As Christmas will be here quicker than you can say – Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen – we thought we would share a little festive wedding inspiration on the blog with you today.
Set at the stunning Heaton House Farm on the borders of Cheshire and Staffordshire, this luxurious styled shoot features everything you’d need for a
glittering winter wedding
; from festive blooms and opulent décor, to glamourous gowns and faux fur capes.So snuggle up, grab a Terry’s Chocolate Orange and enjoy, as photographer Stephen McGowan, who captured all the magic, tells us about the shoot’s concept and the other talented suppliers that made it happen!
With images by Brides Up North Sponsor Stephen McGowan Photography.
Models Daniel James, Maureen Davenport, Gwen Raby.
stephen says:
2015 has all been about the vintage, rustic, and bohemian styled weddings, so for this shoot we wanted to do something a little different to break the trend. We opted for a high class, glamorous, and opulent themed winter wedding.As our setting we picked the fabulous Heaton House Farm, which is the perfect place to host a winter wedding with its exposed stone walls, wooden beams and intimate atmosphere.
To create the right look for our female models, make-up artist Emma Culbert, came up with styling ideas inspired by 1950’s glamour and The Great Gatsby. Emma opted for dramatic and defined make-up look for Maureen, and a softer, more romantic look for Gwen. Products used included Illamasqua, L’Oréal, RCMA, and Urban Decay. Hair stylist Jeni Mulholland, then brought Emma’s hair ideas to life, giving Maureen a dramatic barrel-curled up-do, and Gwen sleek curls.
Helen from 7th Heaven Bridal wowed us with three gorgeous Charlotte Balbier dresses and a stunning Justin Alexander dress with the most beautiful shoulder and back detailing, which fit the theme perfectly, and looked amazing on the girls. Meanwhile, Whitfield and Ward provided us with a smart navy blue suit with matching details, which made our male model and ‘groom’ Daniel, look very dashing.
When it came to the flowers, which were put together by Natalie’s Florist, we decided on a colour scheme of reds and ivories, with some festive details added in the form of pinecones. The bouquets gave the photographs that added ‘pop’ of colour and really complemented our theme. We also had buttonholes for Daniel, which featured a matching colour scheme to our bridal bouquets.
The models braved the cold so that we could get some great outdoor shots in the grounds surrounding the venue. They did a stellar job up against the elements. We made the weather work for us, using the stormy clouds to create moody and atmospheric shots. The wind even added another dimension by showing the movement in the dresses and tousling the models’ hair.
Back indoors we set out a luxurious dining table scene, with high class table furnishings, including candelabras, candles and chair dressings, provided by Venue Perfection, and stylish glass-wear, chargers, and cutlery, supplied by Whitehouse Event Crockery, all of which tied in perfectly with the glamorous look we were going for.
Our overall aim was to produce some bold images that have an impact, and looking at the results I feel that we accomplished what we set out to achieve.
I really enjoyed collaborating on this shoot with industry suppliers who work in the same way that I do – they like to push boundaries and go that extra mile to deliver the best service for their brides and grooms.
2016 is shaping up to be a very exciting year for Stephen McGowan Photography, with so much going on. I have more bridal shoots like this lined up; I have a rather adventurous idea for one, so we’ll wait and see I manage to pull it off! I also have more weddings to photograph in some amazing locations with some awesome brides and grooms. And, we’re still taking bookings for 2016, so if you like what you see, please feel free to drop us a message.
