Styled Shoot

Dusky Blue. A Styled Bridal Shoot at Thicket Priory

Julia Smith

Currently looking for big day colour scheme inspo? Then you’re in the right place, as today we’re sharing a stunning styled shoot that centres around a fresh yet elegant palette of beautiful dusky blue.

Lending itself to weddings in both the mild and cooler seasons, it’s a romantic option for all times of year, though today’s creative collaborative of suppliers showcase here how to incorporate the gorgeous hue into pretty spring celebrations.

Led by accessories designer Zavinta Fletcher, of Beady I Bridal Designs, the vision is soft, feminine and timeless though the pops of blush pink and rich gold add a more modern touch to the palette.

With details from fine florals, chic tablescapes, delicate stationery and luxe sweet treats to pore over, plus dreamy bridalwear and bespoke accessories, there are ideas aplenty for almost every big day element.

Furthermore, if you’ve set out on the venue hunt then the charming Thicket Priory in Yorkshire, which forms the exquisite backdrop for the shoot, might just turn your head and steal your heart!

With images by Madara Kurtisa Photography

Models: Rebecca Lindley & Lucy Kilcommons

INSPIRATION

Zavinta says: Being a part of an industry that is forever changing means us suppliers are always trying to stay ahead of the game. Through this shoot we wanted to create something new, something fresh to inspire our couples.

Some of the suppliers had worked together before and so it wasn’t hard to choose the team for this shoot. The question we started with was the colour to focus on and after some research there was one particular hue that really stood out to us – dusky blue! It was fresh, exciting and the perfect scheme for a spring wedding.

Once we had the colour the creative ideas started to flow, and a mood board came to life. Focusing on such a light, pale colour the team behind the shoot knew that the styling needed to be clean, bright and elegant, which is definitely evident in the photography by Madara Kurtisa.

LOCATION

We found and fell in love with Thicket Priory in Yorkshire. This gorgeous Grade II listed building was just perfect for the shoot. The windows in the bridal suite would allow us to catch a lot of natural day light and the fireplaces in the ballroom added a cosy feel.

STYLING

The table setting in the ballroom was created by Jen, of My Pretties UK. Using patterned crockery and glassware in different shades of blue and the added touch of gold with the cutlery brightened up the ballroom.

Jen said: “I’m loving blue as a wedding trend, I have a number of clients this year who’ve opted for these tones. I suggested incorporating some pale blush pink and white into the styling, florals and stationery to create texture and interest. I used blue linen and chiffon, vintage blue plates and blue water glasses. I always advise my clients that small details like a coloured napkin or glass can make such a big statement style wise, without spending a lot.”

We knew it would not feel like spring without flowers, so we loved having Elichia from Hare + Howl Floristry on board. The flowers and foliage that were chosen included Ranunculus, Roses, Eustoma, Delphiniums, Astilbe, Aendrobium, Thistles, Dill, Veronica, Phlox, Eucalyptus and Fern. The style of the arrangements and bouquet are perfect for a late spring/early summer wedding, with the Ranunculus, Dill, Delphiniums and Fern used as a nod to the season. The centrepieces and meadow scape were created using eco-friendly methods.

Elichia said: “Instead of the usual floral foam bricks I created moss bases secured with chicken wire (I reuse the chicken wire several times). You get the same effect, but no single use plastic waste is created.”

Our stunning three tier cake was designed and baked by Helen at Sweet Chic.

Helen said: “The mood board for this shoot oozed elegance. My designs then evolved from collaborating with the stylist,dress boutique, florist and stationers involved. Exploring the use of flowing fabrics across the tables and the statement gown, which I aimed to mimic in the cake design. I was keen to reflect the floral details in the popsicles and biscuits with piped fine art inspired details. I also created chocolate roses with truffle centres displayed with mini lemon cake pops in vases and a selection of Belgium white and raspberry chocolate diamond truffles which sat proudly on the stunning plates used to dress the table.”

The beautiful stationery was supplied by Make Me Digital and helped to add a personal touch to the shoot.

BEAUTY

Justine’s Hair & Makeup was on hair and beauty duty for the shoot. Justine loves a natural look and so she chose to keep the looks subtle and elegant, working to complement both the models’ features and the designs of the dresses.

For the ball gown style dress, Justine put all of the hair up, which allowed Rebecca’s figure to really show off the shape of the dress from top to bottom. The over-the-shoulder ponytail style for Lucy meanwhile worked to complement the thinner straps and lace detail on her dress.

Justine said: “For this shoot I knew I needed to let the dresses do the talking. I chose Airbase Airbrush foundation to create a medium/light coverage on both of the models and used very little blush keeping their makeup clean. I chose different lip shades for them though: for Rebecca, I went with the iconic Pillow Talk from Charlotte Tilbury, but with Lucy’s dark hair and features, I chose to use an Inglot Lip Paint. I then used two totally different hair styles to show the girls personalities. Rebecca’s hair went up into a braided style bun leaving looser curls to frame her beautiful face, and for Lucy I created a textured curly ponytail but rather than leave the long ponytail hanging down her back, I brought it forward and placed the curls over her shoulder to add a twist to the ‘classic’ ponytail.”

ATTIRE

Elizabeth the owner of Bridal Reloved York brought two gorgeous dresses to the shoot. Firstly, the incredible ballgown modelled by Rebecca is by couture dress designer Alessandra Rinaudo. The gown features a breath-taking plunge neckline and deep V back together with sheer side panels for a daring, modern look. This combined with the fullest skirt of jacquard organza and tulle, makes it truly the dress of fairy tales.

The second dress, which was perfect for Lucy, is by London designer David Fielden. The gown features the most delicate lace with pretty shoestring straps and a soft, cowl neckline. Combined with a full-length cathedral veil by Nieve Couture it makes for romantic and relaxed vibe.

Hair accessories are a great way to add some colour and character to a hair style on your wedding day. For this shoot I created bespoke accessories using a mixture of round glass crystals, opaque glass beads, bicone glass crystals and faux pearls in a variety of white, blue and blush pink colours. Using a mixture of materials gives the pieces some edge and dimension and makes Beady I’s creations unique. The designs were the perfect accessories to complement the models’ hairstyles and add a hint of colour.

RESULTS

The shoot was a great day throughout. It started off as a frosty morning and so we were surprised with the rays of sunshine coming through the windows of the bridal room around midday. The gorgeous sun brightened the venue, giving us a real spring feel. Everything came together perfectly and the connection in the room was electric, everyone was talking, laughing and shipping in to lend a hand. The suppliers thoroughly enjoyed working together- the passion they all share brings them together and their spectacular work here showcases their skills. A beautiful venue on a wonderful day with a great bunch of suppliers – perfection!

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