A dreamy Parisienne styled wedding shoot
Paris or Suffolk Wedding?
You may be sitting in your Suffolk home thinking about a destination wedding but feel like the logistics of getting family & friends to travel overseas is too much? Let’s face it, most of us like the idea of jetting off to some luxury, warmer location but when you start planning, it can seem like a minefield, especially without a wedding planner.
So, let me offer you an alternative… what about a sophisticated Suffolk wedding? Hear me out…
A creative team of us got together to make this Parisienne dream a reality and it did not disappoint.
The location for this stunning vibe was at the incredible Butley Priory. Don’t let this Grade 1 listed, 700 year old venue fool you, it is a deeply romantic, luxury and private wedding venue covering 20 acres and surrounded by a stone wall. It’s interiors, unique in design and incredibly appealing to any modern couple looking for that Parisienne feel.
With exclusive use, 20 bedrooms and room for up to 100 of your loved ones to attend the ceremony, 80 to dine (200 if having a tent/marquee) then Butley Priory should be top of your list.
This talented team of suppliers really did come together to make this one of the best shoots I’ve worked on. It’s something as professionals we can’t explain but when a couple comes to us with their own vision, we have the ability to see exactly what you mean even though a mood board may not fully pull that dream together. but I knew with this shoot it was going to be extraordinary.
Moral of this blog? Trust your suppliers to deliver your vision.
What do you think?
Suppliers:
Venue Butley Priory
Florist Charlotte Wild Floral Design
Photographer Sharon Cudworth
Second Shooter Images by Anna
Hair Glow Occasion Hair
MakeUp Emily Chantal Make Up
Videography Films from Lewis
Dresses Perlanova
Jewellery SV Bridal
Stationery Lucy Mcspirit
Cake RT Cakes
Suit Anthony Formalwear
Styling Styled By Lulabelles Suffolk
Bohemian sand & skies styled shoot at Walberswick Beach
by Amae- SUFFOLK Wedding plannerS
With Covid playing havoc with the wedding industry, a team of us were desperate to get out there and put together the most wonderful dreamy boho beach shoot. The look was inspired by our local beach at Walberswick which offers the most stunning backdrop. We knew the only person who could make this vision come to life was the unbelievably talented Sharon Cudworth who adores shooting at this favourite location of hers.
The initial concept of this shoot was thought of by the fabulous Emily Chantal Make-up artist so she and I had meeting after meeting to discuss how we wanted this vision to come to life and how I would coordinate and plan the shoot.
Fast forward to the most beautiful sunny day in Suffolk, we had an hilarious time trying to erect the changing tent for our model (it’s not all glamour and 5 star hotels I’m afraid). Our model Charlotte is also owner of Hair So Boho and when it came to styling, Charlotte really ran with the theme brilliantly, she kept the waves natural looking with plenty of texture for that beachy, salty, defined style then teamed it with tiny braids scattered throughout to give it a real chic look. At the back, a small bun was created for a half up half down effortless feel which was perfectly topped off with an epic crown (Aerin) from Beverleys timeless range from PS With Love . The headpiece is a gorgeous organic design with luxurious Keishi pearl blooms all handwired with pretty nude crystal centers surrounded by an abundance of delicate freshwater pearls, tiny pearls & crystal tendrils. To complete this look, Charlotte wore matching Aerin hoop earrings - perfect for any beach, woodland or outdoor wedding, offering the epitome of organic bridal elegance.
Given the inspiration from the 80’s vibe with the dresses (cue Chris Isaak music Video ‘Wicked Game’), Emily Chantal Make-up with her amazing eye for details opted for a glitter bronze eye and dewy peach toned cheeks and lips to keep it fresh and modern. Emily’s key products were Huda Beauty Matte & Metal liquid eyeshadows and the Dior Backstage Lip Palette.
Bud & Boe provided 2 cutting edge dresses from the new Eco Poem collection by world leading Haute Couture Fashion Designer Bowen Dryden. We were so lucky to be the first professional styled shoot to feature these dresses, they fit our theme perfectly. The first dress a classic twist on a two-piece incorporating a beautiful frilled rise in the front of the skirt. Bowen Dryden offer fully customised organic, biodegradable, ethical dresses that can be worn time and time again!
Dress number 2 a stunning number (Moondance), one-piece, sophisticated off the shoulder which oozes bohemian chic. Bud & Boe arranged for this particular piece to be altered by taking in the mid-section, the original is a lot more ‘flowy’ but this design is absolutely timeless.
Teresa (Simply Rustic) provided some stunning additions for the shoot with her hexagon shaped ‘archway’, beautifully decorated with a macrame backdrop & dreamcatchers. The peacock chairs were simply perfect to complete the look and I cannot think of a better location than on the beach for these gorgeous items.
