Keeping it local with suppliers for the Secret Garden shoot

by Hanami Dream | 15, July, 2017 | blog, styled shoots

Based on The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (published in 1911), this modern Edwardian Secret Garden styled wedding shoot is a perfect harmony of traditional and contemporary elements brought together with sheer glamour and sophistication.

It’s the little details that bring any event to life and this was made possible by the wonderful local suppliers who provided their time, services, venue and products for free. Together we have showcased the amazing talent that our part of the UK has to offer the wedding industry.

Thanks to all these wonderful suppliers #keepitlocal

Location – Cogges Manor Farm

Cogges Manor Farm is nestled in the lovely market town of Witney and offers two stunning seventeenth century barns for weddings. They are a perfect blank canvas where you can add loads of personalised details to make your special day complete. Your wedding can be as individual as you are with your own choice of catering, furniture and decoration.

The magnificent and spacious Wheat Barn can seat up to 200 guests, with refurbished stone floor, and portable heating included in the cost of hire. The more intimate and adjacent Barley Barn can seat about 60 guests or is an ideal choice to use as a dance or ceremony area. Each barn can be hired separately, or as a combined hire. Cogges offers a civil ceremony license and is next door to Cogges Parish Church.

In addition to any indoor space you hire, you and your guests can use the charming outdoor space to wander and enjoy (and after 5pm you will have exclusive use of the site). Cogges has many perfect locations for your wedding photographs, such as the Manor House lawn, the walled garden or the orchard and you can even include the farm animals in your photos.

@CoggesWitney

@coggeswitney

@Cogges

@cogges

Photographer – Squib Photography

I’m Steven, a full time professional photographer who set up Squib Photography in 2002 and is lucky enough to photograph some beautiful weddings in the Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds. I also cover pretty much the rest of the UK and have even been lucky enough to be booked to cover some destinations recently overseas.

After completing my studies at Oxford Brookes University I started Squib Photography and have photographed in excess of 450 weddings to date. I like to provide a professional, yet flexible service offering a mixture of formal and reportage photography to perfectly capture the atmosphere of a wedding day.

Every wedding is important to me and I will strive to tell the story of the day using natural light and little posing as possible. I do so in a relaxed, informal way so the couple can enjoy those special moments and leave me to document that for them.

I am always open to new ideas, input from couples and understand that every wedding day is very different, so will always work carefully with them to make sure you receive a personalized, bespoke service.

@squibphotography

@squibphoto

Hair & Make up – Blushing Brides

Blushing Brides Hair and Makeup, Hair and Makeup Artists are based in Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds.

With Blushing Brides you make one booking and get two artists working for you, two artists with individual skills, ideas and experience.

We are firm believers that with specialists who have honed their individual skills over many years you get a superior experience, the look you have always wanted and better value for money.

Lauren (Makeup Artist) and Laura (Hair Stylist) have many years experience working for brides and bridal parties, we bring all this to help you achieve the most beautiful look for your special day. Far better, we believe, than one person pushing themselves to do both.

@blushingbrideshairandmakeup

@blushing_brides_

Cake – Cotswold Baking

Creating Crumbs of Comfort.

Cotswold Baking – made to order cakes, delicious desserts, tasty tray bakes and all things sweet, delivered to your door.

@Cotswoldbaking

@cotswoldbaking

@CotswoldBakingLtd

@cotswoldbaking

Groom clothing – Cotswold Tailor

The Cotswold Tailor is an award winning tailor, that takes traditional British cloths and tailors them with a contemporary twist. This results in unique, elegant designs, that stand out from the usual mass produced clothing on the high street. We emphasise the use of British manufacturers. Our British range of products include: trousers, socks, cufflinks, lambs wool jumpers, ties and all of the cloths used in the jackets.

Please take this opportunity to view our products online or alternatively if you would like to visit us, we are located in the bustling market town of Woodstock on the high street as well as our new shop located on Church Street in Shipston On Stour.

@Cotswoldtailor

@cotswoldtailor

@TheCotswoldTailor

@thecotswoldtailor

Jewellery – Designed to Sparkle

Designed to Sparkle is run by Fiona Self, creating beautiful jewellery and accessories from her studio in Bampton at the edge of the Cotswolds.

