Honey & Horseshoe Events as a brand was created by me (Katherine) in order to combine the idea of a visually stunning rustic, rural or outdoor wedding with elements of my couples’ lifestyles.
This shoot was put together to be my ‘signature shoot’ which shows what my business is all about – bringing natural colours, themes and textures together in a way which captures personalities.
I love to deliver on colour schemes, details and cohesive concepts but with a little added flair to make each wedding or event totally unique.
Words by Katherine. Images by Helen King.
When choosing the venue for this shoot I was inspired by the idea of the classic rustic barn wedding, and we did definitely use a beautiful ceremony barn! However, it was the other spaces at the venue that really caught my eye.
When looking around a venue I seek those locations which wouldn’t normally be designated for ‘weddings’ but make for gorgeous photos, hence me falling in love with the hay barn on this shoot.
The contrast between the delicate detail on the wedding dress and the down-to-earth, rural backdrop was the ideal way to merge that feminine bridal feel with a touch of the familiar.
Throughout the shoot, there are equestrian elements and details, big and small! I was inspired by my own love of horses and knew that if my client was anything like me, they would want to include their passion and lifestyle in their big day.
The photographs with Amadeus the horse, showcase how it is possible to include The Other Love of Your Life when you marry the human one, and epitomise every equestrian bride’s vision of those dreamy wedding day horse shots.
I really loved dressing him with a floral garland too, creating those fairytale woodland scenes that could almost be found in a storybook.
I wanted to show that even without bringing along a four-legged friend we can let your own style and personality shine through.
Pairing the nude beaded Gigi dress from French by Wendy Makin with a tweed jacket really brought all those earthy, warm colours together, and the mustards, peaches and orange shades of the flowers ensured the look stayed feminine.
Alongside the tweeds, I added a pair of Fairfax & Favor boots – I love an alternative shoe choice for a rustic or outdoor wedding and thought these not only looked amazing with all the different dresses but would be so practical too. The shoot wouldn’t have been complete without adding a saddle, bridle and collection of bits here and there too!
Alternative accessories were a must for the shoot too. Once again, I was inspired by nature to include the horse’s floral garland as a shrug for the bride, giving us total ‘down the rabbit hole’ vibes.
The stunning flower crown used in the woodland was handcrafted by Love 2 Sparkle from 20-year old dried flowers, and it set off that bridal two-piece dress in a ‘woodland nymph’ feel.
I loved using the riding boots as holders for flowers too, combining something usually found so well polished with a wild, free element.
Throughout the whole photoshoot, the underlying concept and inspiration were to combine my zest for the natural outdoors with the personal loves and passions of my clients. Whichever venue, colour scheme or wedding dress is chosen, it is possible to make it your own and show who you are in an authentic and down-to-earth way.
Whether it’s having your wedding breakfast set up outdoors, wearing your favourite pair of boots or just stuffing them with flowers for decoration, your rustic wedding can stand out and be totally individual, inspired by all the things you love.
planning and coordination: honey & horseshoe events / venue: mapperley farm / photography: helen king photography / model: chrissie sunderland / styling: the rustic wedding company / flowers: avant garden weddings / dresses: shade bridal and blue rose bridal (hay barn dress only) / stationery: millie stone / hair styling: helen sutcliffe hair / make up: josephine way / hair pieces and accessories: love 2 sparkle / cake: jb cakery / long brown boots: fairfax & favor
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