Simplifying big day plans doesn’t mean a comprise on style as this stunning city elopement shoot perfectly reflects. Captured on the historic streets of York and featuring cool, contemporary attire; classic bridal beauty and elegant bouquet, it ticks some serious #weddinggoal boxes.
The inspiration behind the images was brought about by the pandemic’s halt on large-scale weddings, as photographer Rebecca Kerr was keen to show that intimate nuptials can be every bit as heartfelt and stylish for couples tempted to pare back their plans.
With no decor or detailing to distract, the focus is 100% on the newlywed’s emotions and elation – of course, it helps that the super gorgeous models featured are in fact a real-life couple. That chemistry!
As Rebecca explains, her elopement endorsing mission was achieved with the help of several like-minded Yorkshire creatives whose superb skillsets can be fully appreciated in the images that follow.
With images by Rebecca Kerr Photography.
Models: Jordan & Kezia of The Lawrence Grahams
CONCEPT
Rebecca says: The inspiration behind the shoot was to show one version of what a wedding during the pandemic, or any micro wedding, could look like. The ‘story’ we came up with was that our bride and groom, like many others, had been forced to postpone their original wedding date but rather than waiting indefinitely, they’d decided to go ahead and get married. The occasion was really just about them and celebrating their love.
LOCATION
We wanted to show a chic city elopement, and York is such a beautiful, historical city, so having the shoot take place there was a no-brainer. I went to scout specific locations a few weekends before the shoot and found so many picture-perfect locations. York really is a photographer’s dream!
STYLING
As this was an elopement shoot, a lot of the traditional wedding elements, like a cake and stationery, weren’t necessary. Beth from Green & Bloom kept things really chic and simple for the bridal flowers, creating a hand-tied bouquet of white, long-stemmed roses that were the perfect addition.
ATTIRE
The bridal attire was something really special. Elena Ferrara is a talented designer and seamstress. Her boutique in York city centre is in a row of shops that is the oldest retail space in Europe! With the context of our shoot being a city elopement, we agreed that our bride should wear something a little less traditional. Elena provided us with a beautiful, modern mini dress which we coupled with the most incredible, sheer overskirt. The shoot took place on a really cold, winter day, so our bride, Kezia, kept herself warm by wrapping up her beautiful faux-fur coat, which perfectly complemented her outfit.
We wanted the groom’s attire to match the modern vibes, so rather than a traditional shirt and tie combo, he opted for a roll neck jumper under his suit jacket. Partway through the shoot, he also swapped his shoes for a pair of white Stan Smith trainers to add a more cool, contemporary feel.
BEAUTY
We wanted to keep the bride’s hair and makeup understated and chic. Ellie Hall pulled the bride’s hair into a stylish, low pony-tail with some soft waves for added texture and volume. It’s a perfect style for any bride-to-be who wants a soft, feminine look whilst having their hair pulled away from their face. The makeup look that Jasmine Zheng created would be perfect for a modern, minimal bride. She gave Kezia a flawless base and then focused on a classic, red lip and fluffy brows.
RESULTS
I loved the shoot day so much! Getting to work with a team of incredible suppliers is always a highlight, but I especially loved that we were all Yorkshire based. We showed the story of the day with a triumphant exit from the York Registry Office and then shooting around York as the couple celebrated their nuptials. The day was absolutely freezing, so trading champagne for celebratory coffee was necessary to warm up halfway through, the fact that it made for a unique photo opportunity was an added bonus!
