Fifties Wedding

Thank you to Carla Thomas, Sarah of Aranya Photography and Postscript Events for these bridal inspiration images that set out to show you a sophisticated and glamorous take on the 1950s style. This shoot takes its cues from the old school Hollywood movies, with fabulous up-dos created by Yulia at The Hepburn Collection and feline liner flicks and classic red lips courtesy of Miss Honey Bare at Heyday Honey.

The backdrop for this shoot is The Hempel Hotel, a truly boutique hotel in the heart of Bayswater created by renowned designer Anouska Hempel. For brides who are keen to have exclusivity and outdoor space (both so hard to find in central London), The Hempel is perfect with its Zen Gardens (ideal for cocktails and as a backdrop for photographs) and the completely private ‘No.17′ (situated opposite the main hotel building) offering exclusive ceremony and reception space with private terrace overlooking the garden.

I love the monochrome tones of these images, with the flash of red – perfect for a Valentines’ Day wedding! The bride’s beautiful bouquet in cream and red and the groom’s red rose buttonhole were made by Mary Jane Vaughan.

The story begins with the bride preparing in her suite. The delicate silk lingerie is by Gilda & Pearl, who lovingly design, make and hand finish every item in their luxurious collection in the UK. Because items are handmade to order, customised options are all yours and you can select alternative fabrics, details or even have your wedding lingerie made to measure. If you have a particular style in mind, you can even commission a truly unique bespoke piece just for you!

This image really showcases the intricate detail of the hairstyle.

On my (very long and ever-growing) shopping list is a pair of these ‘Marilyn’ shoes by Rachel Simpson in bright pillarbox red – here they are in bridal ivory, shown with a headpiece by Flo & Percy and jewellery by Glitzy Secrets. Glitzy Secrets are a great option for brides with a budget in mind, offering a huge selection of vintage styled hair combs and jewellery at really reasonable prices.

The ‘Gloria’ cake with hand-piped and hand painted pearls and pearl separators is a super popular design by Charlotte at Restoration Cake. Having had the privilege of sampling Charlotte’s delicious cupcakes I can definitely vouch that she is as talented at baking as at decorating – and I am a firm believer that your cake should taste as good as it looks.

The formal Zen Gardens at The Hempel are set around three symmetrical ponds and would make a lovely setting for reception drinks on a spring or summer day. Here, the groom is dressed by Hugh Harris and the bride is wearing a special edition of the ‘Summerville’ dress in dot Swiss cotton by Dolly Couture (available in the UK from Look Darling).

This hair comb is by Connie and Dolly. Poppy at Connie and Dolly makes hair accessories using original vintage pieces of jewellery (such as the original 1950s rhinestone brooch shown fashioned into a comb below). If you find a fabulous vintage brooch or necklace that you would like to have re-worked into a hair comb or headpiece, Poppy can even do that for you!

I love this ‘Eternal Rose‘ side tiara by Glitzy Secrets. A simple and classic gown can be accessorised with more statement pieces to fantastic effect.

Brides on a budget who are looking for a tea length gown should look up Kitty & Dulcie, who offer a range of purse-friendly styles including this ‘Bobbi Dazzler’ one shouldered organza gown with flower detail and detachable brooch. The shoes shown here are ‘Mimi’ by Rachel Simpson and the headpiece is by Flo & Percy – the brooch on this headpiece is an exact match for the one that decorates the Bobbi Dazzler gown.

Here are some more styles from Kitty & Dulcie – all of the gowns shown here retail for under £300!

One final shot for you – with another tiara by Glitzy Secrets and a bubble veil by Richard Designs.

That’s all from me for now – hope you’ve all had a romantic Valentine’s day (any engagement stories???) I will be back later in the week with some original vintage dress resources for you, and a couple of fab new suppliers on the scene that I know you will enjoy finding out more about.

xxx

All images by Carla Thomas and Aranya Photography
Styling by Postscript Events

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