Love will always win Poppy Appeal Charity Styled Shoot

When this styled shoot was submitted to us we instantly loved it. All of the items donated by suppliers for the shoot are being auctioned off to raise money for the Poppy Appeal - the raffles are live here until 13th November 2020. For just £2 you could win a beautiful wedding dress and embroidered veil, bespoke vows, a wedding cake - while the artwork and items below are the other raffle prize. We also loved the wonderful message of mirroring the feelings during the war with the current pandemic feels even more prominent with a second lockdown and weddings, once again, cancelled.

Theme

The theme for this shoot is ‘Love will always win’ drawing parallels between wartime love and the similar experiences longing and emotion felt by many couples this year. The wedding industry, like many, has been hit hard this year due to COVID-19 and yet those working in the industry have continued to reassure couples that love is not cancelled, love will always win. Inspired by such messages, writer and poet Sally Wilkes of Rhymes To Remember set out to build on these sentiments and raise money for the Poppy Appeal. 

“Seeing all of these messages of support, it dawned on me that the war is another obvious example of a time when love was not cancelled. Whilst we are not in the midst of a world war, the world currently faces a fight of a different kind. Many lives have been taken and many livelihoods have been lost. But the war serves as a stark reminder that, no matter what happens, there are two things that can never be taken from us - love and hope."

We wanted the colour scheme to be consistent with the wartime aesthetic that we were so inspired to recreate. The muted colours allowed us to make the red poppies really stand out within the imagery. This was so important for us because of how iconic the symbol of the poppy is and its links to Remembrance Sunday. 

Inspiration

“Wanting to lift spirits and to give everyone that renewed sense of hope, I decided to organise a war-time wedding photo shoot and I reached out to wedding suppliers inviting them to create poppy themed items that could not only feature in the shoot but also be raffled off afterwards to raise money for the Poppy Appeal.” 

Seventeen different creative businesses took part in this COVID safe photo shoot set at Quorn and Woodhouse Station, which is part of the Great Central Railway. Initially I just floated the idea to our community of wedding suppliers to see if my concept would be of interest. So many suppliers leapt at the opportunity to bring my vision to life, offering their time, products and services to support the shoot and to be raffled off to raise vital funds for The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.  Michael Stokes, the Events and Marketing Manager for the Great Central Railway said, “We were delighted to welcome Sally and her team for the shoot. The station played a major part in the logistics for the Second World War as the government decided, due to its location, it would be a safe place from enemy bombers. The War Ministry expanded the yard and added extra sidings for the handling of ammunition. It also became a base for the transport of the 82nd US Airborne division for their journey into the southern part of the country. Restored in its 1940’s décor, with its NAAFI café under the bridge, we felt it was an ideal location and we really enjoyed the day’s filming.” 

Laura Trethowan, who herself served in the RAF from 2000-2016, modelled in the photo shoot. “I was very pleased and excited when I was asked to model in the shoot but also nervous, as I was worried about being able to do justice to the dress, shoes and many other items that had been donated. I have served in the forces, as did my father, grandparents, and great grandparents, and so I understood the concept and reflected on both my own and their experiences during the shoot. The day was incredibly fun and the professionalism of those who took part is evident in the magical photos, which are absolutely beyond expectation. I feel very lucky and privileged to have played a role in this and in helping to raise funds for this year’s Poppy Appeal.” 

Mark Smith, a Community Fundraiser for The Royal British Legion, said of the photos, “These are wonderfully evocative images of a period in time that means so much to so many. The 75th Anniversaries of VE and VJ Day were sadly disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic this year and what they have done here will undoubtedly cast some people’s minds back to the end of World War 2.  For those that weren’t there, however, they do create a great ‘timestamp’ of the 40’s.” 

Everyone involved in the shoot provided their time, products and services completely free of charge. What’s more, all of the items created for the shoot are now being raffled off for the Poppy Appeal. The wedding dress and the embroidered veil are included in one raffle and the shoes, silk poppy bouquet, jewellery, backdrops and artwork in another. Tickets for both raffles can be bought for £2 each and the closing date is 13th November 2020 - click here to enter.

