Uptoon Funk. A Styled Micro Wedding Shoot at Horticulture, Newcastle

With an absolute hit list of top Tyneside suppliers, warm tones and bold neons, this micro wedding shoot at the uber cool city venue Horticulture was never going to be anything short of incredible.

Danni of gorgeous UNVEILED Network bridal boutique Y.A.P Bridal and the friendly Horti team have pulled together a dream of a shoot for us today, and it’s all been skillfully captured by talented husband and wife photography duo, The Smiths.

Usually famed for their perfect brunch date offerings or their evening cocktails and innovative small plate menu, Horticulture generally strives to create unique, tasty, forward-thinking dishes and drinks with a focus on cultivating as much as possible from the source – hence the name. Set right in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne, this venue is now performing the famous ‘Pandemic Pivot’ to offer betrothed couples a new, cool, city centre space with a vibrant and bohemian atmosphere for a big statement micro wedding.

This venue easily lends itself to those hipster cool couples looking for something other than the norm. Picture palms, pampas, peacock chairs and an outstanding orange three tier cake and you’ve basically nailed this funky aesthetic. The shoot team are keeping things edgy but still romantic, with styling lit by neon brights and bold, vibrant murals but with a warmth borrowed from the burnt, autumnal palette and exposed brickwork. We love seeing a fresh new backdrop for an exciting and intimate wedding concept, especially one with a menu of 50 variations on the classic percolated espresso martini – we know, we’ve tried a few ourselves!

Let’s speak to Danni from the ever-elegant Y.A.P and find out a little more about the shoot, the suppliers and, of course, those incredible gowns…

With images by From The Smiths Photography

CONCEPT

Danni says: Having established itself firmly on Newcastle’s brunch scene and as one of the best places to sup an espresso martini on the terrace (if you can choose just one), Horticulture is pivoting during the pandemic, showing us they can host a beautiful and private wedding celebration too. There is a big want for cool, unique, city centre venues, which set the perfect scene for intimate and personal wedding receptions. 2021 will see the Horti team launch ‘Micro Weddings In The Aviary’ and their diary is now open to reserve your special date.

Our inspiration for this shoot was full of autumnal, bohemian charm. Think pretty palms, striking pampas, rustic earthy tones, peacock chairs and edgy neons all coming together to create some cool wedding styling alchemy.

LOCATION

Horticulture itself is one of our favourite city centre spaces due it’s relaxed Balinese vibe, sustainable ethos and small plate social setting, not to mention their 50 espresso martini offerings. The Aviary is a total hidden gem, set on the top floor of the three story building – a light and airy loft room with exposed wooden beams, raw brickwork, Danish furniture, white tiled tables and statement murals. The ideal setting for a seated reception of up to 30 guests, the space is personal to you and your wedding party to enjoy with your own private bar and facilities, letting your guests relax all in one cosy place, high above the bustle of the streets.

STYLING

There is such a mix of rich colours and textures in the Aviary room that we decided to run with a similar feel for the décor and flowers. We chose an autumnal colour scheme with hints of burnt oranges and burgundy which really complemented the setting.

A mix of monochrome and earthy stone accents were used across the table settings, mixed with terracotta candle holders, mustard and rust toned cheesecloth napkins and cool perspex name places. The wicker peacock chairs for the sweetheart top table were such a fitting touch.

Offering bespoke wedding styling and floristry, Amy of Muscari Studio is a specialist in Scandi-inspired bohemian décor and she loves nothing more than to be creative with a totally unique design for your day. Her studio, based in trendy Hoults Yard, Newcastle, is filled with pretty gift wares and wedding styling inspo.

Etch+Cut provide cool laser cut products to personalise your special day, from table plans to name places in materials including perspex and rustic wood slices, all made locally in Northumberland.

Dawn from The Master Cakesmith created us a bold bespoke designed cake for the shoot which was framed with vases of fluffy pampas. Dawn has been creating bespoke wedding cakes, dessert tables and wedding favours since 2012 from her base in Alnwick, Northumberland.

The feature ‘Love Made Me Do It’ neon by UNVEILED Network Member Coco Luminaire surrounded with statement palms created the perfect picture backdrop. Coco Luminaire supplies unique neon signs, illuminated letters and cinema signs to add a personal touch to your event. Their showroom in Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, is appointment-based and filled with creative lighting inspiration for your day.

ATTIRE

At Y.A.P Bridal, we’ve been bringing statement-making bridal wear from the most iconic designers to our multi award winning studio in Newcastle since 2010. Tailored for the modern bride, the Y.A.P team will help you meet your dream dress match with our super personal service.

We knew that ‘Manduria’ and ‘Moretta’ by Libelle Bridal at Y.A.P were the perfect dress matches for this city centre shoot. Both give a contemporary and sensually unique bridal style. Their innovative use of soft Chantilly laces, and delicate silhouettes felt a great fit.

Master Debonair matched a sophisticated, rich navy, textured suit with a plum toned tie, which flattered the whole shoot amazingly. Catering for all shapes and sizes, the team at Master Debonair over in East Boldon ensure your groomsmen always have a first-class styling and fitting experience.

BEAUTY

Lisa Jones created a ‘soft-glam’ makeup vibe for the shoot. To highlight the shoulder details of the featured ‘Libelle’ bridal gowns we chose a tousled up-do paired with the celestial Miranda Templeton hair vine. This look would suit such a wide range of bridal styles and venues.

Lisa has over 20 years worth of experience and is a big believer in crafting a look that’s tailored to each bride. Her Gosforth based studio offers an array of products and services including bridal hair and makeup, pre-wedding trials along with hair and skin treatments to prep for your day.

RESULTS

We certainly achieved our plan to highlight this new cool city centre space for couples looking for their micro reception venue. It’s the ideal location for couples tying the knot in Newcastle and looking for the dream intimate urban venue to celebrate after.

A particular highlight for us had to be Calvin the Bernese Mountain Dog making an appearance and lapping up the attention!

We couldn’t wish for a stronger team of creatives to collaborate on this shoot. It was literally the perfect combo of cool, forward-thinking suppliers whose drive and passion to bring this together was just phenomenal.

All the suppliers listed have also come together to create bespoke wedding reception packages especially for your day at Horticulture. For more info please email [email protected]