Autumnal, Rustic Wedding Shoot

How time has flown – it has been 12  months since we did this shoot and somehow I never wrote a blog post about it.

If you are planning a wedding for next autumn, than this one is for you. Get pinning girls!!

The shoot took place at the stunning Georgian manor house which is home to Hannah from Unforgettable Vintage Bridal Gowns.  The top floor houses their studio where you can lose an afternoon in this treasure trove, trying on their vintage and antique gowns, dresses and jewelery.  Its not just for brides, they have a huge selection of frocks for parties and “just because you can’t live without them dresses…”

Lucy Stendall was our photographer, she is awesome, gorgeous, funny and just generally brilliant.  She specialises in “taking photographs of good old fashioned sweet love.”

We were a bit excited that Sanni Sorma came from Paris to work her magic with hair and makeup.  She also does the best make up tutorials on YouTube and is a fountain of knowledge for girly glamour.

The cakes were made by Daisy Cupcakes and were divine.

We wanted a seasonal, rustic and shoot and  the warm  colour palette worked so well against the orchard and the garden.  Rich Edwardian china, paired with vintage crystal and silver added glamour to the tables and sat perfectly with the simple flower arragements where we used berries, greenery and crabapples picked from the garden that morning – roses added to the relaxed, easy styling.

I stole some oak chairs from the dining room, added some old mirrors and masses of romantic  lace.

The dresses were to die for, just beautiful.

What can I say about our model, Ayo – a star is born. 

Watch this space for another shoot with the same girls – we had such a great weekend and I hope you find some inspiration from our photographs.  Who knows, maybe one day there will be a couple who hires all of us to work on their wedding together!

 

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Corsets, Cake & Charity

I love cake, I love corsets and I love being involved in a charity event. 

 

Astra from Timeless Couture has a close friend, Robyn, who has recently been diagnosed with cervical cancer.  She is only in her mid 20′s.   One of the charities who has been very supportive and helpful to Robyn is The Mercedes Curnow Foundation who promote awareness of the early detection of cervical cancer in young women and funding private screening & hpv tests. They are fighting to lower the age of cervical screening in England from 25-20.  This is something Robyn feels passionately about.

 

To show support and love for Robyn, Astra decided to organise an event that would involve her family and friends and to hopefully raise funds for The Mercedes Cunrow Foundation.  Corset design is a love of Astra’s and her exquisite, bespoke pieces combine vintage inspired details and modern contempoary shapes.  She partners Rachel at Timeless Couture and together they create beautiful bespoke wedding dresses, two of which you can see in the main photograph above .  Robyn was one of the models in our photoshoot with Timeless Couture earlier in the year, see the gorgeous girl on the telephone above…so it seemed perfect to combine a corset photoshoot with afternoon tea at a special venue.

 

It was a ladies only day (for obvious reasons!, as Astra put it “no smelly boys”) and all the guests had the opportunity to be involved in the photoshoot.

 

This idea grew into producing a corset calendar which would be sold to raise further funds.

Stancliffe Hall in Darley Dale offered us the use of their venue, completely free of charge, which was an incredibly generous gesture.  It is an outstandingly beautiful privately owned Hall, set in over 50 acres of stunning parkland in the heart of the Peak District. 

The photography and styling for the shoot was left in the hands of Emma from Ms Honey Boudoir, who also owns Emma Cleveley Photography.  She donated her time, talent, sexy props & experience for the day. 

 

Tineke kindly supplied all the flowers for the day and there were lots of raffle prizes donated by local businesses.

Darby & Joan provided the afternoon tea for the ladies and we donated two days to set up the venue and supplied our vintage china.

Some of the ladies were hesitant about stripping off and posing, but before Emma knew it there was a queue of ladies desperate to be transformed into a sexy siren for a couple of hours.  It was credit to Emma’s skill and easy going presence that made the shoot such a success, guiding the girls through poses to flatter their figures and enhanced their best bits.  Hopefully we can share some of these photographs with you soon.

Another charity who had been tremendously supportive of Robyn was MacMillan Cancer Support.  Most people are familiar with the amazing work they do on a daily basis, providing practical, medical and financial support and push for better cancer care.  A spokesperson from the charity attended to talk about their role in helping cancer patients and their families.  Some of the funds raised on the day were donated to MacMillan.

Pimms, afternoon tea, a room full of great ladies having a well earned sunny Sunday afternoon to themselves, a beautiful venue, pants and bras flying around everywhere, laughs and tears and raising money for two amazing charities. 

A good day.

 

Photography on the day – Emma Cleveley Photography, Ms Honey

Photograph of Robyn – Yvonne Lishman Photography

Main image – Emma Case Photography

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A little something…

Good morning everyone.  Just a quickie and a little bit of a lazy and cheeky post…

We styled a photoshoot along with Susie from Vintage Chic Wedding Fair at The Botanical Gardens last week and were more than a little in love with the amazing dressed supplied by Luxe Bridal.  We are desperate to see the images, so whilst Liezl Croft works her magic on the photographs, we can post a link to her blog which has a few images from the day – Botanical Garden Shoot 

 

We have met so many mutually supportive, friendly and talented wedding suppliers over recent months, none more so than Becky Butterworth of Butterworth Photography.  She interviewed me for their blog, and you can click here to have a read.  Interview with me. 