Lilly Clements, also a Community Fundraiser for The Royal British Legion, said of the raffle, “We are very grateful to Sally for her very kind offer to fundraise for the Poppy Appeal. She has organised a fantastic raffle with some great prizes, which she will promote through this photo shoot. This year more than ever members of the Armed Forces have come forward seeking our help. We would like to encourage the public to get behind the Poppy Appeal and donate. Every poppy counts.” 

Styling

We very deliberately kept to a 1940’s British wartime aesthetic, bringing in vintage elements where we can, such as the jacket and suitcases. It worked beautifully with the railway backdrop. The colour palate was black white and red to really allow for the poppies to shine brightly. 

Flowers

Hannah at Unfauxgettable Flowers provided us with a bespoke luxury silk flower bouquet which was perfect for this shoot because it’s super realistic and because it’s faux it can also be raffled afterwards. Keeping the design simple to really showcase the bright red poppies and compliment the wartime aesthetic of the shoot. 

Venue

“The station played a major part in the logistics for the Second World War as the government decided, due to its location, it would be a safe place from enemy bombers. The War Ministry expanded the yard and added extra sidings for the handling of ammunition. It also became a base for the transport of the 82nd US Airborne division for their journey into the southern part of the country. Restored in its 1940’s décor, with its NAAFI café under the bridge, we felt it was an ideal location and we really enjoyed the day’s filming.” Michael Stokes, the Events and Marketing Manager for the Great Central Railway.

Stationery

At the beginning of this process, Sally wrote a few poems focusing on the theme. These were handwritten and framed, painted onto the wedding cake and captured on a hand lettered banner. All these items are available in the raffle and the words of Sally’s three poems are captured below: 

“The sun broke through the darkness, revealing fields ablaze with red. 

A symbol of what’s been before and of hope for times ahead.” 

“Poppy flowers of scarlet red, standing elegant, proud and tall. 

Were grown from seeds of darkest black, their chances seemed so small.  

A riot of colour now bleeding through, a reminder of the cost. 

Yet forever more a symbol, that hope is never lost.” 

"When darkness casts its shadows, and tests all your strength within. 

Remember that eventually, Love will always win" 

Bridal Style

Inspired by a beautiful wedding dress photograph from the 1940s. Laura’s dress was designed with a modern twist on a 1940s classic style. Paired with a beautiful locket in which was placed photographs of soldiers who fought in the first world war. Bringing together the whole look were hand painted poppy shoes and a vintage jacket. 

Hair and makeup

Laura’s hair and makeup were a modern twist on the wartime fashions. A bright red lip to tie all the elements together. Victory rolls of course with the rest of her hair tumbling in lose curls complimenting the beautiful, embroidered veil and hand beaded poppy accessories for Laura’s hair. 

Concept & co-ordination plus poetry and quotes - @rhymes_to_remember 

Charity - @royalbritishlegion  

Venue - @gcrailwayofficial  

Photographer - @ellensearlovestories 

Videographers - @tts_media 

Model - Laura Trethowan 

Dress - @ryley_and_flynn_vintage 

MUA - @adelemakeupartist 

Veil - @sashandveil 

Cake - @lesleywaltercakedesign 

Hand-lettered banner - @handmadesignco 

Silk poppy bouquet - @unfauxgettable.flowers 

Framed poppy painting and face masks - @inked_by_hand 

Silver pendant - @bishboshbecca 

Handkerchief - @extraspecialtouch 

Poppy headpiece and brooches - @bunnylovesevie 

Vintage jacket and poppy wash bag - @ravengiftsandinteriors 

Painted shoes - @inannabespokeshoes 

Wooden poppy clock - @sophie_rebecca_art 

Printed supplier t-shirts - @print.spin 

From Brides, With Love xo