Guides for Brides teamed up with Ellie Sanderson to organise the ultimate winter wedding styled shoot at Rackleys Barn in Buckinghamshire. With the help of some exceptional wedding suppliers, we were able to bring you the perfect inspiration for a romantic winter wedding.
So, whether you have just said ‘Yes' or are planning the finishing touches for your upcoming winter wedding, this shoot will really get the ideas flowing.
Shoot credits
- Planning: Guides for Brides
- Gowns: Ellie Sanderson
- Wedding Venue: Rackleys Barn, Buckinghamshire
- Photography: David Bostock
- Styling and Florals: The Luxe Design Company
- Hair and Makeup: Rachel Capocci
- Cake: Lisa Adams Cakes
- Stationery: Ivory and White
- Model: Zabeena Hackett
The Concept and Interpretation
We wanted to bring you a shoot that was timeless and stylish and that reflected the warmth of a wedding in the winter months. Nordic countries are known for their soft textures, minimalist colour palettes, extensive forests of evergreens and, of course, winter wonderlands. So, 'Nordic Romance' felt like an appropriate theme for what the team wanted to achieve.
We chose a minimalist colour palette of greens, whites and silvers with elements of warmth and drama in soft plums, charcoal greys and dreamy fairy lights. The entire team of suppliers really came together to bring the theme to life.
The shoot was beautifully captured by award-winning wedding photographer, David Bostock. David has captured hundreds of weddings and knows how to get the perfect shot. We think you'll agree, his photos here are outstanding!
The Bridal Looks
We collaborated with Ellie Sanderson for this styled shoot. Ellie has a real eye for bridal fashion and has been dressing beautiful brides since 2007. Ellie's collection of gorgeous gowns and bridal looks is creative and fashion-forward. She loves the classic and timeless look but is always searching for designers that give their unique and luxurious twist to this.
Ellie provided four divine looks for the shoot.
Tissaia by Anna Kara, available in Ellie's Woodstock studio. Tissaia is a sublime crepe dress with a detailed lace sleeve with deep cuff detail and soft flare skirt. We love the plunging neckline and the sexy V back.
Isla by Anna Kara. Isla is a soft and utterly feminine dress. We love the sleeves and love that they are like angel wings. These are detachable so that you can party for the evening. It's a truly romantic look and having watched Zabeena work her magic with it, we can tell that it is so easy to float around in on your wedding day.
Gorgeous Chloe by Rish, available exclusively at Ellie's Woodstock studio. Rish is Ellie's newest label and is only available in 5 bridal shops in the UK. Chloe is so soft and romantic with a flared skirt and plunging V front and back. She has a tiny soft sparkle detail making her twinkle in sunlight and also candle light. Perfect for any bride wanting to ooze sophistication with a hint of glam.
Next, we have the beautiful Gabrielle by Suzanne Neville. Gabrielle is a rather sexy crepe dress with a split to flash your gorgeous wedding shoes. Suzanne's signature corsetry is utterly incredible and this dress is no exception with a wonderful boned bodice and soft off-the-shoulder straps. We think you'll agree, she's fabulous!
Gabrielle seen with Eva Lendel sparkly cape - available in Ellie Sanderson Woodstock. This cape is truly perfect for making an entrance and enhancing a clean crepe gown such as Gabrielle. We think it is also perfect worn for the evening to add some sparkle to your reception style.Rachel Capocci was charged with creating the hair and make-up looks. She took inspiration from the minimal palette and created a gorgeous, natural bridal look. For the hair, she created a beautiful, classic wave and added some drama in the final looks with a deep plum lip. All of the looks were expertly modelled by Zabeena Hackett.
The Venue
Rackleys Wedding Barn in the Chiltern Hills was selected as the venue for this styled shoot. The venue opened in April 2021 and has already been providing couples with exceptional weddings in their gorgeous barn with sweeping views of the Chiltern Hills.
This luxurious setting has been lovingly restored from a traditional farm. The barn is filled with natural light and feels really warm and welcoming while providing a blank canvas for you to get creative. In this shoot, we wanted to show you how you can add to an already naturally pretty and romantic setting to make it fit your perfect wedding theme.
The Details
The floristry and styling of the tablescape was created by Claire from The Luxe Design Company. Claire took inspiration from the minimalist colour palette; her aim was to create something that was stylish with a touch of rustic charm. The rattan chargers and the relaxed linen tablecloth give an informal feel with the etched chargers and tall taper candles oozed luxury.
Claire used neutral browns, whites and greens in her design, adding hints of soft plum through the candles and texture with silver-painted pine cones and rattan chargers. We particularly loved Claire's choice of glassware; the etched glass charger plates with festive glass plates were a real showstopper. Plus, the starry design on the champagne glasses and tumblers were the perfect small detail to complete the theme.
For the florals, we loved the use of avalanche roses, carnations, amaranthus, limonium and Nordmann fir & pine in the design. A special touch was added with stunning frosted tulips which added a lovely bit of texture and mimicked a light dusting of snow.
Claire created several beautiful arrangements for the shoot, including centrepieces, a bridal bouquet and beautiful feature arrangements. We asked Claire why she chose to create these and she said: “With florals I always try to encourage my clients to have statement arrangements which can be moved and reused. For instance, the flowers at the base of the table could be used to line the aisle first and then moved to the base of the wedding breakfast tables. The same applies to the statement urn of flowers on the pedestal.
Lisa from Lisa Adams Cakes took inspiration from the snowy landscape of the Nordic countries. Her three tiered cake design was lovingly crafted by hand to reflect ‘a walk in the snow'. We loved the use of minimalist colours and the variety of different textures in the white fondant. The stunning sugar flowers gave a soft touch of green and pale pink, complimenting the tablescape and florals beautifully.
The wedding stationery was created by Sophie from Ivory and White. Designed bespoke for the shoot, her Nordic Stationery Suite was inspired by ‘delicate foliage that's been caught in a winter frost'. We particularly loved the use of charcoal grey in the envelopes and silver wax seal stamps with a delicate floral design that added the perfect touch of drama to her designs. Sophie also wanted to showcase the different materials that are available to couples and how beautiful a bespoke stationery suite really can be. We think she has definitely succeeded with her marvelous creations.See more inspiring images below.
