Pollardi Bridal for a Styled Wedding Shoot at Matfen Hall

Today fan favourite Matfen Hall, recently taken over by the incredible team behind Walwick Hall, plays host to our styled shoot, conceptualised and brought together by the ever-talented team at Sprig & Thistle. The word ‘elegant’ was created for moments like this…

Taking the idea of a white wedding to beautiful new heights today. We’ve got our sights set on the ethereal fragility and crisp white maximalism in this dreamscape styling. Imagine yourself away to all the charm of a chateau in southern France and be swept up in the inspiring florals, decor and gowns fresh from a fairy tale.

With 200 years of its own history, Matfen Hall is perfect to serve as a backdrop for such an aristocratic and decadent but modern affair. We love the concept of bucking the current heavy foliage trend and trimming all of the greenery off to allow for a clean, white feel to the floral arrangements and bouquet, instead favouring pampas grass as a more neutral base, and the dramatic half-moon floor arch is an incredible touch.

Let’s hear from Jess at Sprig & Thistle about how the concept was realised.

With images by Phoebe Jane Photography

Fields of French Gold from Top Table Films on Vimeo.

CONCEPT

Jess says: French, ethereal and dreamlike. This shoot was everything we dreamed of and more. It offers a sense of escapism and transports you into an otherworldly chateau dreamlike state. Full tulle detailing, regal crown accents and aristocrat decadence continues through this shoot in every detail.

LOCATION

The inspiration centred around Matfen Hall itself. As stylists, our job is to work with our surroundings and to elevate them. Matfen Hall is a grand and monumental building with around 200 years of history bursting from its walls. We wanted something that would sit alongside the history and grandeur, but bring the hall very much into 2020.

STYLING

We at Sprig & Thistle used a palette of all whites, trimming off every inch of greenery and using warmer grasses, textures and dried elements to take the harsh cold element that using only white florals tends to create. Instead, we were left with a warm and neutral base. We also dressed the hall a little differently, using their bay windows as a backdrop and creating a half-moon floor arch. The two went together seamlessly and this is perfect for an intimate ceremony setup or for bridal portraits.

The incredible centre-piece cake was by Chemily’s Cakes, with beautiful, super luxurious stationery from Tabitha Kate Paper.

ATTIRE

The wedding dress was Adele from Pollardi Bridal at Si… Bridal. She was the one. There was no other dress that could have worked for this shoot more perfectly than her. She has full length tulle, detail around the corset and detachable sleeves she has it all. The movement in the tulle creates such a soft and poetic finish to the images. The look was finished with beautiful accessories from Vivi Embellish.

BEAUTY

Hair and make up was by MUBYLEIGH – Hair & Makeup Artist. When planning for this shoot, I knew I wanted to incorporate a highly requested hairstyle – the low bun, ‘messy’ updo. This kind of style is an absolute bridal favourite and can be adapted to suit any bride and any vibe. For example, creating smooth, sleek sections and limiting texture throughout the bun achieves the perfect hairstyle for brides wanting a ‘simple’, modern look. Whereas adding twists, plaits and upping the texture creates romantic, bohemian vibes. There is so much flexibility.

As always, the makeup was focused on creating a flawless base and a natural glow. Choosing popular brown and shimmering eyeshadows, we used shades to suit any bride which can be applied to complement and enhance their individual features. This style of makeup highlights natural beauty, helping brides to feel like the best version of themselves while still feeling like themselves!

RESULTS

We had high expectations for this shoot. This is quite a daunting aspect when you’re organising a shoot, something that you’re so excited for but that seems too good to be true. You wonder if you are actually going to be able to achieve the high goal you have set and the overall aesthetic. We needn’t have worried, every supplier involved in this shoot had thought of every detail and the results were better than we imagined!