love shoot #53: a secret garden {part 1}

Morning pretties!

Before I even start with today’s post I have to tell you I have re-written this piece 100 times!  I’m nervous & excited all at the same time, as today I’m finally able to share the beautiful images from an inspiration shoot I styled a few weeks ago.  This is the first time I’m showcasing my own work on Bijoux Bride, so I really, really hope you all like it!

The concept for the shoot was ‘A Secret Garden’, inspired by our venue The Medicine Garden in Cobham, which is an absolute hidden treasure!  Friend and talented photographer Liesl Cheney and I were chatting over coffee in their garden one sunny afternoon when the idea for this shoot was born.

The Medicine Garden is a Victorian walled garden in Cobham, lovingly restored and now filled with wildflower gardens and rustic touches, it’s a tranquil and intimate space.  I set about recreating this feeling with a relaxed, rustic scheme with elements of lavender and lace to add a pretty, romantic touch, and created the rustic lavender inspiration board I shared with you last week.   Over a couple of months we enlisted an amazing team of talented wedding suppliers to make our vision come to life.

So, here’s Part One!!

To create the rustic backdrop, I enlisted the help of mother & daughter team Gemma & Karen from The Wedding of My Dreams, who provided the rustic fruit crates, vintage letters and wonderful props.  For the flowers, I wanted it to feel as though they had been picked from the garden itself, so combined wildflowers and English country garden blooms from Gardenia of London, combining hydrangea, stocks and roses into an eclectic mix of containers, jugs, bottles and mason jars, wrapped in hessian, ribbons and lace to add a homemade DIY touch.

Our pretty model bride, Caroline,  wears a pretty short dress from Luella’s Boudoir, with a full lace skirt which gives lots of movement as she wanders through the garden.  The look is finished with a simple crown of flowers in her loose wavy hair styled by Kim Roy.  Instead of a bouquet, she wears a sweet wrist corsage, a perfect alternative for an informal intimate wedding.  Her makeup by Sareta Gabriel is soft and natural, just enough to enhance her beauty, complimenting the soft pink and blush tones of the flowers in her hair.

The old brick walls, and quirky details provided the perfect setting for our ‘Secret Garden’ theme.

Later on in the day, our second model bride, Claire arrived to show a different look.  But you’ll have to wait and see what we did in Part Two, coming up tomorrow!

{our wonderful suppliers}

Photographer ~ Liesl Cheney

Stylist ~ Louise at Bijoux Bride

Dresses ~ Luella’s Boudoir

Jewellery & Hair Accessories ~ Charlotte Giles

Makeup ~ Sareta Gabriel

Hair Stylist ~ Kim Roy

Flowers ~ Gardenia of London

Props & Decor ~ The Wedding of My Dreams

Stationery ~ Bonnie Blackbird

Venue ~ The Medicine Garden