I’m so excited to be able to share this post with you. Earlier this year I had the pleasure of working on an opulent and romantic styled shoot, with a team of incredibly talented people. The brief for the shoot at gorgeous Buckinghamshire mansion house Stoke Place was to encapsulate the power, romance and elegance of the Lady of the Manor. This shoot was curated and shot by the fabulous Lisa Payne Photography, and as you can imagine, it was right up my street! Read on to find out more about the shoot and how the elements for it came together, and make sure to check out the video at the end for some behind the scenes action!
A Dress As Light As A Cloud
The bride, our model and Lady of the Manor, Emelie Stenman, is a romantic English rose. I fell in love with the dress selected for her to wear. The bespoke gown by Kate Edmondson Bridal Couture, was at once delicate and feminine, yet powerfully chic and sexy with intricate lace detail, a high-neck and a stylishly low-cut back. Watching Emelie gliding through the house and grounds of Stoke Place gave me butterflies, and I had a lovely time getting her ready for the day, with lots of laughter and giggles on the morning of the shoot.
Modern Elegance: My Hair and Makeup Look
With a statement dress, such as this, you want to avoid fussy hair. Emelie’s hair is its own shade of beautiful, natural brown. It’s a little sunkissed, and is authentically her.
What I’ve done for this classic English Rose look, is to keep her hair gently away from the face, and bring in a soft smattering of loose curls. It seems simple, but with every angle there’s something interesting to catch your eye: a tiny burst of bloom, a rose, intricately woven plaits that enable the light to catch varying natural hair shades. Two-strand twists bring the hair back, away from the face, keeping our bride looking natural and fresh, while still staying chic. Pearl earrings from Julia Lloyd George Jewellery add a touch of understated elegance.
Power and Beauty for an English Rose
The colour palette for this shoot included deep royal rich purples, blended with soft pink and lilac hues. The table was styled in abundance by the amazing Ivy Amelia Florals. She created a forest of foliage and fresh flowers, complemented by the tableware and glass, courtesy of Duchess and Butler. The tablescape created the all-important balance between that soft, gentle English Rose quality and the power and strength of a Lady in charge of her home, grounds and her destiny. So, the vision I had for the bridal hair and makeup was one of balance, too.
I wanted to design a make up look for Emelie that expressed both angelic charm and confident sultriness. Our Lady of the Manor is a natural, delicate beauty, but she knows her power and strength. I enhanced her natural look using tones that connected to the colours of the bridal flowers, with equal emphasis is on the lips and eyes. For the eyes, a smoky blend of warmer browns and rose golds kept them mysteriously creative. Rosebud lips in a shade of mauve pink that ties in with the floral hues, brings a dreamy ethereal side to our bride – not to mention that they looked suitably kissable.
Every supplier on this shoot really wowed – from the amazing flowers, to the stunning stationery and styling. It was a joy to be part of it, and I love love love the finished results. You can read more about the shoot and find more of the gorgeous images over on The English Wedding Bog.
Supplier Credits
Venue: Stoke Place Hotel | Photographer: Lisa Payne Photography | Hair and Makeup: Hair and Makeup by Gabrielle | Flowers and Styling: Ivy Amelia Florals | Videography: Tie The Knot Films | Gown: Edmondson Bridal Couture | Jewellery: Julia Lloyd George | Shoes: Freya Rose | Cake: Ella Rose Cakes | Second Shooter: Anmarie Day | Model: Emilie Stenman | Stationery: Lynda Loves | Glassware and Tableware: Duchess and Butler | Linen: Just 4 Linen | Bridal Bouquet Illustration: Charlotte Argyrou.