Feeling a touch of disco fever? Well, EPH Creative have just expanded their range of mirror balls and have celebrated with a styled shoot to get you ready for the dancefloor!
They were fully ready to party before, but there’s now a plethora of various sizes to choose from, alongside their customised neons and a whole warehouse full of amazing props. You can go as totally wild as your imagination will allow, and then hand it all back when you’re done!
We’ve caught up with the EPH Creative in-house wedding expert, Kristie, who has 12 glorious years experience working in the wedding industry and has developed a new range of wedding packages just for you lovely lot. Alongside the shoot concept, props, florals and styling all by EPH, we’ve also got stunning shots of the gorgeous Howsham Hall in Yorkshire, some pretty snazzy monochrome magic and the swoon-worthy gowns from Limelight Occasions – whether you’re feeling the traditional white bridal look or fancy something bold and dark!
With images by Daze Photography
KRISTIE SAID: This is for the fun loving couple who want a little ‘extra’ from their wedding styling! The idea is to show that brides can be brave and bold, and their wedding doesn’t need to fall into a pigeonhole, they can go wild! We wanted to give the feeling of empowerment and that anything is possible; if you want a black dress and zebra at your wedding then why the hell not!
Paul Greenaway, our Head Stylist, said he was going for a New Years Eve, very chic and opulent affair with a nod to the lavish parties held in manor houses in the 20s where exotic animals roamed freely with party guests (hence the Zebra!). He chose the monochrome palette as it’s modern yet timeless, and the pop of metallic makes it feel more party chic!
We’re bringing disco vibes but with a twist as it’s all set within a beautiful venue, featuring an outdoor ceremony, creative table settings and the photo op of dreams – that doubles as a backdrop for cake cutting and the first dance! We’re aiming to showcase some of the latest wedding trends – an audio guest book with a retro phone, ‘ring for service’ prosecco, a living wall and mirror balls galore!
LOCATION
Howsham Hall was chosen for the shoot as it brings something special to your wedding. Set within beautiful grounds, Howsham is a stunning Jacobean stately home in the heart of North Yorkshire. Offering pure luxury throughout, the largest bridal suite in Europe, your ceremony in their great hall or out on the lawn and wedding breakfast served in their incredible drawing room, it’s ideal for the discerning bride who wants a special experience in a luxury venue! I loved everything about the venue, from the grand staircase, bridal suite of dreams with huge bay window, every corner was beautifully decorated and the grounds were the icing on the cake!
STYLING
EPH Creative’s in-house stylist Paul came up with the concept for this shoot. He wanted to give the feel of super AvantGarde elegance but with an editorial edge. Think monochrome magic but with pops of golds and greens. The outdoor ceremony featured plinths, mirror balls and an oversized ornate frame, which perfectly framed the countryside view. This was all dressed with foliage, mirror balls, a peacock chair and topiary.
Paul’s amazing photo op was the star of the show! A living wall bedecked with neon and foliage, plinths, mirror balls and of course a zebra! I loved his ideas for table scape too; with patterned tablecloths being a firm trend we’re seeing, the black and white stripes were next level! The foliage and mirror balls cascading from the top table in the bay window wowed us all!
His mood board went to all suppliers in advance, so the Scrumb Cakes cake mirrored the monochrome stripes and textures and looked amazing! I loved that the stationery picked up the zebra stripes in the envelope and had the disco vibe throughout. This carried through to the Sheaf Stationery signage too, and we used plinths, mirror balls and urns to add to the display.
Paul is also a florist – a man of many talents! He used faux foliage, which is a sustainable option. A mix of metallic and green palms, with white pampas and other white flowers, really elevated the whole look of the photo op and outdoor ceremony backdrop.
Everything used on the shoot is a hire piece, so very much the eco friendly and cost effective choice. Black Event Furniture supplied all chairs and tables.
ATTIRE
Limelight Occasions have an amazing bridal shop with a huge selection of beautiful gowns. I was thrilled to hear they had launched their own new collection, ‘The Girls Love’. I totally fell in love with the black ball gown, with subtle sparkle and detachable puff sleeves. It’s a real showstopper! Going with the monochrome vibe I also wanted to do a different look with a white dress, but again straying away from the traditional. The 80s inspired, mermaid style wedding dress with ruffles and black gloves was the perfect choice. Our model looked amazing in both!
Limelight also does men’s suits and this shoot definitely called for a three piece tuxedo and bow tie! We actually had two suits, both by Peter Posh Suits. First, one with blue hues and the other a classic black.
For details we opted for hair accessories from Penny Pearl Bridal, rather than a veil. Penny Pearl Bridal has a gorgeous range of bows, hair clips, headbands and earrings. We chose an ivory bow and a pearly cluster clip which looked gorgeous in Autumn’s hair. Finishing touches were the gold hoop earrings wrapped in tiny ivory pearls. The whole look was so dreamy!
BEAUTY
For the hair Jody Payne created the most beautiful high bun with volume and soft romantic face pieces. We chatted about creating something a little different from the norm, which is often a low bun, so this was ideal. Finished perfectly with the pearl cluster clip from Penny Pearl Bridal.
Our model Autumn Rose is also a talented MUA so she put together a flawless look which combines soft glam with classic bridal, appealing to brides who want a bridal look but with a hint of glamour!
RESULTS
The shoot day was fabulous! We had a bit of rain early on but it soon blew over and then the sun shone so the outdoor ceremony came to life. Paul was busy working his magic on the next scene whilst we started shooting. The models, Tom and Autumn, were incredible, and are actually a real couple who are now engaged! Having worked with them several times I can say it’s always a pleasure, with very little direction required. They are totally natural and look so in love, it could be their real wedding day!
It all went to plan on the day and I was really pleased with how everything came together. The suppliers all blew me away with their contribution, far exceeding what I had hoped for and visualised!
