wedding trends
goes
Anything
English country house Courteenhall
in Northamptonshire was the setting
for our ‘anything goes’ weddings
shoot by Marney Mai Designs . . .
WHAT WAS OUR
INSPIRATION?
O
Photography by Graham Commons
of www.bespoke-photos.co.uk
ur aim was to
Launch
the
opening
of
Marney
Mai
Designs and bring local
Northampton
businesses
together giving them the
opportunity to be part of
a creative team and kick off
2015 with an alternative
spring bridal shoot. We
wanted to stand out from
the crowd and avoid anything
traditional.
Courteenhall
Estate
provided a naturally beautiful,
rustic outdoor venue with a
relaxed atmosphere. We took
indoors outdoors and let our
bride and groom roam free
across the country estate.
We began with a Humanist
ceremony and continued the
celebrations with a secluded
picnic in the gardens.
All of the bridal gowns
and accessories were a
blush pink. We wanted to
show brides that a beautiful
wedding gown doesn’t have
to be ivory. Our groom
complimented the bridal
attire with a quirky shorts
and flat cap combination
throwing the traditional suit
jacket theory well and truly
out of the door.
26
Weddings Magazine
COLOUR PALETTE:
Melange of pink tones
Natural rustic beige
Spring 2015
weddings trends
Tweet
us
@Image
s
Magazine
Weddings Magazine Spring 2015
27
wedding trends
MOOD
Fun, relaxed and free-spirited . . . a
million miles away from tradition.
We were also drawn to some of
Courteenhall’s unique features
inside of the house including
the alluring staircase with its
rare marbled wallpaper and the
decadent library, housing an
impressive collection of historic
books and family portraits, as well
as far reaching parkland views
from large windows.
28
Weddings Magazine
wedding trends
THE DETAILS
The natural features at Courteenhall made our
shoot all the more exciting but we didn’t forget
the important extra-special touches, which
included:
• Thirst-quenching pink cocktails served in
mini-milk bottles with candy pink retro
straws
• Boho intertwining bridal plaits
• Customised bridal hanger showcasing blush
pink gowns
• Wicker hessian, hand-crafted hanging hearts
• Exquisite bridal accessories featured in a
window lit with sunlight
• Alternative bridal footwear
THE SPECIAL TOUCHES –
A SUMMARY
The blush pink bridal gowns, tea dress, braces, flat cap, boho,
brightly coloured wellies, rustic items, natural beauty beyond.
The Humanist ceremony was set underneath a feature tree
on the estate which allowed us to step away from tradition
and create a free spirited personal occasion. Hessian fabric
created a rustic aisle which featured handmade detailing on
each chair.
Our couple extended their invitation to their dogs! Our
canine friends only added to our “Anything goes” theme.They
looked simply gorgeous all dressed up for the occasion in coordinating wedding attire.
Our informal picnic reception was like the icing on the cake
to end our day of shooting. It truly captured the essence of
free spirit and created a real rustic setting for our bride and
groom to relax and reflect on their special day watching the
sun set on a clement spring evening.
Weddings Magazine Spring 2015
29
wedding trends
THE VENUE
Courteenhall has been scarcely
altered since it was built in 1791
and is a beautiful example of a neoclassical English country house. It has
been home to the Wake family for
all its life. To many, it is unknown and
members of the public rarely visit.
It is set deep into a private estate
and surrounded by more than 100
acres of lush parkland. Immediately
surrounding the house are pretty
formal gardens and a relaxing water
feature. Courteenhall is also home
to an internationally renowned
arboretum with more than 250 rare
species of trees.
We selected the venue for its
natural beauty, exquisite gardens and
parkland and, of course, its exclusivity.
We were also fascinated by the fact
that it is a privately owned family
home and we were made to feel
really welcome by owners, Johnny
and Anna Wake.
The “Anything goes” styling pushed
the boundaries of stereotypical bride
and groom looks. The collaboration
of businesses involved in the shoot
created a real buzz and excitement,
and left all involved wanting to do it
all over again
30
Weddings Magazine
Spring 2015
CREDITS
CREATIVE DIRECTOR, PLANNER & STYLIST:
Sophie Limbert, www.marneymaidesigns.uk
VENUE:
Courteenhall, www.courteenhall.co.uk
PHOTOGRAPHER:
Graham Commons, www.bespokephotos.co.uk
HAIR:
Kelly Weston, www.identitybykellyfisher.com
MAKE UP:
Keira Miller, www.belle-beautique.com
FLORIST:
Dawn Robbins-Eales, Floral Arranger Tutor -Northampton County
Council Adult Learning
BRIDAL GOWNS:
House of Mooshki/ Belle and Bunty Fairytale Weddings www.
fairytaleweddings.co.uk
DOGS:
Weddings by Total Pet Services, www.weddingsbytotalpets.co.uk
MODELS:
Gabriella Willmore/ Walter Ebulubu