Hazy sunshiny days and laidback alfresco feels are coming right at you by the bucket-load today, as we serve up this fabulous little treat of a styled shoot.
Bringing on-board a host of local creatives, many of whom had already crossed paths at previous weddings, the shoot was set at the stunning Whinstone View near Great Ayton, North Yorkshire. With its ultra-chic countryside location and fabulous on-site barn – this was perfect for the team’s relaxed, breezy vision.
Taking inspiration from the au natural surroundings – styling touches included exquisite glass jars, beautiful pared back stationery, floral hoops, luxe balloons, neon signs and attention-grabbing tablescapes.
As for the bridal attire – this was elegant and stylish, with the bride showcasing classic floaty numbers, perfect for swishing around in the outdoors if you ask us, complemented by a soft, dewy makeup look and dainty hair accessories.
Created for couples who want to shun popular trends and follow their hearts on their big day instead, this shoot is bursting with inspiration on how to make your nuptials personal and truly unique. Here’s photographer Natalie to spill all…
With images by Natalie Pluck
Models: Olivia and Alex
Inspiration & Theme
Natalie says
: A number of the suppliers who came together for this shoot had worked with each other on previous weddings, and already had a great working relationship and affinity for likeminded creative people. Many are approved suppliers of the venue we featured too and would class it as one of their favourites.For the shoot’s theme, we went with alfresco California vibes in the North East.
It was designed to portray a relaxed atmosphere of lazy days and sunshine – a vibe that was styled with meaning, not too overloaded and which was soft flowing to suit the venue.
Location
Most of the suppliers had worked with our venue, Whinstone View, before and it fitted our vision for the shoot perfectly. The barn is an informal space set within beautiful grounds and sprawling countryside.
The imposing willow tree in the centre of the grounds was perfect for an outside table setting, with the dappled light casting soft romantic rays of sunshine onto our long tablescape.
Theme & Styling
To complement the relaxed outdoor vibe, we chose soft colours inspired by nature, with styling by Sheer Elegance.
The long table nestling under the willow tree was set with wooden centrepieces and laidback floral accents. Beautiful stationery was supplied by Ruby Shoes Wedding which had soft torn edges with simple leaf imagery to complement the alfresco feels.
Pretty hanging floral hoops were simply styled and gently spun in the breeze, and we also had balloons from the team at Imaginarium Balloon Studio.
The cake, made by the talented Sadie May Cakes, was elegant and adorned with soft sugar crafted florals that created a bit of a wow factor. Meanwhile, fortune cookies brought a fun twist to the shoot.
We used real foliage in the table décor out in the courtyard to create an outdoor look, featuring simple jars with delicate florals, all supplied and styled by Flower House UK, with silk ribbons from Silk and Purl.
Neon signs, handmade by the team at Light Up North, were dotted around the space to create a bit of funkiness and relaxed fun.
Inside the barn we ramped it up a little with gold to create impact, complete with specially dyed linen napkins.
Attire
The soft flowing details of the dresses – supplied by Kate Fearnley – exuded a romantic, elegant style whilst not being too formal. They were very wearable, not too fitted or structured, and created a delicate, floaty look.
The suit from Dandy Threads was styled with a loose bow tie and open shirt combo to show that the groom had his own strong vibe and was not afraid to chill out on his big day too.
Beauty
We wanted to appeal to the natural, laidback bride so makeup artist Laura Mac went for a soft peachy look with strong lips, soft eyes, natural fresh highlights and dewy skin.
The model’s hair, created by Watkins Wright, wasn’t too structured – it had a loose flowing vibe to gently blow in the breeze but had just enough styling to keep it in place. We paired this style with fun, stylish and elegant hair accessories from What Katy Did Next.
As for our groom, his polished look was created by Ultimate Grooming Yarm.
Results
The weather was perfect for the shoot – cool and sunny. There was a nice relaxed vibe with lots of laughter, too!
The shoot was designed to appeal to couples that don’t want to follow current trends too much but follow their hearts instead and create a laid back but stylish day that they, and their guests, can enjoy. It also showcases the venue’s beautiful surroundings, which are just perfect for wedding celebrations, especially if the sun makes an appearance! Furthermore, Whinstone View now has a larger lodge available to hire, accommodating up to 12 people, which means even more of your wedding guests can stay on-site!
