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October 6, 2019

An English Country Wedding

David Austin Wedding Roses

I have worked as a freelance photographer and stylist with David Austin wedding roses for a while now, but back in September they asked me to be involved in an exciting new project with SMN Film. The brief was to style an english country wedding for a promotional film for customers, clients and suppliers. The story was a simple one. The bride getting ready in her family home, walking with her father to the church, the wedding followed by a reception in the garden surrounded by close friends and family. Then as the party ends, driving away with the groom in his vintage car. All sounds rather idyllic doesn’t it! We just needed the sun to shine.

We had a dream location, a beautiful english garden in Shropshire complete with borders full of roses and a village church right next door. Our gorgeous bride was Anastazja Rendak who played the part with such beauty and elegance. I just adore this silk dress with lace from Staffordshire designer Sarah Willard. Timeless, dreamy and romantic it was the most perfect dress for the garden party setting.

The doorway was flooded with soft light in the early afternoon and Jo K from David Austin created a classic bouquet full of the new Ella roses, creme brûlée flox, trailing jasmine and pink snowberries. It was finished off with fluttering hand dyed ribbon from The Natural Dye Works

We had the prettiest wedding shoes loaned to us by Rachel Simpson and I just loved the vintage vibe and soft array of colours in her collection. These Keira roses are one of my favourite varieties.

Lizzie Griffiths our hair and make up artist created such a romantic look, with a loose textured up-style finished off with a single Ella rose.

Our rustic table was adorned by a rose garland designed to match the door wreath.

The table was going to look so pretty all lit up with tapered candles in the eclectic mismatched brass candlesticks. I loved the festoon lights which just looked so magical at dusk.

I made an urn arrangement with gathered foliage from the garden, The Real flower Co, The Shropshire flower Company and All Occasions Wholesale. The urn was moved around several times from church to the reception for filming purposes. It was really interesting to see the difference between what works well with film and movement compared to photography stills.

I loved the combination of Keira, Beatrice and Edith roses in the door wreath created by Jo K.

The vista through the garden arch to the party table was so inviting.

The day of set up was quite a challenge with drizzle and winds to contend with. On day one Jo K and I decided we’d just put up the foliage and added the extra stems and roses the following day. We designed an arch that celebrated September. Late summer blending with Autumn. The arch was peppered with blackberries, apples and pears that were just ripening in the garden.

I loved the addition of a strand of virginia creeper in there, a hint of Autumn just around the corner

Early September is a beautiful time for soft light and the late afternoon produced a golden glow which we all got rather excited about. The struggles of putting up the arch in drizzle soon forgotten!

This is the church arch which I only managed to capture quickly with my iPhone. We were really up against it time wise as filming was starting in the church whilst we still had the garden arch to complete. I was really happy how this came out on film.

My friend Judy Broad designed the name tags, menus and place names. Her calligraphy is exquisite. Several years a go I went to one of her workshops, but can only aspire to write as beautifully as she does.

How adorable do these two look together. Dale Edwards played the part of the groom perfectly and we have Peter Posh to thank for the loan of tweed suits for him and the very convincing Father of the Bride Ian France

All good parties have to come to an end, but what a spectacular decoration to adorn this vintage Porsche by Jo K (and yes, we had one very careful owner anxiously looking on)

So full of admiration for everyone who pulled together on set to create such an amazing few days. Thanks so much for asking me to be part of it all David Austin. You can view the film here or at David Austin Roses

 

Janne x

Floral Styling and photography

  1. Gill says:

    What wonderful images, it all looks totally dreamy Janne! (and sounds like the conditions were anything but).
    The floral arrangements and styling are so beautiful and I love that vintage Porsche and the shoes 😍 (I had Rachel Simpson shoes for my Wedding!) Gill x

    • Janne Ford says:

      Thanks so much Gill. Those shoes are just beautiful and I’m not surprised you had a pair. You’ve got such a lovely style xx

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