My recent Gothic Forest Wedding shoot in Bedfordshire actually stemmed from a happy mistake, a surge of stepping into my own dark side and wanting to create something jaw-dropping with a small budget. Let me walk you through it.
My fabric supplier had erroneously sent me crushed taffeta in a rich royal blue instead of the petrol blue I had ordered. Sadly, I was unable to exchange it as I hadn’t opened the parcel until a few months too late! My original design wouldn’t work with this new shade, but rather than discard the idea, I let this regal tone talk to me. She said “I am opulence, I am power, I am drama, you may still make a bubble skirt of me, but I want more…”. And so things took a different turn. As I experimented with tambour embroidery and beadwork and created many many 3D taffeta petals, the colour scheme became more clear in my mind. From this creative process, Belladonna was born. She was to have a vibrant gothic vibe, but required the right suppliers and venue to do her full justice.
Finding Suppliers, a Venue, and a Vision.
At that time, a lot of suppliers were focused on traditional wedding styles as that’s where they made their living- which is absolutely fair enough! It did, however, make finding collaborators for something alternative a challenge. I decided to put my moodboards on the Wedding Business Club and picked up 2 planners: Acorn & Oak and Be My Guest, who were new to the industry and giddy with excitement about trying something alternative. I assembled the rest of my team through previous connections and a wedding styled shoot group.
Our biggest hurdle was finding the right venue within our budget, but at this point, nothing was going to deter us. I am a huge fan of contradictory juxtapositions and decided we’d set up this glorious, vibrant wedding scene in the Autumn woods. The prevailing dichotomy here was going to be “opulence vs savagery”. I aimed for an aristocratic vampire/pagan/Blair Witch aesthetic amidst the rough beauty of the Bedfordshire forest—bold colors and a garish scene set against a backdrop of brown, fallen leaves.
A Forest Wedding Venue
There are an increasing number of forest venues like Endeavour Woodland Weddings, for a celebrant or humanist-led wedding. Bettina from Endeavour Woodland Weddings clarifies this point; “In essence, if an Accredited Humanist Celebrant officiates a wedding in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Channel Islands, it’s 100% legal. However, in England and Wales, it is not legal, and a small “statutory ceremony” needs to take place in a registry office. All couples, however, view their woodland wedding date as the one to celebrate as their anniversary date.”
We collaborated for weeks online, sharing our contributions to ensure cohesion. I also like to do this with my bespoke brides. I get in touch and coordinate with their florist, planner and photographer to make sure that the dress I design compliments the overall vision. This is important, because a confusion of the overall look will result in a mediocre wedding. I am going for legendary.
Bold Wedding Style!
On the day of the shoot, I helped get the model dressed and ready. Working with Kiran Raval was fantastic as he specialises in Indian wedding make up- perfect for what I wanted, someone who was bold with colour! Tiel from Big Hair Energy created the dramatic, unapologetic bouffant updo that I craved. The look was beautifully completed with mystical handmade accessories from The Lucky Sixpence and gothic lace-up boots by House of Elliot. As if my gothic queen needed any extra sensuality, Catherine from Silk Garters supplied a handmade navy blue garter.
Forest sorcery
Meanwhile, in the forest, planners Danielle and Anika, quite literally brought my mood boards to life. They plucked my vision right out of my head and turned it into something tangible. The pair furnished and arranged, it was miraculous. I also couldn’t help but marvel at how planners have garages full of the most perfect props!
My local Pub, The Duke’s Head, kindly lent us their most interesting table, which was then adorned with luxurious gold, purple, and deep jewel tones.
It became highly evident to me there and then – if you struggle knowing which colours to put together, your florist will magically bring you solutions with ease. Helen’s floral displays, head crown and bouquets were exquisite and sophisticated – they brought the perfect balance of texture, hero colours, foliage and accent fuchsia! Her work really united all the other elements.
Beautifully scripted stationery and signage from Copper Inkpot added further charisma, while a purple cake with diagonal decoration perfectly echoed the royal blue gown.
What more could we need to make this memorable? Oh yes – a retired race horse! Flame looked very dapper in his flower crown and was very amenable, considering this was out of the ordinary. Nothing quite says rich and royal like a grand racehorse stood guard.
Tips for Recreating This Vibe:
- Ensure your forest location is licensed for weddings and events. You can’t just set up anywhere!
- Consider accessibility, parking, nearby accommodation, wet weather plans, and restroom facilities.
