1970's style is big right now. From maxi dresses on the high street, macrame wall hangings in our homes, Broderie Anglaise detailing on wedding dresses, and flower crowns decorating wedding day hair.
But, what if your 70's crush is less boho and more Bianca Jagger? Less Pampas Grass and more smoked Champagne glass? Then get ready to soak up some super fly, uber chic, Solange Knowles-esque wedding day styling!
Inspiration
Bianca and Mick, Donna Summer, Diane Von Furstenberg. Super sleek disco chic. And a simple, elegantly cut, Charlie Brear bridal jumpsuit.
With the trend for bridal jumpsuits going from strength to strength for modern, style-conscious brides, photographer Catherine Kerr and I were keen to co-ordinate a city centre photoshoot that placed the jumpsuit and the kind of sassy bride that chooses to wear one, centre stage and under glittering the light of the disco ball.
Both being 70’s babes ourselves, Catherine and I wanted to celebrate the fun, carefree 70’s New York disco vibe that we adored by creating inspirational images that show how you can capture that style for yourself with all of the sleek and none of the kitsch.
Keeping that in mind as we planned our shoot, we embraced the inclusion of elements such a mirror balls, and Monstera leaves, whilst working alongside wedding planner and shoot stylist Emily K Weddings to keep the rest of the styling parred back. Together we focused on the simplicity of a palette of white, green and gold, and are steered our final look firmly towards the sleek side of 70's chic.
Our stand out favourite elements from the shoot were the smoked glass cocktail glasses, the oh-so-70’s profiterole tower, the inspired inclusion of artichokes in the bouquet and of course, our smoking hot bride and groom.
Team
It all started with a social media convo between me and one of my fave wedding photographers, Catherine Kerr of Boho Chic Weddings. We shared a love of the bridal jumpsuit, Solange Knowles wedding day style ('what would Solange do?' became our planning mantra) and the sleeker side of 70's styling. We both recognised the growing trend for modern brides to wear an elegant jumpsuit for their big day and wanted to style an event that makes it easy for brides opting for this look to see and be inspired by elements that compliment and support this look.
The jumpsuit was central to the styling, and it had to be Charlie Brear. Charlie Brear's Carson jumpsuit was the first outfit that Catherine and I shared as our dream piece, and luckily for us Millie at The White Closet bridal boutique had the exact piece available, which she brought to our day along with a sexy pair of sparkly Jimmy Choos and some of the sharpest bridal outfit fitting skills in the biz!
There are a number of bridal collections out there featuring jumpsuits right now, so if you want yourself a slice of this achingly cool bridal style head to Charlie Brear, BHLDN, Jenny Packham or Viktor & Rolph.
The venue needed to be a city venue to suit our New York city - Studio 54 vibe. It also needed strong urban credentials, good light and enough clean, open space to allow our on the day stylist Emily K Weddings to spread her creative wings and fly! Step up then The Castlefield Rooms in the heart of Manchester's canal basin, and the fabulously accommodating team there.
Emily of Emily K Weddings has been on my radar as a wedding planner and stylist, for a number of years. Emily's work is unfailingly eye catching, so when Catherine suggested we approach her to ask if she'd be available to take our ideas and run with them, I'd started to say yes before she'd even finished asking me.
Emily took our ideas, expertly nailing them in a single moodboard which was then used to inspire our other fab collaborators at Extra Special Touch and Papercutt Designs.
I'd worked with Jen Eachus on a previous photo shoot and knew that she'd totally get the 70's disco scene hair and make up look that Catherine and I wanted to create. I think you'll agree, she painted our model Carole Kikeba's face to perfection!
Did we hound super talented cutting edge florist Sam Williams into working with us on this shoot? I think we did! But I'm so glad we did! We just knew that she was one of the only florists that could deliver on the parred back 'no flowers' floral arrangements, and did she ever...
And as if we could deliver a Studio 54 chic disco themed wedding without a bit of neon lighting... Thank gee our girl Stacey at Love Lights the Way is at the forefront of the wedding neon trend right now and was happy to help us bring the party to our day.
Oh, and if anyone tells you that you don't need a videographer at your wedding, they're wrong! Just when I thought I couldn't love this shoot anymore, Bruce from Love Two Film sent me this...(hang on to your hats as this cool couple turn up the swagger)
SHOP THE LOOK
Suppliers:
Concept & Planning - Heidi at www.gloriousbyheidi.com & Catherine Kerr www.bohochicweddings.com
Venue - Helen Foster at www.thecastlefieldrooms.com
Photography - Catherine at www.bohochicweddings.co.uk
Hair Accessory Designer - Heidi at www.gloriousbyheidi.com
Florist - Samantha at www.samwilliamsflowers.co.uk
Styling - Emily at www.emilykweddings.com
Celebrant - Sarah Jayne at www.celebrantsj.co.uk
Model Bride - Carole Kikeba instagram.com@simplybycarole
Model Groom - Nathan Mackenzie instagram.com@nathan_cryo
Stationery by Samantha Cutting instagram.com@papercutt.design
Film @lovetwofilmBruce at www.lovetwofilm.co.uk
Hair & Make-up - Jen at www.jeneachus.com
Wedding Cake, Biscuits & Profiteroles - Rachel Hanna at www.macakecompany.co.uk
Neon Light - Stacey at www.lovelightstheway.co.uk
Charlie Brear ‘Pallas’ wedding dress - Charlie Brear www.charliebrear.com
Charlie Brear bridal jumpsuit, bridal fittings and Jimmy Choos - Millie at www.thewhitecloset.co.uk
Unique Bespoke Embroidered Napkins and Handkerchief- Heidi at www.extraspecialtouch.co.uk
Luxury Gold Candles - Claire at www.savonclaire.co.uk Shoot Assistant - Jessica at instagram.com@riverwillow_hair
2nd Photographer & Retoucher - Tony at www.tonymayimages.com Contemporary Wedding Bands - Deborah at www.london-victorian-ring.com
Groom’s Velvet Outfit www.riverisland.com
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