Naomi from the fabulous Rose & Berry Flowers set up the archway flowers and bouquet which complimented the look beautifully, pampas grass was a popular household accessory in the 80’s (although maybe not at classy as it is these days) but I’m so happy it’s making a comeback. For the displays, Naomi used a selection of dried flowers which included pampas grass and bunny tails with other feathery & bleached neutral foliage’s which worked alongside the creamy, almost sandy colour hues of the fresh ‘Quicksand’ Roses… so dreamy!
When I set about thinking about the cake for this shoot, there was one person who sprung to mind immediately, Charlotte from The Beautiful Cakery. I briefed Charlotte on the look I wanted to achieve and my word, she did not disappoint. To create this breathtaking cake, Charlotte went for a soft subtle look but added depth with the exquisite dried blooms.
Next came the table decor, I designed and styled this myself with most of the items purchased from a charity shop - for anyone who knows me, I donate to charities every month and so this was the perfect opportunity to get creative whilst donating at the same time! I wanted to go with a plain yet simple and romantic sweetheart setting which was finished off with the unmistakable design skills from talented Gemma at Polly Pickle Stationery & Design. Gemma provided accessories from her modern boho dreamy collection; featuring soft watercolour florals, grasses and pampas grass, all in beautiful tan and neutral tones.
As the sun set we decided to have lots of fun in the water and Charlotte totally embraced it, such the perfect model! Of course, we’re not ones to get designer dresses wet so out popped a cheeky little number Emily had purchased previously. Add a hat and voila!
After the most perfect day it was time to pack up and head home, whilst we wait to hear more news on government guidelines for wedding ceremonies, this shoot helped to curb our passion for doing what we love in such a restricted year.
Thank you to the most amazing team for making this bohemian dream come true.
Keep an eye out on our social media pages for even more pictures or contact Hayley for more information.
A Suffolk Barn Styled Shoot
BY SUFFOLK WEDDING PLANNER AMAE EVENTS
Last year when I created Amae Weddings & Events, the first thing I wanted to do as a Wedding Planner was create a styled shoot, well... drum roll… the results are here for you to see and I couldn’t be any more excited (lets out a little squeal!)
Firstly, I had to choose a Venue (we all know how difficult this can be right?)... I really wanted to find somewhere that I could step away from the typical ‘rustic’ look that is very poplar in barns. Although I do love the rustic look, I really wanted to inject a more contemporary feel into the shoot to prove you don’t have to go ‘full on rustic’ just because it’s a barn.
I researched a lot of venues but Copdock Hall in Ipswich, Suffolk were an absolute dream to deal with. Having managed venues, I know what goes into keeping a venue afloat and I found Copdock Hall to be extremely open minded, customer focused and so passionate about weddings (and just generally really nice!). I LOVE a barn venue and so for me, Copdock Hall was the perfect setting for the shoot.
It’s a stunning Grade II Elizabethan brick barn with this beautiful vibe, when you arrive at the Barn, the quaint Parish Church of St Peters sits comfortably in your eye-line, it’s a very short walk from the hall right next to Copdock Halls Vineyard (I know right, can you imagine working next to a vineyard? There’d be no wine left!). Then as you step inside the barn, the first thing you notice is the marvelous high roof and gorgeous beams stretching from one side to the next. It also has these quaint little windows that really compliment the architecture.
Picture Credit: Dominic Whiten
Next was carefully selecting the suppliers to work their magic. I chose people who I trust and know how to achieve the best look possible, it was important to me that we were all ready to work as a team and collaborate on this shoot to bring my vision to life, exactly how it would be on your wedding day.
Dominic Whiten - An amazing photographer that I have worked with for years, I felt it was important to have someone that the whole team felt comfortable around. Dominic has this amazing ability to get the best out of people and also stay calm even at the toughest of times, it’s one of his strong points, he’s like Superman without a cape!
Capturedit Films - Emran and I are new to working with each other but one thing that strikes me about him is his passion for the wedding industry and drive to make sure only the best memories are recorded, he is so discreet but somehow manages to capture the most amazing footage whilst being completely in-obtrusive.
The Bridal Lounge - Charlotte and I started working together back in 2014 and her personality is just one you cannot forget, she has this ability to make you feel so precious (which is what you need trying on the most important dress of your life right?!) Her dresses are beyond perfect and I will 100% be buying one from her in the future (even if it is just to do the shopping in!)
For this shoot Charlotte supplied the most exquisite dresses from Stella York and St Patrick. With the unmistakable Stella York dresses, 2 came with a minimalist look but with a timeless modern twist, the other, a modern, high halter neck with a feminine and curvy silhouette, while the St Patrick dress provides a flattering plunge bodice with classic cap sleeves and beautiful lace detail.