- Embrace stark contrasts: regal colors amidst wild, vibrant hues against somber backdrops.
- Opt for a dramatic venue with architectural details, such as Ashridge Hall or Fanhams.
- Play with different textures: lace, wood, silk, faux fur, and metal.
- Share mood boards with all suppliers during the planning stage to ensure a cohesive look.
The Results
What did we get out of it? As a groups of wedding suppliers, we stepped out boldly against the norm to bring you a fresh take on wedding style. This not only strengthened our confidence, but also expanded on our portfolios and inspired many wedding planning couples. What that means for you, is that you needs not be too shy to ask us for anything unusual, because we’re here telling you clearly that we’re available for the alternative celebration!
These photos reached far and wide, thanks to the fantastic folk at Unconventional Wedding featuring them on their blog.
I’m thrilled to report that Belladonna was a big hit at the recent Gothic Luxe Wedding Fair, and I’m so grateful for that initial fabric mix-up!
If you’re interested in acquiring Belladonna or a version tailored to your taste, please reach out—I’d love to help!
Tips for Recreating This Vibe:
- Ensure your forest location is licensed for weddings and events. You can’t just set up anywhere!
- Consider accessibility, parking, nearby accommodation, wet weather plans, and restroom facilities.
- Embrace stark contrasts: regal colors amidst wild, vibrant hues against somber backdrops.
- Opt for a dramatic venue with architectural details, such as Ashridge Hall or Fanhams.
- Play with different textures: lace, wood, silk, faux fur, and metal.
- Share mood boards with all suppliers during the planning stage to ensure a cohesive look.
Alternative Wedding Supplier Team
Photographer: Pilkington Photography
Concept and Gothic couture wedding dress: Caroline Versallion Bridal Couture
Florals: Bits and Buds
Accessories: The Lucky Sixpence
Styling and Prop hire: Acorn & Oak and Be My Guest
Stationery: The Copper Ink Pot
Hair: Big Energy Hair
Make-Up – Kiran Rival
Garter – Silk Garters
Boots –House of Elliot Collection
My recent Gothic Forest Wedding shoot in Bedfordshire actually stemmed from a happy mistake, a surge of stepping into my own dark side and wanting to create something jaw-dropping with a small budget. Let me walk you through it.
My fabric supplier had erroneously sent me crushed taffeta in a rich royal blue instead of the petrol blue I had ordered. Sadly, I was unable to exchange it as I hadn’t opened the parcel until a few months too late! My original design wouldn’t work with this new shade, but rather than discard the idea, I let this regal tone talk to me. She said “I am opulence, I am power, I am drama, you may still make a bubble skirt of me, but I want more…”. And so things took a different turn. As I experimented with tambour embroidery and beadwork and created many many 3D taffeta petals, the colour scheme became more clear in my mind. From this creative process, Belladonna was born. She was to have a vibrant gothic vibe, but required the right suppliers and venue to do her full justice.
Finding Suppliers, a Venue, and a Vision.
At that time, a lot of suppliers were focused on traditional wedding styles as that’s where they made their living- which is absolutely fair enough! It did, however, make finding collaborators for something alternative a challenge. I decided to put my moodboards on the Wedding Business Club and picked up 2 planners: Acorn & Oak and Be My Guest, who were new to the industry and giddy with excitement about trying something alternative. I assembled the rest of my team through previous connections and a wedding styled shoot group.
Our biggest hurdle was finding the right venue within our budget, but at this point, nothing was going to deter us. I am a huge fan of contradictory juxtapositions and decided we’d set up this glorious, vibrant wedding scene in the Autumn woods. The prevailing dichotomy here was going to be “opulence vs savagery”. I aimed for an aristocratic vampire/pagan/Blair Witch aesthetic amidst the rough beauty of the Bedfordshire forest—bold colors and a garish scene set against a backdrop of brown, fallen leaves.
A Forest Wedding Venue
There are an increasing number of forest venues like Endeavour Woodland Weddings, for a celebrant or humanist-led wedding. Bettina from Endeavour Woodland Weddings clarifies this point; “In essence, if an Accredited Humanist Celebrant officiates a wedding in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Channel Islands, it’s 100% legal. However, in England and Wales, it is not legal, and a small “statutory ceremony” needs to take place in a registry office. All couples, however, view their woodland wedding date as the one to celebrate as their anniversary date.”
