creating 2 looks for our bride. The first was a warm nude pink palette and then in the evening they created a more edgy look with smoky eyes. The simply stunning hair was done by Farida who created an on trend relaxed up do with fish tale plaits and then in the evening, this was changed to a full up do.