Gaining inspiration from the incredible natural beauty found all around, Fiona draws from the elements that she loves the most, and designs pieces that bring her joy!

Fiona personally hand makes each piece of jewellery using the very best materials and supplies that she can source, and paying meticulous attention to detail in the quality and finish of each and every element that she makes.

@DesignedToSpark

@designedtospark

@DesignedToSpark

@designedtosparkle

Florist – Lark Rise Flowers

Lark Rise Flowers, are professionally qualified florists, based in the rolling countryside of North Oxfordshire. They provide flowers for weddings and events throughout Oxon, Bucks, Northants, and beyond.

Stock is sourced from the major flower markets, and if seasonally available from an expanding group of British growers. The Eco commitment continues with a policy of recycling waste packaging and surplus green material.

Sandra, the Proprietor, is happy to meet with you for personal consultations and site visits. She will work with your brief, budget, or theme, to create a unique day for you both.

The Lark Rise team have a wealth of experience, having provided many wedding flowers, and decorated most of the major wedding venues in the area. They take pride and care in their work, from the simplest buttonhole through to beautiful bridal bouquets and venue décor.

“Surrounded by nature – working with nature”

Chairs, glasses & gramophone – Linda’s Vintage Hire

We provide a stress free vintage hire service for all occasions. If you are organising an event with a vintage flare we can supply furniture, crockery and a range of props and accessories to give your event that much loved nostalgic vintage feel.

We work with theatres, corporations, event and wedding planners, caterers, photographers and festivals to mention but a few.

So if you’re planning your vintage event whether it’s afternoon tea, the wedding of your dreams, a magazine shoot or creating something inspirational for a large festival there is no end to what can be achieved with the help of Linda’s Vintage Hire. We can deliver up and down the country.

@Lindvintagehire

@lindasvintagehi

@LindasVintageHire

@lindasvintagehire

Favours – MuffatPrague

MuffatPrague started life as a sonic and visual arts blog in 2011.

After a lifetime’s love of the letterform, all things typographic and a couple of decades of working independently in creative spheres, designer-maker team Rob and Hils decided to start hand-craft letters from their garden studio in 2014. Their Oiseaux, a simple bird form designed by Rob has now become their brand identity and signature design. Their work is handmade from locally sourced reclaimed ply, walnut and oak, finished with Farrow & Ball Eggshell and Oxfordshire beeswax.

They were voted Best Creative Producer (Bucks/Oxon) in the Muddy Stilettos Awards 2016 and have new ideas coming this year – keep an eye on their website and Instagram feed for more info.

The birds are available in 4 sizes with a single brass leg fitting or bakers twine loop.

@muffatprague

@MuffatPrague
@muffatprague

Lighting – Oakwood Events

We supply lighting solutions for barn weddings with a focus on stunning design, technical excellence and day to evening transitions.

Our extensive range includes fairy lights, festoons, Edison bulbs, chandeliers, paper lanterns, ambient and party lighting.

Wedding lighting with style!

@OakwoodEventsUK

@oakwoodevents

@oakwoodevents

@oakwoodevents

Bridal dress, shoes and veil – Proposals of Witney

Proposals is a family run business established in 2004. Our philosophy is to take personal responsibility and to provide an unforgettable exquisite experience. We pride ourselves on listening and understanding the desires of each bride and her party.

Since opening in 2004 we have grown in our expertise by constantly researching the requirements and expectations of all our customers having listened and learnt from each and everyone and pride ourselves on our excellent and enviable personal service.

Dreams really do come true at Proposals with over 100 wedding gowns to chose from including designers Ian Stuart, Justin Alexander, Essense of Australia, La Sposa and Maggie Sottero, you are sure to find your perfect gown.

@ProposalsBridal

@Proposals-Bridal-Studio

Stationery – The Paper Hare

The Paper Hare is an illustration and lettering design studio based in the North Cotswolds.