Helen Newman Florist - I’ve also worked with Helen since 2014, an extremely professional and knowledgeable florist who has this amazing eye for detail, her flowers have always looked like a lot of love goes into them so she was definitely my first choice for the shoot. Again, Helen is one of those people you instantly feel comfortable around, a must have when you’re organising your wedding.
Helen’s great eye for detail meant we had a mixture of (to name but a few) lush Hydrangea’s, Anemone, White Lisianthus, Phalaenopsis and even pampas grass which really added a whole new twist to the shoot, I’ve not seen anyone use this combination of flowers before, we love to try new things and it really paid off!
Amelies Kitchen - Helens cakes are nothing less than perfection, I have never seen her make anything ‘mediocre’ and I have no idea how she does it (I’m sure there’s more to it than chucking a few eggs, flour and milk in a bowl right?). Helen’s ability to match details of your wedding day to the cake is phenomenal and with her own stencils, she is able to create the most beautiful displays.
Helen created a bespoke tiered cake for this shoot adding blush grey and pink hues, she hand crafted the most perfect sugar roses (you would think they are real flowers!)
Ivory & Craft - Katie first caught my eye when I followed her on Insta (yes, I’m down with the kids!) I was instantly a fan of her work and our relationship has blossomed since. I knew I had to have Katie designing the stationary and boy, she didn’t let me down. I really pushed the limits and even made some (very) last minute changes, she was just like ‘Yeah sure, no problem’. This girl knows her stuff and is so lovely to work with!
Katie and I exchanged so many ideas for this shoot but we finally settled on a more contemporary feel focusing on the blush pink and grey theme for our main look. The fonts were simply perfect for what we were trying to achieve and look great in the paler shade of pink. Katie also created some stunning stationary with cute floral detail underneath a velum wrap, simply gorgeous!
Makeup by Faye Neill - I met Faye about 3 years ago when I hired her to make me beautiful for a wedding I was going to and I have used her since, she is also a regular at the stunning Gosfield Hall and is so popular with Brides for creating a fresh, polished look & enhancing your features. She is just beyond lovely and makes you feel so relaxed in her presence, a true beaut.
For Clare, Faye created a modern bridal look, fresh, clean and detailed whilst for Tegan, a Hollywood glam look, winged eyeliner with stunning red lips to complete the look.
Carly Williams Hair - if you can’t have the one and only Carly Williams, who else even is there? Carly’s style is unmistakable and with her vast experience, knows exactly what style looks best on you. She is so funny and easy to be around so it was a no-brainer to have her with us.
For Clare, Carly styled a dreamy ‘messy’ textured up-do with delicate pieces of hair hanging down along the front and back, in look two, it was transformed into a higher bun up-do creating added height to match the traditional St Patrick dress & show off the pretty lace back.
On Tegan, the most stunning Hollywood glam wave which totally complimented Faye’s work on the make-up.
JF Styling - One of a kind James is taking the styling industry by storm currently, in demand for his ability to visualise any request and transform it into reality - he’s like a walking Pinterest. He and his team work tirelessly and have access to some of the best, current on-trend products on the market.
James provided a range of different materials, colours, textures, crockery and cutlery for the shoot, I really could not have done it without him.
True Nature Events - Have you seen Jordan’s wooden tables and chairs?! I knew we had to have these as part of the shoot, I felt they would really enhance the beautiful brick barn and the look I was hoping to achieve and they looked absolutely amazing.
Coes - have been nothing but supportive and have been great to deal with. They have a broad range of suits that include Day Suits, Tail Suits, Wedding Suits, Edward and Albert Frock Coat Suits and Nehru Suits so it was easy to find a suit that would look good on the shoot.
Models: Clare, Nathan and Tegan are personal friends of mine so rather than using professional models, I wanted to show the true beauty in my friends and they did not let me down, gorgeous happy smiley people!
So there we have it, date set, team complete, plans organised, mood boards sorted, endless meetings had, numerous emails and group chats, 3 months later the following look was achieved and I could not be any more proud of the team that made this possible…
If you’ve read this far you’re in for a treat with my bonus bits!… I really wanted to create more than just one look to show the range of styles that can be done on your wedding day. With help from James at JF Styling, we sat and discussed in length what I wanted to do and how we were going to do it.. James has access to some of the most amazing product range I have ever seen, so picking and choosing which looks to go for was made so much easier with his expertise. In the end we managed to achieve 5 different looks in total on this shoot!! The team did an immense job & pulled together to create some exquisite looks, so here is a snapshot before they get released on social media (you lucky things, you!)…
For any help or support planning your wedding or event, contact Hayley
***********************************************************************************