We’re channelling our inner rock chick, as we share with you this edgy, alternative styled shoot at Manor Farm, a Victorian property north of Worksop that dates back to the 1850s.
Perfect for the aspiring DIY’ers among you – this venue is the blank canvas so many couples crave when it comes to putting that big, personal stamp on your special day. And this bridal shoot really does show off the location’s full potential, blending a moody palette of black, gold and burgundy with blushing blooms and accents of cream in the super slick styling details.
The bride and groom – a real life couple, no less – really do rock (ahem) this theme perfectly. We’re talking leather and metallic jackets, lace up boots and some iconic hair and makeup looks to complete their unconventional ensembles.
If you’re looking for wedding inspo that’s all-out unique – you’re going to be one pin-happy bunch today!
Models: Darcie and Matt
With images by Marie Anson Photography and filming by No Ordinary Films
Location
Marie says
: The shoot was captured at Manor Farm in Oldcotes, just north of Worksop. The venue is a Victorian manor that doubles up as a holiday home and an exclusive space for creating a bespoke DIY wedding.It really is a blank canvas, situated in the heart of the North Nottinghamshire countryside and ideal for couples wishing to find somewhere unique and alternative for their wedding day.
The owners, especially Abi, were incredibly welcoming and open to working with us and they could not have been more helpful; exactly the sort of people you want to work with when planning your big day.
Inspiration & theme
The idea for the shoot was entirely down to Katie Louise, our awesome celebrant from Rock My Ceremony. Katie initially wanted to refresh the images on her website, but the idea soon developed from there, and as her business has a ‘rock’ theme – the shoot’s concept was born!
A colour palette was soon in place, and then ideas were created around this theme. The look was always going to be romantic (after all it is a wedding shoot!) but it was important to have rock-inspired elements throughout, for example, the leather studded napkin holders, the plectrum table confetti from Daisy Daisy Special Day, the bride’s leather and groom’s metallic jacket. Beautiful soft floral creations and romantic colours also balanced it out.
Manor Farm was the perfect location for the shoot. We knew that people who would like the concept behind this shoot would not want to hold their wedding in a traditional hotel setting. Finding a venue that’s flexible, and open to working with couples and accommodating their individual styles, was key to the success of our shoot.
Abi and the team were so helpful, they love to listen and their venue offers an alternative for non-traditional couples. Their offering of a complete DIY package is quite unique for the area. They have a very large indoor barn and also some amazing spaces, including areas perfect for an outdoor ceremony.
Styling
All the suppliers involved in the shoot had the freedom to develop their ideas around the theme. For example, Alf and Alba made some beautiful menus and table stationery that incorporated the colours, but with a subtle nod to the musical aspect to the theme, thanks to the vinyl record and softer roses.
Bridget from Keith Woods Weddings and Events provided some beautiful glass plate chargers but used the purple plate beneath to showcase the colours on the table.
Meanwhile, Lorien at Storeybook Cakes went for strong angles with geometric cubes that linked perfectly with the bold styling. Black, gold and cream echoed the colours of the theme, and florals were added at the end to soften the bold look.
Black was everywhere, but not too much. The incredible blooms were created by Catherine at Sweetpea and Thyme who chose three varieties of roses – Quicksand, Amnesia and Garda O’Hara – before adding in white and black Anemones and velvety burgundy Ranunculus.
Catherine used dried flowers and foliage too, a huge trend at the moment that look great mixed with fresh flowers. She chose dried Honesty and Ruscus as well as pampas grass. These shoots are a great way to trial new techniques and for this one, Catherine dyed the pampas a variety of colours, including blush and black.
When it came to the bouquet, she opted for a more classic shape with very little foliage and lots of dried materials.
Our model, Darcie, also wore a complimentary statement headpiece from Rachel Chaprunne, designed to be asymmetrical, making it fuller in one area, rather than an all round flower crown.
Attire
Sometimes the groom’s outfit can be an afterthought, or it can conform to the traditional, but for this we wanted the groom to have an equally strong look. His jacket and studded boots were from ASOS and we felt that black jeans and a black shirt combo completed the look perfectly. Matt’s hair was deliberately left loose.
Darcie’s gown was supplied by Nora Eve Bridal. The bespoke painted leather jacket from Mama Inc was high on the list of must-haves and, because of this, the dress needed to compliment it. Fussy lace or delicate details would have been lost under the jacket, so we kept the dress simple. The boots from House Of Elliot added enough lace to keep it looking bridal and we also complimented the attire with beautiful jewellery from Lyon & Feather.
Beauty
The bride’s natural red hair was styled by Gemma Amanda and loosely tousled to keep the rock look, with a little volumising powder to keep it more controlled and last all day. The groom’s hair needed no help whatsoever.
Make up, created by Embellish Makeup and Hair Studio, was soft and showcased the bride’s beautiful porcelain complexion, with a bold lip colour and striking lashes emphasising the rock goddess within, whilst still looking like a bride.
A bold lip colour is something that shouldn’t simply be ruled out because it is a wedding. There is no need to keep it nude if you usually wear a bold colour. Allowing your personality to shine through can be achieved through your make-up choices.
Results
Considering the shoot was in January, the weather could not have been more perfect!
Prior to the shoot, the logistics of all the suppliers made it difficult for face to face meetings, so we created a group on social media and planned and coordinated the shoot on there.
The highlight, however, was seeing all the hard work and preparations finally come together on the day. Everything worked so well and the final look was perfect. We achieved our goals and the result is a tribute to the talents of everyone involved.
Everyone really pulled together, helping with styling, decor dressing and even making tea. It was a team effort all round.