Specialising in adding memorable adornments to special occasions with hand lettered touches, watercolour art prints for homes and nurseries and brushlettering workshops for those hoping to uncover their own creative style.

@thepaperhare

@thepaperhare

@thepaperhare

@thepaperhare

Take a look at a behind the scenes look at the briefs that were given to these fabulous suppliers and how the Secret Garden theme came to life with their designs and products.

And here’s the video from the shoot too – Video: Secret Garden Wedding

Behind the scenes: Secret Garden shoot

by Hanami Dream | 15, July, 2017 | blog, styled shoots

I was delighted to find a new photography partner to work with on a styled bridal shoot this May half term. It was wonderful to work alongside Steve from Squib Photography – another fellow Witney business and we discovered that unbeknown we had even lived next to each other in halls at University! We collaborated to produce an amazing bridal styled shoot based around The Secret Garden. It was also an honour to be able to showcase some amazing products from some fantastic local suppliers.

Theme
I chose the Secret Garden theme as it is another classic story with a sense of much needed rejuvenation in current times (see some of my previous styled shoots based on classics books). Published in the 1910s, The Secret Garden focuses on an orphan who is sent to live with her uncle at his mansion. She befriends a robin and discovers a neglected garden that she is determined to bring back to life. I wanted to hint at this theme with slight nods to the book with the name places, wooden robin favours and vintage keys.

Originally my next shoot was going to focus on a stunning local location with beautiful blossom trees in full bloom and falling down like confetti (which obviously stems from my love of cherry blossom). A local jeweller, Designed to Sparkle, wanted to be involved in one of my shoots and she had some stunning blossom pieces that would have fitted this theme perfectly.

However, as planning continued I realised that timings meant that not only would the trees have already had their hanami but also that I wanted to focus more on foliage and really make the most of the Greenery Pantone® colour of the year 2017. I wanted to show case the lush greenery of a stunning garden.

Styled shoot
A styled shoot takes almost as much time and effort to produce as a wedding day and entails bringing together the theme from many different suppliers.

The beauty of styled shoots (versus a real life wedding) is that it is a great opportunity to be a little more extravagant and really show off what you’ve always wanted to do. You can indulge your fantasies with new trends or products that couples may not have seen yet or something really unusual.

This styled shoot is a collaboration of like minded people that can create great things together but perhaps don’t have the budgets to produce this kind of work if they all worked independently.

Brief
I am very lucky to live in a beautiful part of the UK and am surrounded by some seriously talented wedding venues, professionals and suppliers. I was honoured that so many wanted to be involved in this shoot and they certainly didn’t disappoint with the products that they provided.

I gave them all the same brief that I was trying to achieve:

bring the beauty of nature inside for a secret garden wedding brimming with
lush green foliage, clear Perspex signage and modern twists on wedding traditions

I also provided them with my collated vision and ideas on my Pinterest board.

The themes I wanted to encapsulate included:

• Modern
• Edwardian
• Delicate
• Elegant
• Greenery
• Clear Perspex
• Pearl
• Hoops
• Keys
• Robins

I wanted the use of colour to be kept to a minimum with hints of colour and an abundance of green with a focus on white and the following spring/summer 2017 colours:

• Greenery (Pantone® 2017 colour of the year)
• Pale Dogwood (a really pale ‘barely there’ pink)
• Hazelnut (almost a champagne / pearl colour)
• Lapis Blue & Niagara (blues to act almost like cooling neutral colours)

Designs
The creative suppliers worked wonders in transforming my overflowing pot of ideas and pairing it down in to realistic and achievable products for us to showcase.