We collaborated for weeks online, sharing our contributions to ensure cohesion. I also like to do this with my bespoke brides. I get in touch and coordinate with their florist, planner and photographer to make sure that the dress I design compliments the overall vision. This is important, because a confusion of the overall look will result in a mediocre wedding. I am going for legendary.
There are an increasing number of forest venues like Endeavour Woodland Weddings, for a celebrant or humanist-led wedding. Bettina from Endeavour Woodland Weddings clarifies; “In essence, if an Accredited Humanist Celebrant officiates a wedding in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Channel Islands, it’s 100% legal. However, in England and Wales, it is not legal, and a small “statutory ceremony” needs to take place in a registry office. All couples, however, view their woodland wedding date as the one to celebrate as their anniversary date.”
We collaborated for weeks online, sharing our contributions to ensure cohesion. I also like to do this with my bespoke brides. I get in touch and coordinate with their florist, planner and photographer to make sure that the dress I design compliments the overall vision. This is important, because a confusion of the overall look will result in a mediocre wedding. I am going for legendary.
Bold Wedding Style!
On the day of the shoot, I helped get the model dressed and ready. Working with Kiran Raval was fantastic as he specialises in Indian wedding make up- perfect for what I wanted, someone who was bold with colour! Tiel from Big Hair Energy created the dramatic, unapologetic bouffant updo that I craved. The look was beautifully completed with mystical handmade accessories from The Lucky Sixpence and gothic lace-up boots by House of Elliot. As if my gothic queen needed any extra sensuality, Catherine from Silk Garters supplied a handmade navy blue garter.
Forest sorcery
Meanwhile, in the forest, planners Danielle and Anika, quite literally brought my mood boards to life. They plucked my vision right out of my head and turned it into something tangible. The pair furnished and arranged, it was miraculous. I also couldn’t help but marvel at how planners have garages full of the most perfect props!
My local Pub, The Duke’s Head, kindly lent us their most interesting table, which was then adorned with luxurious gold, purple, and deep jewel tones.
It became highly evident to me there and then – if you struggle knowing which colours to put together, your florist will magically bring you solutions with ease. Helen’s floral displays, head crown and bouquets were exquisite and sophisticated – they brought the perfect balance of texture, hero colours, foliage and accent fuchsia! Her work really united all the other elements.
Beautifully scripted stationery and signage from Copper Inkpot added further charisma, while a purple cake with diagonal decoration perfectly echoed the royal blue gown.
What more could we need to make this memorable? Oh yes – a retired race horse! Flame looked very dapper in his flower crown and was very amenable, considering this was out of the ordinary. Nothing quite says rich and royal like a grand racehorse stood guard.
Tips for Recreating This Vibe:
- Ensure your forest location is licensed for weddings and events. You can’t just set up anywhere!
- Consider accessibility, parking, nearby accommodation, wet weather plans, and restroom facilities.
- Embrace stark contrasts: regal colors amidst wild, vibrant hues against somber backdrops.
- Opt for a dramatic venue with architectural details, such as Ashridge Hall or Fanhams.
- Play with different textures: lace, wood, silk, faux fur, and metal.
- Share mood boards with all suppliers during the planning stage to ensure a cohesive look.
The Results
What did we get out of it? As a groups of wedding suppliers, we stepped out boldly against the norm to bring you a fresh take on wedding style. This not only strengthened our confidence, but also expanded on our portfolios and inspired many wedding planning couples. What that means for you, is that you needs not be too shy to ask us for anything unusual, because we’re here telling you clearly that we’re available for the alternative celebration!
These photos reached far and wide, thanks to the fantastic folk at Unconventional Wedding featuring them on their blog.
I’m thrilled to report that Belladonna was a big hit at the recent Gothic Luxe Wedding Fair, and I’m so grateful for that initial fabric mix-up!
If you’re interested in acquiring Belladonna or a version tailored to your taste, please reach out—I’d love to help!
Alternative Wedding Supplier Team
Photographer: Pilkington Photography
Concept and Gothic couture wedding dress: Caroline Versallion
Florals: Bits and Buds
Accessories: The Lucky Sixpence
Styling and Prop hire: Acorn & Oak and Be My Guest
Stationery: The Copper Ink Pot
Hair: Big Energy Hair
Make-Up – Kiran Rival
Garter – https://www.silkgarters.co.uk/
Boots –https://www.houseofelliotcollection.com/