The Autumn Bride Collection – Mockford Photography

  And here we go again – the last seasonal collection of the 2013 done!  The team  this time  ventured to a lovely Coombe Abbey near Coventry for the shoot – and for the first time the weather didn’t really  want to play with us – though we did managed to snap a few shots outside between the showers! still – the interiors were absolutely amazing – one of the reason I had Coombe Abbe bookmarked as a potential location for the shoot – the place is utterly mesmerizing. I think I will have a separate post just to talk about them! anyway, it worked brilliantly with the theme of the shoot – Autumn of course, but also Victorian, Steampunk, and Pre-Raphaelite inspired gowns for alternative brides.

This time Paul did a very speedy job on the photos – and so we decided to get his images to go first and pave the way for the subsequent post  describing the designs, costing, materials, etc, alongside with the day o the shoot.

 For now though – let the images speak their tale of our Autumnal brides…. enjoy!

1. Mina

2. Veronica – the Steampunk Bride

cheeky bride! 🙂

3. Ceridwen

4.Constance

 and here shown with the  little helpers… 🙂

5. Guinevere

6. Elwira – the Goth bride:-)

 and , just to show them off in their full glory, some very special autumnal bridal shoes from Crystal Calla Tiara!

  The team, as always were just a delight to work with – and so credits, where credit is due –  all the provides below!

the venue: Coombe Abbey http://www.coombeabbey.com/

 Photography: Paul Mockford: http://www.shearsmockford.com/

Bespoke Bridal gowns: Prior Engagement www.priorengagement.co.uk; www.priorattire.co.uk

Styling, hair, makeup: – Sarah Dunn from http://sarahsdoowopdos.wordpress.com/

Bridal bouquets ( real flowers): Anita Smith from The Vintage Rose – http://www.vintageroseflorist.co.uk/

Bridal bouquets (crystal and silk flowers) The Haberdashery Bride http://www.thehaberdasherybride.co.uk/

Bridal shoes and accessories Tracy from http://www.crystal-calla-tiara.com/

Models: Miss Lilian Love, Adriana Renarde, Anett Novak, Izabela PItcher

 Many, many thanks to all involved –  what a team we make! 🙂

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Eclectic Wedding Extravaganza 2013

Well, it was a rather exciting day!  the very unusual wedding fair, The Eclectic Wedding Extravaganza, taking place in Fazeley Studios, in Birmingham was abuzz with people. Despite frosty weather, unusual for late March, we managed to get there on time – and so did our lovely models and the stylist, Sarah..  and here’s a short pictorial report from the day!

driving in – snowy!

 Our stand was not a stand really, but a nice boudoir – very cosy and conveniently placed just off the cafe!

 once the place was ready, and the dresses on the mannequins, it was time to get dressed!

stall ready, time to get respectable!

Getting our lovely models ready

lacing Anette into the swan gown…

 and then at last we were ready…

just missing the Swan…

as she was heaving her hair done…

 and Lucas performing the last corrections…

 The highlight of the day was the fashion show – there were a few companies taking part, all sporting lovely attire!

there were some lovely vintage gowns around!

and the Prior Engagement team in action

Sophie in Frost

Jessica in Grace

Beth in Arwen – behind her Anette in Swan and me in Mango

after the show we had an imprompty photoshoot with Jay Mountford – soo looking forward to the photos!

 Then back to the stall – fortunatelly our little boudoir was perfect for lounging….

 Sarah, work done, went on to a mini shopping spree…

 and considering the goodies on offer, we think she showed  considerable restrain!

great button bouquets

 

drinkies!

 

amazing shoes!

 

and cakes….

 then it was time to pack up, and head back home- tinly little bit fatigued…..

dozing on and off, but always alert to the sound of camera snapping away…

 

 Now back home, enjoying a good cuppa of brown joy!

 

 

 Many thanks to all the guys in the team,  some of them travelling across the country to be there – greatly appreciated! xxx

 

 

 Also, check out the results of the impromptu photoshoot with Jay – some amazing pictures!

The Winter Bride Collection

 A brief glimpse at the newest collection of the sample bridal dresses from Prior Engagement  – all handmade examples of what can be done with a few basic tools and a pile of silks…. Prior Engagement is a sister branch of my main company, Prior Attire, and specialises in unique historical, Steampunk, unusual and definately unorthodox wedding dresses – all bespoke made, one-of-a-kind designs. 

 The winter bride desings have been bubbling inside me for the last few months, so it was a joy to actually start working on them. Although  I love creating historically correct garments, the research that goes into them and the period accurate techniques,  the bridal and the steampunk side of the business let me use my own imagination more and indulge in the design process as well. The results – below:-)

 We have booked the venue, Woodland Manor Hotel about 4 weeks in advance, hoping for some snow on a day, but knowing that even if there is no wintery magic outside, the interiors will provide us with lots of interesting background.

 Fortunatelly, a week before the shoot it snowed and on the day of the event we had snow – and quite a lot of ice….

 Our team:

 Paul Mockford  from  Shears Mockford Photography , with whom we worked before on a 18th century bridal shoot at Harrowden Hall. Jason was on hand to help him out with the lights, as was my husband, Lucas ( who was also snapping away…).

 Our stylist, Sarah Dunn from Sarah’s Doo-Wop-Dos

 Tina Haden from The Haberdashery Bride was providing lovely bouquerts, tiaras and combs.

 Kat Allen from  Rose Tinted VIntage in bedford provided some lovely  jewellery  and Lizzie pauling from  Lil MIschief furnished us with some furry accessories – hats, fascinators, stoles and capes.

 Our models were: Gem Bow Tyke, Sophie Mathews and me!

  and the gowns:

1.  The Swan

 

Swan from the back…

corset in silk satin duchesse, hand-applied rhinestones, skirt in silk and feathers… lots of feathers…. we shot a mellow bridal version and then a more dramatic look:-)

 

 

 

 the Ice Queen look:

Narnia is mine!!!

 

2. Grace

 

 Corset and skirts in shimmering blue silk duponi, handapplied silver lace decoration and beading.

 

the skirts could be pinned up with tiny snowflakes for a more contemporary look!

 

3. The Frost

 

 

 

A fun gown in silk taffeta, decorated with lace, beaing, rhinestones, brooches – lots of sparkle!

 

4. The Aurora Borealis

 

 

 A more traditional gown in silk satin and taffeta, with lots of sparkly decoration…

 

5. The Russian coat

 

A coat to keep the bride warm on her way  – in cotton velvet, lined with silk, trimmed with faux fur – and decorated with thousands of blingy bits!

 

  And  that’s that’s winter sample collection – something to help our future brides decide on the style, fabrics and decoration:_)

 Many thanks to all involved – and looking forward to shooting our Spring Bride Collection in April!