My oh my, do we have some seriously beautiful wedding inspiration today. This editorial shoot focused on the concept of elopement wedding ideas and I am in wedding heaven you guys! As we approach autumn, this set of images have a wonderfully seasonal vibe, with burnt oranges used throughout the décor, flowers and attire along with moody and dark earthy tones, which was all captured ever so beautifully by Oilvejoy Photography. I have to say that the styling by The Toast is just out of this world beautiful and the whole shoot has a haunting ghostly feel to it, you just have to see the image of the cake table with the bride in the background, gasp!
One of my fave elements from this shoot has to be the crescent moon pampas grass installation, which looks so ethereal and beautiful as a backdrop to the outdoor area at Bignor Park. Then there was the fabulous bridal cape complete with hood, which reminded me of an almost medieval style, paired perfectly with a modern gown. There really is so much beauty I can’t even mention it all; from delicate stationery and divine décor to incredible cake creations with moss confetti mounds and flawless hair and make up. I urge you to take in every little detail.
Elopement Wedding Ideas
A majestic and earthy elopement shoot featuring stunning transparent capes and untamed florals
The two hundred-year-old stables and coach house at beautiful Bignor Park in Sussex provided the perfect backdrop for this beautiful ethereal elopement shoot. Oozing a majestic, almost ghostly vibe with undertones of a brooding period drama (think Poldark or a novel by the Brontë sisters!). It features contemporary styling elements and fabulous dresses perfect for brides wanting a timeless dress with a modern twist.
The bridal look is regal and striking yet extremely feminine. The auburn-haired bride wears ‘Tywla’ by Leanne Marshall (courtesy of Rock The Frock Sussex), an ivory silk organza gown with plunging neckline that provides a really strong yet flattering (and slightly daring!) silhouette. For the ceremony and tablescape shots the look is accessorised with a fabulous crown and a delicate ‘Beltaine’ veil that is beautifully sheer and features a gold leaf vine trim and scalloped hem, both handmade by What Katy Did Next. The look is finished off with a fabulous oversized bouquet that overflows with unruly foliage and the most amazing flawless nude roses all bound together with gorgeous botanical hand dyed velvet and silk ribbons by The Natural Dyeworks.
The Groom’s attire provided by Menswearr included a fabulous brown tweed suit, teamed with a maroon scoop neck waistcoat to elevate the look making it slightly more formal. This type of waistcoat also offers a better glimpse of the contrasting burnt orange tie.
Tigers to Lilies created a fabulous ‘wild’ and ‘natural’ branch installation using foraged and dried foliage studded with stunning orange roses for the ceremony. The florals look like they had just grown from the walls, brimming with texture and studded with rich colour. The ceremony is simple yet dramatic, lit with over 100 candles placed simply in wooden blocks made by the stylist to create a soft romantic ambiance.
The ‘bridesmaid’ wore ‘Soleil’ featuring Leanne Marshall’s signature water colour dye in stunning burnt orange. It’s a really beautiful and classically feminine dress that features a V neck bodice and racerback and a gorgeous flowing A line skirt with added flounces. Beautifully delicate hair combs, again hand made from What Katy Did Next and a dreamy scoop necked floor length cape (again provided by Britten Weddings) completed the look.
Continuing the celestial vibes outside, Tigers to Lilies also created a fabulous crescent moon out of Pampas grass which provided a magical backdrop to release two white doves kindly provided by Lovey Dovey. A great idea for couples looking for a unique and symbolic way to mark the beginning of their lives together.
Changing the style slightly for the outdoor shots to create a slightly more dramatic look, the veil and crown are swapped for a fabulous ‘barely there’ tulle off-white ballet cape with hood that was made especially for the shoot by Bath based, Britten Weddings.
The sweetheart tablescape is informal yet romantic and intimate, perfect for an elopement. Vintage stone and earthenware vases filled with dried flowers and grasses along with pottery candles holders designed by the stylist and made by a local potter are nestled among hand dyed organic table linens and silks dyed in subtle earthy tones (The Natural Dyeworks) provide endless layers of texture. The glass ‘bride’ and ‘groom’ place settings hand etched by Vinegar and brown paper offer a great way to assign your guests their seats but also a fabulous keepsake.
The colour palette was really key to this elopement shoot. A base of earthy soft calming tones woven throughout the flowers, cake designs, naturally died linens and silks (used on both the bouquet and tablescape), along with the stone and pottery tableware meant that pops of bright burnt orange and saffron yellow injected by key objects – vintage sofa, candles, the brides hair, the bridesmaids dress, confetti (in the ‘cakescape’ pictures) provided a stunning richness and quite startling contrast.
The windswept ‘Cake scape’ is one of the piéce de résistance of the shoot and the perfect inspiration for bride’s keen to display more than just one cake. The Beachside Bakery provided 3 absolutely stunning cakes inspired by the colours and textures of dried flowers, pottery and fabric. These are displayed on their own mismatched plinths that have ‘mounds ‘of moss and confetti, provided by Bubble and Berry, which is swept up against each one to simulate the look of leaves and petals as if they’d just blown in. Look out for the most magnificent floral centrepiece that magically ‘levitates’ above the whole installation.
Credit Where Credit Is Due
Photography
Oilvejoy Photography
Concept, Styling & Props
The Toast
Styling Assistant
Annie Fern
Cakes
The Beachside Bakery
Floral Design
Tigers to Lilies
Flower Provider
Atlas Flowers
Table Fabrics, Napkins & Ribbons
The Natural Dyeworks
Bridal Capes
Britten Weddings
Model (Bride)
Bethany Ash
Model (Bridesmaid)
Amy Wilde
Male Model
Matthew Roberts
Groom Attire
Menswearr
Dresses
Rock The Frock
Chairs
Coordination Catering
Crockery
Zara Home
Hair Accessories & Veil
What Katy Did Next
Make Up & Hair
Frances Moore MUA
Perspex Plinths
Fabricate
Venue
Bignor Park
Confetti
Bubble and Berry
Furniture
Okehurst Design
Stationery
In the Detail
‘Bride’ & ‘Groom’ Glass Etched Place Names
Vinegar and Brown Paper
Doves
Lovey Dovey
Just breathtaking! What an incredibly creative and inspiring shoot. Thanks so much to the whole team above for sharing the results with us xo Lou