Jo from the Couture Company asked; “would you be up for a day trip to Cambridgeshire maybe?”. I casually said yes without thinking too much about it. Over the past 15 years or so I have photographed Jo’s gowns many times. Sometimes the shoots were her brainchild and some shoots were mine where Jo had very generously loaned me her wonderful designs. She’s a peach.

I got sold on the hook; “I was thinking of having some large pink and white marshmallow clouds to fill the gazebo and add faux cherry blossom”. It could only be epic!

As the shoot day drew closer email exchanges with all the vendors and VV Raven were flowing back and forth and I got more insight into what I would be photographing. Tablescapes, a pergola in the sunken walled garden with pink white and black elements were discussed. I was excited about what I would be involved with!

So in the beginning of August 2019 I rolled up to the very grand and historic Tudor style Lanwades Hall which is actually located near Newmarket in Suffolk, but not too far from Cambridge. An alternative styled outdoor wedding ceremony had been created around the gazebo and all the details of a real wedding had been included including a beaming Celebrant!

There were twenty or so talented vendors in all as part of the shoot and it all came together beautifully as you can see. I adored all the upbeat pink and floral themes which really spoke to my aesthetic of nature and colour. If the weather was not kind we had the option of using the inside of the Lanwades Hall, which is also stunning  but the weather gods were being kind on the day so I was in my happy place.

It was so nice to explore the outside area and discover what had been created. A bonus treat for me were the headdresses created by Carrie Courtney, they were just so spectacular and over the top. They worked perfectly with Jo’s bridal gowns and her embroidery.

The Couture Company Jo’s collection featured stunning Japanese themed wedding gowns. Inspired by timeless designs like the willow pattern, the gowns incorporated iconic Japanese motifs such as cherry blossoms, lotus flowers, water lilies, carp, and serene temples and tea houses. Fabrics including flowing tulles, crepes, and chiffons, were accented with elegant kimono-inspired silk organza overlays, all beautifully embroidered with the enchanting Japanese designs.

There were just so many incredible details involved in the shoot styling. The flower arches, ballon art, table settings, stationery,  banquet styling and the CAKE! I could go on and on. The models Twig and Lauren McConville worked incredibly hard and there was definitely achey feet all round by the time we said our goodbyes. Please take a look at more images from the day at the bottom of this page. Here are the Instagram links of all involved from August 2019.