• Stationery designs – One of the first ideas for this shoot came from an image that I saw of clear acrylic stationery and I fell in love with the current trend for Perspex furniture and modern ways to present stationery. I was concerned with how this could be photographed but Squib Photography used the natural light to make sure there wasn’t too much glare on the acrylic.
  My vision was to present lovely modern, clear acrylic ‘stationery’ and signage with white brush lettering, where the greenery of the garden can be seen through the clear acrylic – bringing the outside inside.
  I sourced the acrylic from a local builder’s merchants (and my favourite go to place for any materials) who kindly cut the acrylic to size and drilled holes in the right places. The reclaimed window pane was to be the table plan which my best friend kindly donated (or rather retrieved from the skip outside her house!) which she had going spare as a result of her building project.
  Next in stepped the highly talented The Paper Hare to wave her magic brush lettering over this raw material and make it look beautiful. The modern stationery included: menus A6 x6 (105mm x 148mm), invitation square (105mm x 105mm) with moss between 2 sheets, place names x6 (50mm x 50mm) attached to vintage keys from a local hardware shop with ribbon, ‘ceremony’ signage (297mm x 105mm), ‘garden’ signage (297mm x 105mm), ‘choose a seat not a side’ signage (297mm x 420mm), table plan on window pane (whole window is 600mm x 1060mm, each pane is 250mm x 300mm), table number on an acrylic tube (70mm diameter x 150mm tall).

• Cake design – I was really keen to reintroduce the traditional wedding dessert of a croquembouche to play on the trend of wedding cake alternatives at the moment. Producers of these pièce montée are few and far between in the Cotswolds, but I was delighted to discover the amazing Paul from Cotswold Baking who rose to the challenge (#sorry #notsorry for the cake related pun!) of creating this masterpiece for the shoot.
  A topic close to my heart is cake (do I mention it a lot?!) and I’ve written a bit on the history of wedding cakes. So I was intrigued to learn more about this style of French wedding dessert. Meaning crunch in the mouth, a croquembouche is made of choux pastry profiteroles piled into a cone and bound with spun sugar. Our dessert was made the traditional (and harder way) of being self supporting rather than being attached to another structure. An amazing and decadent centre piece, created in the late 1700s by a French pastry chef. Traditionally, the croquembouche used to be hit by a sword and the bridesmaids would catch the falling profiteroles in a tablecloth.
  Our impressive cake cone stood aloft a plain white cake adorned giving it yet more height and a great modern twist. Several of the little choux were decorated with pearls to tie in with the jewellery worn by the bride.

• Flowers – I wanted this shoot to really highlight the modern use of florals including a circle bouquet and floral chandeliers (along with edison lighting). In doing so, it almost became an ‘anti flowers’ brief, as I wanted the emphasis to be on the foliage and greenery with just subtle hints of white or pale pink (either on the foliage or with minimal flowers). There was also moss under the menus and between the sheets of the invitation so the brush lettering popped out. Plus foliage in the acrylic tubes so guests could read their table numbers. More greenery was used to dress the window pane table plan and fragrant jasmine on the cake stand. Lark Rise Flowers really went to town with my brief of having a lush cascading table runner pouring off the ends of the tablescape. Here are the flowers that were used in the shoot:
  • Bridal hoop – made from twisted stems of salix, entwined with Jasminum polyanthum, Hedera, and Lonicera japonica aureoreticulta. Embellished with flowers of Paeonia “Alertie”, Rosa spray “Sweet Avalanche”, Ornithogalum thyrsoides, Helleborus orientalis, Phlomis
  • Boutonniere – Helleborus orientalis, Astrantia major, Jasminum polyanthum, Phlomis, Hedera, Erica
  • Landscape table runner – flowers: Campanula “Champion White”, Astilbe “Washington”, Alchemilla mollis, Dianthus barbatus “Green Trick”, Viburnum opulus “Snowball”, Rosa spray “Seagull”, Helleborus orientalis seedheads, Valeriana officinalis
    Foliages: Hosta “Francee”, Hedera, Lonicera japonica aureoreticulata, Aucuba japonica, Euonymus, Hebe
  • Window arrangement – Campanula “Champion White”, Ammi visnage, Dianthus barbatus, Phlomis, Hedera, Hosta ”Francee”, Dryopteris fern
  • Cartwheel chandelier – Hanging blooms of Allium “Mount Everest”

• Jewellery – I was delighted to work with the incredible Fiona at Designed to Sparkle. Despite my brief evolving from cherry blossom to modern Edwardian, she developed some perfect pieces to fit the theme and echoing the pearl accents of the shoot. She created the following pieces for the shoot:
  • Estrella multi-strand bracelet and necklace, made with navette set Swarovski crystal stones and pearls, in creamrose light shade. Estrella means ‘Star’, which is the real essence of the burst of sparkle in these beautiful pieces of jewellery.
  • Avanna hair vine with Swarovski pearls in creamrose light shade. ‘Avanna’ means beautiful flower, which is so perfect for these clusters of tiny blooms along the length of the hair vine.
  • Classic Fresh water pearl earrings on sterling silver posts.

