Tag Archives: Alternative Bride

Canadian Winter Wedding Inspiration

The weather has been scorching this weekend – Who was more than warm at a wedding this weekend? I know I was! I thought we could do with a little cool down this evening and this winter wedding inspiration from Victoria Jean Photography.

Here in Canada, our wedding season is extremely seasonal. Between January and May is a slow time due to our harsh winters, so I like to use this time for some creativity. A few months ago, I had an idea for a styled shoot I thought would be fun. I wanted to go for a darker, moody themed shoot with dramatic details. Often times, couples avoid getting married in our off-season due to the weather; I wanted to show that our winter weather can still create a beautiful vibe too.

I reached out to some other local vendors and models, and we decided to put it together! The final result was well beyond what I had imagined. I’m from a small town in Newfoundland, Canada and the talent here is truly amazing – I wanted to make sure I gave each vendor creative freedom with this; I created a mood board for the theme, and let everyone work their magic from there.

I didn’t see any final details (except the dress) until the day of the shoot. We all had a chance to really push our boundaries, and everyone involved really put out their best work! I’m proud to showcase it through my photography.

This wedding inspiration is perfect for those planning their wedding for the cooler seasons – I especially love the use of the ferns in the flower arrangements. Thanks to Victoria Jean Photography for sharing this shoot – The whole team did a fantastic job!

Photography: Victoria Jean Photography
Florals, set decor, stationery: By Sharpe Design
Hair + makeup: Lighthouse Hair & Beauty
Dress: Rodney Philpott Designs
Fur shawl: Erica Jane Design
Accessories: Velvet Snow Accessories
Cakes + sweets: Picco’s Creations
Models: Kayla Gilkinson & Dylan Parsons

Neon Dreams – A Cool Romantic Styled Shoot

Today on Marry Me Ink, I thought I would brighten up this blustery week with a floral romantic neon shoot from a rally of Devon and Cornish suppliers including Freeformimages Photography at the An Mor Hotel.

The An Mor Hotel, a real hidden gem in the Cornish Seaside town of Bude, is very unique and quirky, with its very own gin bar. With the hotel decor having retro themed wall dressings and eclectic features, it set the ideal backdrop for our themed styling. Using iridescent fabrics to offset exciting walls and neon lighting to set the mood it made the styling a joy to do! The colourful palette of props, historical photos and paintings around the hotel allowed us to capture, not just vibrant colours but character with a slight edge. This combination of modern and imaginative decor was inspirational in the choice of props and styling used. The classic shape of the stationery was chosen as it complimented the mirror that displayed the table plan from here the shape was then used to create the place settings and the colours chosen complimented the neon pinks and purples bringing everything together.

The first dress from Always & Forever Bridal worn by the model, “Cassandra”, takes sophisticated glam to a whole new level. The extravagantly beaded bodice paves the way to perfection! This long sleeve ballgown by Casablanca Bridal is a bona fide show-stopper, the dramatically sleek satin skirt reflecting light and cascading effortlessly from the natural waistline. This jaw-dropping gown provides a removable lining option, for the most opulent and versatile wedding day look.

The second gown has glittering rhinestones that create lines throughout. “Bria” from the belt at the waist, to the V-shaped linings of the front, back and underarm panels of the bodice and lace applique’s sprinkle across the hemline of the dreamy soft tulle skirt, matching the lace on the fully lined front and illusion back of the bodice, again by Casablanca Bridal.

The leather jacket from Sammy Lea’s Retro Emporium was inspired by the current neon lights trend. It’s groundbreaking in the UK as no other UK based supplier is yet offering jackets that are both lit and painted. 

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Babe With The Power – A Winter Witchy Bridal Shoot

As Christmas is drawing nearer and we start to wind down with our families (or not so much if you’re working over the Christmas period – I know I am with my career in the NHS) We will be staying quiet here on Marry Me Ink.

But just before I sign off until 2018, to celebrate this magical season, thrifty and eco friendly bridal wear brand Lucky Sixpence Bridal got together a coven of excellent wedding businesses for their Winter bridal shoot ‘Babe With The Power’ shot by wedding and fashion photographer Phil at Grey Fox Photography.

Too often the wedding industry pushes one ideal of bridal beauty and wedding style and all the wedding vendors involved in this shoot had had enough! As an alternative to the often OTT Great Gatbsy, furs and glitter themed shoots for winter brides, Anna from Lucky Sixpence Bridal and Michaela from Clear Hearts Planning took inspiration from the millennial obsession with witchyness with bath salts and sage sticks from She’s Lost Control and candles from Mama Moon, not to mention the backdrop of the stunning and gothic Salmestone Grange. The outfit, boots by House of Elliot, hairpieces and veil from Mcfayden Millinery, hair by Hayley at Meraki and make up by Sasha Prebble enhanced our winter bride, Fern’s natural beauty and magnetism – making her the Babe With The Power. Incredible skin products from cult US brand Witch Baby Soap such as ‘Graveyard Body Oil’ were used to make Fern glow ethereally and bring her look together as a sparkling white witch.

Intermingled with the theme of spirituality the shoot celebrates a number of wedding trends predicted for 2018 (maybe they used their crystal ball, no joke – there was a crystal ball on set thanks to the styling by Clear Hearts Planning) such as the amazing Practical Magic inspired cape from Born To Thread (90s goths all the way!), black accents and crystals.

Furthering the alternative take on weddings theme, the wedding breakfast and wedding cake were in the form of pagan styled ‘festival bread’ by Modern Provider displayed in woven baskets from La Basketry, fairytale-perfect chocolate apples and pure white candy floss from vegan treat providers Naughty Floss.

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Glittery, Allternative & Boho Bridal Inspiration – Jade Maguire Photography

Today on Marry Me Ink I get to share with you some bridal inspiration full of glitter and boho goodness from Jade Maguire Photography that took place at Allerton Towers in Liverpool. Jade’s planning of the shoot started by planning a low-key shoot that was aimed at the alternative bride, incorporating dark florals and beautiful woodland scenery.

The purpose of this styled shoot was to show how brides who want to wear something different, and be true to who they are, yet have a real low budget could style themselves for a small amount of money and still look AMAZING!

So I set myself up an epic Pinterest board and began searching for inspiration taken from my ideas and began creating this board. My Pinterest board started to grow and it was very clear that if you had tattoos you should be showing them off and flaunting them on your wedding day not covering them up like we quite often see. Tattoos are so personal and unique to you they should be worn with pride and should be appreciated with as much beauty as the person who owns this wonderful ink. 

The outfits we chose were aimed to appeal to the boho and the alternative brides, and the venue was selected because it was dark and mysterious, we found that the long leading corridor was so captivating – it was almost mesmerising. After all, have you seen how stunning Allerton Towers really is!? There’s something so comforting about a run down building, personally I am constantly drawn to older buildings but for this building, it was the idea of bringing a sense of life back into the place, these places always change from one week to the next as more decay sets in, and they should be captured and still be used to make amazing memories.. I truly wish you could actually get married here! 

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