Who would have thought that a throw-away comment to the lovely Heather Cole, Senior Designer at Evelyn Cole Flowers would have resulted in a fabulous team being brought together for an amazing bridal shoot just a few weeks later?

Having decided to work together to showcase the talents of a number of wedding suppliers and related businesses, mostly from the Surrey/Hampshire area, we decided to focus on a theme inspired by the forthcoming Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.  The shoot was split into two very distinct elements – a fresh, funky Cool Britannia look; and a softer, more romantic English Rose look – and who better to capture that than photographer, Naomi Kenton who has been kind enough to provide us with a sneak preview at the very end of this post.  Until then, I’m afraid you’ve got my dodgy camera-phone photos!

So to the venue: we’re very lucky to have a beautiful Castle right on our doorstep -Farnham Castle – which has a wealth of history and intrigue surrounding its 900 year history.  Today this stunning Castle is one of the most important historical buildings in the south of England, and creates a picturesque backdrop to compliment the style and splendour of wedding celebrations.

The scene was set, the team was assembled, and some great wedding suppliers from all over Surrey and Hampshire met on a brisk Tuesday morning - all keeping a nervous eye towards the heavens as the weather forecast had predicted heavy rain from early afternoon!  Not quite what we had wanted after the unexpected heatwave the week before!

Elizabeth and Madeline still smiling despite the rain!

Despite the on/off rain, the entire team worked hard throughout the day to create some really amazing images and were an absolute pleasure to work with.  We can’t wait to see the images of the models with British Bulldogs ‘Alfie’ and ‘Lou’ as well as ‘Jamie’ the horse – you’ll need to wait until the official images are released to see them though!

If you’re planning a Cool Britannia theme wedding or looking for inspiration for a more traditional affair, then don’t miss them – we’ll be showcasing the work of some really amazing suppliers!  Keep an eye on the blog for more details of when they’ll be released; and of course Facebook and Twitter, as we’ll be sharing the official shoot images very soon.

Don’t forget to tab down after the list of credits below to see a couple of sneak peeks from the shoot!  Huge thanks to the following people who made the shoot possible; and whose hard work was much appreciated!

Madeline Isaac-James dresses and styling by Natalie Gladman and the wonderful team at No.10 Bridal in Farnham – Paula, Gwyneth and James;

Floral designs and displays by Heather Cole at Evelyn Cole Flowers;

Photography by Naomi Kenton;

Venue: Farnham Castle, Castle Street, Farnham, Surrey.

Millinery by Beverley Edmondson;

Jewellery by Paula Marsh of The Vintage Sparkle Company;

Make-up by Joyce Connor of BridesandBeauty

Hair by Elise;

Wedding cake by Emma Waddington of Gifted Heart Cakes;

Pop cakes by Vanessa Albury of Party Pop Bakery;

Venue Styling/Accessories by Stree Free Hire; The Contemporary Home; Paper Poms; Pipii;

Stationery by Glasshouse Stationery;

Car by Barons Farnborough Mini;

Models: Elizabeth Pick; Juste Juozapaityte; Madeline Gladman.

British Bulldogs – Alfie and Lou; Horse – Jamie.  Thanks to their owners, Natalie at Madeline Isaac-James and Clare Goodwin-Hill.  You’ll need to see the ‘official’ images to see how gorgeous Alfie, Lou and Jamie are…

No animals or children were harmed during this shoot.  The sweets, cakes and cakepops were, however, quickly demolished afterwards.  Yum.

Now for a little preview of some of the ’official’ images from the shoot… Keep checking back to see details of where/when the full shoot in all its glory will be published!