Suppliers
I couldn’t have been happier (and luckily) with the products that all the suppliers produced and provided.

• Venue – The venue that I chose to use has an amazing walled garden (complete with green door) – an under-used aspect of a brilliant blank canvas of a local venue. Along with this, Cogges Manor Farm also has a stunning Manor House and grounds that have been used in the filming of Downtown Abbey. The Edwardian connections seemed to be adding up and I took the opportunity to combine traditional 1910s styled wedding elements with up to date modern twists. The barns are a great blank canvas – just look at the transformation!

• Hair and Makeup – I was delighted that Lauren and Laura from Blushing Brides Hair and Makeup were another supplier to approach me to be involved in a styled shoot. They brilliantly interpreted my Edwardian brief complete with smoky eyes, pinched cheek blush and barely-there pale lipstick and even ensured that the groom’s hair was slicked back.

• Dress – I saw exactly the dress I wanted for this shoot in the window of Proposals of Witney – I walk past their window nearly every day and when I saw it I instantly knew this was the one! A beautiful champagne colour, perfect styling for the theme and, most importantly, looked like it was made for our stunning model. Fabulous high neckline, flutter sleeves, exquisite low back and amazing train.

• Groom clothing – The Cotswold Tailor provided a brilliant outfit for our suave groom. The blue suit is actually their own label based on the success of another blue suit they had last year through their ultimate formal hire. They have created their own suits as they were fed up of the cheap poly blends that most hirewear companies offer. It’s a British fabric 100% wool. Cut in traditional style but more modern in shape.

• Lighting – Oakwood Events are an absolutely amazing company – friendly, reliable and highly sought after. Despite their really busy schedule, I was fortunate enough to involve their services in this shoot and show case a brand new addition to their portfolio. They’ve now added a large rustic wooden cartwheel hung with 10 squirrel filament bulbs in various shapes, with stylish bulb cages and adorned with greenery. It certainly made the statement that I wanted over the table and fit the theme and surroundings perfectly. I love the Edison style lights which added another modern/traditional element to the décor.

• Chairs, glasses & gramophone – To complete the tablescape in the Barley Barn, I called upon the services of Linda’s Vintage Hire who kindly provided their brilliant vintage mismatched chairs. They also lent their brandy glasses, decanter and gramophone to help style the garden scenes. I think the models were a bit disappointed that the glasses were only filled with apple juice though!

• Favours – Another item I was keen to use from the outset were the wooden robins crafted by those clever folks at MuffatPrague. I first spotted these at an Oxfordshire Makers’ Market at Relics in Witney and previously featured them in a wedding favour blog knowing that these cute fellows would make the perfect accompaniment for this Secret Garden shoot – in fact it wouldn’t have been complete without these guys!

• Models – And lastly, but by no means least, the shoot was brought beautifully to life by the stunning models. I advertised for ‘the boy and girl next door’ type models (think Lady Mary Crawley in Downtown Abbey and Harry Styles with his new short hair in the Dunkirk movie) and was not disappointed with the lovely Úna and Daryl. They are a real life engaged couple and this was great practice for their upcoming wedding in Ireland shortly. Hope you’ve managed to trick your family with these ‘wedding’ photos. I can’t wait to see pictures from their real wedding in due course. Thanks guys for being such great sports!

See more about our Secret Garden shoot – Inspiration: modern Edwardian Secret Garden wedding

And take a look at the fabulous suppliers that were involved in this styled shoot – Keeping it local with suppliers for the Secret Garden shoot

Plus here’s the video from the shoot too – Video: Secret Garden Wedding

#keepitlocal