Not Another Pantone Colour of The Year Ultra Violet Wedding Shoot
Written by Melissa Woods
Photography by Jason Wiliams
Don't worry, this is definitely NOT another Pantone colour of the year Ultra Violet wedding shoot... although, it did start somewhere around there...
I am absolutely OVER THE RAINBOW to bring you THE UN-WEDDING's debut editorial shoot with 'GIRL POWER' at the heart of it... #bridesquad.
The colourful collaboration of inspiration EXCLUSIVELY features an all-star cast of the UK's coolest independent wedding suppliers - all of whom are currently listed in my Book Of Love directory.
When I first started THE UN-WEDDING, I wasn't sure if I would ever go down the 'styled shoot' route. I get a lot of submissions that never quite hit the mark for me, but upon realising what a stellar bunch of creatives there were in the Book Of Love community, I knew that this was something that had to be done.
The Book Of Love launched in 2017 and in just one year, it has become the *upsidedown* heart of THE UN-WEDDING.
Much more than just a 'cut to the chase' kick-ass wedding directory... it's a community of the most inspirational, hi-energy, limitlessly-talented and supportive, designers, artisans and small business owners who have the ability to literally make.magic.happen.
THE CONCEPT
Like everyone else, I waited with anticipation for Pantone to announce their 2018 colour of the year - Ultra Violet. Intrigued at first, this soon turned to disappointment and even dismay when the world became awash with purple... ok, maybe not the whole world, but the internet at least. This does not bode well for those of us who simply can't abide the colour purple.
So, I thought about what UV means to me as an ex-raver and a current neon-enthusiast... and it definitely isn't, flat purple... it's more delicate and beautiful than that... something that isn't tangible... something that emits light and evokes a sense of magic and wonder. Pantone hint at this in their story behind the this years choice:
'' Ultra Violet symbolizes experimentation and non-conformity, spurring individuals to imagine their unique mark on the world, and push boundaries through creative outlets... Historically, there has been a mystical or spiritual quality attached to Ultra Violet. ''
I thought about some of the exciting trends that are echoing through the wedding scene at the moment like neon lights and holographic details ... and how these are already a pretty good nod towards something that's more Ultra Violet than 'love it or hate it' - purple.
I thought about light and the colours of the spectrum and was inspired by this Japanese artist, Tokujin Yoshioka, The Rainbow Engineer.
I worked alongside dynamo, Ellie Kime aka The Wedding Enthusiast who led the coordination of the shoot. Both Ellie and I decided that rather than going down the 'lone bride /couple shoot' route... (sorry to keep rhyming those words)... we would instead pay homage to the amazing 'GIRL POWER' movement that we are lucky enough to have found ourselves a part of and, with the shoot taking place on National Women's Day (of all days) what better way to mark it than celebrating the bride and her all-important squad!
Ellie’s coordination role also extended to the styling of the venue. With its industrial beams, intricate history and unbelievable lighting she wanted to keep it airy (in line with the theme but also, because it makes for the best pictures) with injections of holo inspiration without it becoming twee. The walls and table were accented with holographic washi tape in geometric designs to double both as wall decor and act as a center piece for the cake!... a gorgeous three tiered creation by wizardess, The Sparkling Spatula. Most cakes on shoots are dummy cakes, iced but made of polystyrene - Vanessa’s dreamy number was the real deal, because she is the real deal.
What would a holo shoot be without Rachel Emma Studio?... Queen of holographic, Rachel styled our tablescape to perfection. Using iridescent hand-assembled paper gems and disco balls to build style and height on the table, she perfected the look with her iridescent place settings in cut out hearts placed next to our sparkly Meringue Girls kisses, they looked PERFECT. Rachel also made our badass bride an alternative bouquet complete with disco balls - our version of flower power.
Poppy Dover’s beautiful layered designs with their flowing lines and gorgeous cuts helped keep the look clean and edgy, with no frills or fluff. Her delicate designs and beading detailing are the perfect mix of fashion and romance.
The days of bad bridesmaid dresses are long gone. Maids to Measure’s sleek designs were the PERFECT choice for our style-led bride. These ones are SUPER luxurious - the cowl back of the Luna balances its simple, gorgeous front, made with a stunning fabric that had a slight sheen to it that really catches the light.
Zoe of Knot Your Average Bride took the brief and ran riot with iridescence, colour, and textural landscapes in hair which we absolutely ADORE. Bold holographic shadow on the eyes and all over highlight made our models look fresh and fun, whilst she worked with their natural hair to make 3 playful looks. They were complete with Zoe’s own hair accessories, which all draw inspiration from celestial and geometric shapes with moons and triangles coming to force. All other accessories were by the ALMIGHTY Bloody Mary Metal who are famous for their handmade pieces and bespoke wedding collection.
On hand to capture of this in fine detail was our INCREDIBLE photographer, Jason Williams. Jason worked with different lights, angles and prisms to figuratively and literally chase rainbows. He’s our very own rainbow engineer.
And last but my no means least, our neon dreams became a reality thanks to the legendary Vowed and Amazed who lent us their brand new GIANT rainbow in the shoot. Quite possible, the coolest thing I've seen since their iconic 'Til Death Do Us Party' sign - both of which are available to hire for your big day as well as the giant neon hoops too!
The selected Book Of Love team took the concept, embarking on their uv-holo-rainbow mission, in order to bring you this SPECTACULAR shoot.
THE LOCATION
The shoot took place at the STUNNING West Resevoir Centre in Hackney, a popular wedding venue with some beautiful industrial features, but otherwise a blank canvass for you to personalise as you wish.
The building is flooded with natural light from its huge windows that overlook the water... perfect for what we wanted to create on the day.
THE SUPPLIERS
This was the first of many shoots from THE UN-WEDDING that will feature a team, solely put together from the pages of my Book Of Love directory.
First up, we started with a bunch of the (mainly) southern suppliers, all of whom are open to travel, so no need to worry about that!
I was seriously humbled by the professionalism, talent and effort displayed by each and every member of the team. So, next time you see INCREDIBLE wedding inspiration on the internet or in a magazine and you think to yourself that your wedding could never look like that, I'm here to tell you that it can. It's all about booking the right suppliers, who can make it happen.
See the full gallery here and scroll on down for a full list of the Book Of Love suppliers that you need to book, if you like the look!
Concept: Melissa Woods
Coordination & Styling: The Wedding Enthusiast
Photographer: Jason Williams Photography
Table styling, Props and Bouquet: Rachel Emma Studio
Hair, Makeup & Hair Accessories : Knot Your Average Bride
Bride's outfits: Poppy Dover
Bridesmaids: Maids To Measure
Cake: The Sparkling Spatula
Giant Neons: Vowed & Amazed
Meringue Kisses Favours: Meringue Girls
Jewelry: Bloody Mary Metal
Venue: West Resevoir Centre
Models: BAME
What are your thoughts on the Pantone colour of the year? I'd love to hear in the comments below! Oh, and don't forget to share this post with any future brides who just don't like purple!
Love Forever
Melissa
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