Theme
Here’s a wedding theme showing you can bring in modern influences to a timeless wedding venue. Urban style weddings you will usually find in an industrial warehouse, but we’ve brought that concept to Two Woods Estate, a venue located in West Sussex featuring a redwoods woodland ceremony area, the only of its kind in Europe! Captured by myself, Alessandro Piolanti, I wanted to ensure the love between our real couple was portrayed in the editorial.
Inspiration
Everything started when I went to a wedding in Spain, more specifically in Madrid’s rural area. The wedding was in a beautiful venue inside a forest. Spanish weddings are beautiful itself, the colours, the environment and all the joy around it, with music, great food and family traditions. In this wedding, the wedding planner wasn’t very experienced and therefore not very creative regarding colour pallets and on getting a team together to create a unique looking wedding suitable for the couple. The venue was stunning, I was certain that this wedding would be something magical. But I was wrong. Everyone was dressed in blue, and everyone just faded in that landscape. It’s true that according to the Spanish wedding protocol vivid colours are not welcome in a wedding set up. But this wasn’t a normal venue, therefore I expected a lot more than blue. So everything looked a bit plain, as if everyone was playing it safe. So when I came back home to Brighton and I realised that I wanted to be part of the wedding industry. For me as a photographer to have a better opportunity to get started in the industry, the best way of doing it was to plan a wedding styled shoot. So as an inexperienced photographer in the field I looked at other professionals and had the opportunity to actually speak to some of them and know what I would need to create a successful wedding styled shoot. So as an inspiration I took advantage of my latest trip and tried to recreate that woodland wedding, but this time, jumping all the protocols and standard colour patterns, and so I started planning the shoot. I started by doing some research on what’s trending and what’s not. By checking popular blogs and what they were sharing.
Creativity and Planning
Weddings are getting really creative and all around the world people are looking for that unique spark, that unique idea that can inspire others. So I though, if I want to do something different, I am going to plan it differently. So instead of starting by creating a mood board, I started by browsing for a suitable venue and then embrace the venue’s style/vibe. And that’s when I came across the redwoods in Pulborough, an aisle surrounded by enormous sequoia trees in the middle of a family farm. That was the perfect place for my first wedding styled shoot. After speaking with the venue owners and talk about my idea we managed to create a colour pallet that would represent nor only the venue accordingly but as well following an “outside the box” thinking.
Colours
Colours like burgundy, green, pink and gold, gave that visual impact we were looking for and that really inspired me to think outside the box from now on. In the end, it’s your special day, it’s unique and you will remember it forever. Why not make it fun and colourful. Finally I would like to say to anyone who wants to re-create this shoot in their wedding: “Do not be afraid of throwing colours into it” make it yellow, make it green, make it pink, and make it your vision.” I would love that this shoot motivates people think differently and experiment with new looks.
Dress
The wedding dress featured shows an exquisite applique detail along with a flattering train that flowed on the woodland ground. We paired this with delicate detailed bridal heels in a blush pink and silver metal. The bride also featured a gold vine-style hairpiece which delicately sat at the back of her relaxed bridal hairstyle.
Suit
We wanted to make a statement with the groomswear, so we incorporated a burgundy suit by Asos. Pairing this with black suede shoes and a black bow tie, it was a modern yet timeless look for our groom. Offering a colourful pink-inspired graze to compliment the outdoor woodland, we had to ensure the cake designer compliment the table design. Cakes and Leaves created an environmentally friendly cake design, to compliment the idea of the venue being eco- friendly. All of her designs are made using plant-based powders to achieve natural wedding cake. Completely free of anything artificial, it’s a vegan couples dream.
Styling
Featuring shades of burgundy reds and pink tones, Illy Elizabeth Weddings brought together this romantic feel crossed with urban vibe. She wanted the colours to compliment each other whilst giving something a little bit different. Using velvet linens by Magpie Linens, and big table florals by Tony Dunn Flowers, she created the perfect tablescape fit for a woodland.
Suppliers
Since I am from Brighton we looked for local vendors and analysed one by one to see if their work matched with our vision. Every single vendor loved the experience and the shoot itself.
SUPPLIERSPlanning/Styling: Illy Elizabeth
Coordination: Concept Coordination
Photographer: Alessandro Piolanti
Bridal Dress: Fross Wedding Collections
Hair Accessory: Bluebell and Clover 8
Veil: Susan Pang
Bridal Robe: Bespoke Gems
Shoes: Chi Chi Clothing
Stationery: Design by Emily
Furniture: Rent Event
Florist: Tony Dunn Flowers
Props & Neon sign: Wilderness Prop Hire
Venue: Two Wood Estate
Cake: Cakes and Leaves
Makeup & Hair: Lydia Pankhurst
Grazing Table: Gracefully Grazing
Models: Wild and West
Runners and Napkins: Magipie Linens
Crockery and Chairs: Place Settings Event Hire
Candles: Ester and Erick
Groomswear: ASOS
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