Love is a temporary madness….
Are you superstitious? You might want to look away now. Today’s styled shoot is a crazy cacophony of metallics and mirrors, paper, calligraphy, design and destruction. It’s all about breaking the rules, breaking free and challenging expectations.
Weddings are full of rules and etiquette. From formal invitations to receiving lines, the legal limitations and family expectations, it can all get a bit much. Silver sixpence in your shoe? Why… in case you need to catch a bus?! Break a few rules, I dare you.
“Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being “in love” which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossoms had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two.”
Louis de Bernières via Wikiquote
With a starring cast:
- Jamie at Vickerstaff Photography
- Julia Tasker Bridal Couture
- Ritva Westenius
- Brackens of Bowness
- Caroline’s Cake Company
- Beautifully Vintage China Hire
- Vintage Twee
- Calligraphy for Weddings
- Broadoaks Country House
- Aqua Hair and Beauty
- Definitions Mobile Beauty
- Pumpkin and Pye
We brought together a dazzling collection of vintage metallics: silver teapots and ornate mirrors and picture frames, crystals and brooches arranged on vintage ladders. Christa from Beautifully Vintage China Hire styled an eclectic and enticing outdoor room with her unique creativity – just fabulous!
I worked on some unique calligraphy pieces for the shoot: a 12 foot paper backdrop with Louis de Bernières’ Love is a temporary madness… quote from Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (the book version) – and looked forward to slashing through it with a knife. Love is a temporary madness, and weddings, too, are a temporary celebration. Marriage lasts forever: weddings are a single day and once everyone’s gone home, the beautiful things are no longer needed.
The banner wrapped around the table is handwritten on another length of torn paper, and has the lyrics “Lying under this spell you cast on me, each moment the more I love you. Crush me, come on, it’s crazy. I’m thinking just knowing that the world is round, here I’m dancing on the ground. Am I right side up or upside down? Is it real or am I dreaming?” by Dave Matthews (a favourite song of mine).
And the mirror? Take That: “Today this could be the greatest day of our lives” (although I like Frank Turner’s cover!) The smashed mirror was something I really wanted to do: to shout back in the face of superstition, make something beautiful and broken (because nothing is perfect) and to allude to beauty being temporary: the mirror is the wedding, spent in one day, a gorgeous celebration of love. The lyrics still remain after the mirror is smashed; the love will endure forever. The greatest day because it’s pretty, or the greatest day because it’s the beginning of a marriage: the day you promise yourselves to each other? Nothing can break love.
Our bride Kelsey is stunning – we didn’t hold back and I asked Gareth (Aqua Salon) and Helen (Definitions), our star stylists to create a fabulous, crazy, outlandish bridal look. Kelsey’s smoky eyes and smouldering make up are perfect. Everyone helped in the transformation: Julia Tasker tore tulle strips for Kelsey’s hair and florist Kevin had a cascade of wonderful lilies which Gareth placed in Kelsey’s torn veil. Again, we wanted to break the rules: flower crowns are pretty but there’s so much more you can do. Veils are nice but… they’re more fun if you play with them!
The lilies are all attached to Kelsey’s hair – yet they look as though they’re dancing along beside her. Doesn’t she look incredible? The bridal gown is a stunning creation by Ritva Westenius, London’s leading wedding dress designer with an excellent reputation for producing innovative and high quality bridal couture. Ritva Westenius gowns are stocked by the fabulous Julia Tasker Bridal Couture.
The finer details:
The brooch and button bouquet is by Pumpkin & Pye. Natasha designed an amazing bouquet with mirrored pieces, silver and clear beads and buttons – the most amazing alternative wedding bouquet (see it here). The cake is by Caroline’s Cakes in Manchester – an absolute show stopper with meticulous attention to detail. Kelsey’s flower stole is by Kevin at Brackens of Bowness. Kevin’s creativity inspired much of the shoot and the flower stole was a favourite with everyone!
alternative shootAqua Hair and BeautyBeautifully VintageBrackens of BownessBroadoaks Country HouseCaroline's Cake CompanyDefinitions Mobile BeautyJulia Tasker Bridal Couturelouis de bernieresmirrorspaper and mirrorsPumpkin and PyeVickerstaff PhotographyVintage Twee
what do you think?