A spreadsheet beckons…can’t put it off any longer. x

 

 

 

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Make Time for Tea with The Eve Appeal

The Eve Appeal gynaecological cancer research charity is asking women to Make Time for Tea during Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in March.  They suggest that we a tea party to celebrate the revival of all things vintage to help save the lives of the women we love. This year’s campaign, now in its seventh year, has a vintage theme and what could be better for Darby & Joan.

 

In the UK we drink 165 million cups of tea every day so next time you put the kettle on please think about the 4,400 mothers, sisters, grandmothers, aunts and daughters lost to ovarian cancer this year.  The Eve Appeal would like to make 2012’s diamond jubilee year the best yet –aiming for 500 tea parties to help them reach their target of £150,000.

Darby & Joan have invited a group of lovely ladies to join us for our tea party on Friday 2nd March: close girl friends; mums from the school gates; neighbours; other wedding industry suppliers;customers; mums and grandmas.  If you would like to come along, then please send an email to karen@darbyandjoanvintage.co.uk and we will send you some more information.  Everyone is welcome, children too.  We have a playroom where they can run wild and make a mess!

We will put on our vintage aprons, set out a vintage tea party table laden with layer cakes, scones, cupcakes, rocky road, shortbread and there will be an endless supply of tea.  A pretty fabulous way of raising money don’t you think…

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Do you believe in Fairies?

If I had to use a handful of adjectives to describe Anna & Lisa from the delectable Food Fairies I would say:  beautiful, talented, creative & nothing is too much trouble.  Ok, the last doesn’t fall into the adjective category, but you get the picture!!

Food Fairies is a Derbyshire catering company with a passion for delicious food.  What I love about them is whilst they have an seemingly endless menu to choose from, they encourage their clients’ to share their own ideas & so offer a bespoke menu too.

They pride themselves on using locally sourced ingredients where possible, &, all their dishes, whether sweet or savoury, are homemade.

Food Fairies & Darby & Joan…

Whether your event is a buffet, a wedding breakfast, a formal dinner or you are hosting a drinks party & would like some deliecious canapes providing - I cannot recommend them enough.  We have been fortunate to work with them at several events recently & want to shout from the rooftops about them!  They cover Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire & beyond.

From cupcakes to layer cakes, platters of cheeses & cold cuts to trays of lasagne & huge bowls of salads, crostini smothered in tapanade & fresh tomatoes to mini beef wellingtons – I promise you will be spoilt for choice & will be thrilled with the personal service they offer.  x

foodfairies@hotmail.co.uk

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Festive shopping with bells on!

Love Christmas? You’ll adore the Southwell Vintage & Handmade Fair – Magic of Christmas Fair!  Friday 11th and Saturday 12th – get your skates on!!

We’ve brought an exquisite and eclectic mix of all things festive to East Bridgford Hill, a beautiful Georgian country house in the heart of Nottinghamshire. So you can tick off your ‘To Do’ list, while enjoying an irresistibly Christmassy day out.

As well as selling our vintage wares, vintage tea sets, vintage styled candles & vintage china cake stands, Darby & Joan Ltd will be styling the Orangery & the festive demo programme too. We are also supplying around 200 of our vintage tea cups, saucers & cake plates for your use, together with masses of our vintage cake stands & other christmassy bits. Phew!

 

 

 

There will be a ridiculous abundance of fame & talent … meet our lovely designer Joanne Harratt of ELF, who came 3rd recently in a competition judged by Kirstie Allsopp in her new Handmade Britain programme. Jo is going to decorate the fireplace in the Morning Room of East Bridgford Hill at our fair … can’t wait to see what she’s going to do with her Christmas stockings, plum puddings & other scrumptious goodies.

There will be some gorgeous pieces from the talented Alys Power,  Love u more, Mrs madden makes, Mollyś Mum,  Lily Be Funky, Rebel Rose, . Atelier Crafts, Hello Sunshine by Jo Want & many more.

Pretty stocking fillers, handmade jewellery, exquisite knits, vintage collectables … find unique gifts for men & the perfect presents for your loved ones, favourite friends &  hard-to-buy-for relatives from our gorgeous array of original, unusual & affordable gifts. Kimberley from Fabulous Fairs has travelled the length & breadth of Nottinghamshire & indeed the country to find the most talented designer makers & vintage dealers – so you don’t have to.  Ladies Day on the friday is to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

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Save the Date Wedding Fair…

Sore feet from wearing too high shoes, voice hoarse from talking all day, exhausted from an early start…but over the moon with how today went at the save the date wedding fair with a difference! 

Darby & Joan caught up with wedding suppliers we regularly work alongside, met some inspirational new companies & people & spent the day talking to brides to be & their families about their impending weddings.  Lydia & Abbi from Save the Date really know how to put an event together; catwalk shows, interactive displays, live music, outdoor entertainment, fabulous catering – all housed at The Roundhouse, one of the most impressive buildings in the county. 

We were showcasing our vintage china & vintage accessories together with promoting our Afternoon Tea Party events (we had a cake trolley filled with cupcakes, scones, rocky road & chocolate dipped strawberries..not much left at the end of the day!)  

We were so so excited about the event, fingers & everything else crossed that we  are able to work with some of the brides we met on their wedding or help with their hen parties.  (We have already had one provisional booking from the day, which is amazing, that is my kind of bride!!)

 

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