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Under the Spotlight – For Your Eyes Only

January 25, 2011 in Boudoir, Under The Spotlight by Kat | 11 comments

The trend for brides to organise a pre-wedding boudoir shoot to commemorate their pre-wedding self, as well as provide their husband’s to be with a sexy memento of just how lucky they are (!) is one that has gained momentum over the past few years. Not many of you will know this, but I actually did a similar shoot before I got married! Needless to say it wasn’t as scary as I thought it was going to be (it was the first professional photo shoot I’d ever done!) and Gareth erm…LOVED the results!

One of the poineers in boudoir photography in the UK are For Your Eyes Only. The studio based company is run by women for women! They company was set up in 2002 by Alexandra Burns – her idea being to create stunning images of gorgeous women of all shapes and sizes.

She explains, ”A FYEO Shoot is a unique experience and is based upon a routine of skin smoothing, body sculpting poses in a private black out studio, where you are one to one with your own female photographer, who will direct you and look after you the whole time.”

“FYEO has studios across the UK – in High Wycombe, Manchester, Essex & Tunbridge Wells (studios opening in Newcastle and Taunton soon!) The reason we are studio based and not daylight based, as some other photographers are, is because of this specialist black out studio and lighting techniques, which are designed to flatter all different body shapes and is ultra skin smoothing.”

The experience starts with you arriving at your FYEO studio a few minutes before your appointment with a bag full of your own personal goodies, such as your wedding lingerie, a tiara or veil, strappy shoes or even something of your other half’s, such as favourite shirt and tie. The shoot is completely tailored you you, your style and what you want you want to create.

“As well as having shots taken in your wedding lingerie, you can also have some nudie pics!” continues Alexandra. “Tasteful, of course… think… You, your favourite necklace and your wedding shoes!”

You’ll even have your very own make up artist on hand to primp, preen and make you feel like a million dollars.

Meet the FYEO Team at The National Wedding Shows, visit their website www.fyeoportraits.com or send them an email at info@fyeoportraits.com. To make a booking call them on 0871 218 0343.

FYEO would like to offer a MASSIVE 50% off to Rock n Roll Bride readers who book any package booked before the end of January. Simply quote ‘RocknRollBride’ when you enquire.

Huge thanks to Alexandra and the whole FYEO team for taking part in this feature today. I love you guys!

*Sponsored post

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A Day in the Life of…The Green Parlour + Lovely DIY Flower Ideas

January 23, 2011 in A Day in the Life... by Kat | 16 comments

Hello! New feature alert everybody!

Last week I was invited to visit The Green Parlour, located in Pangbourne, nr Reading, Berkshire. The flower shop is owned by a girl I actually went to school with, Emma Sampson. Having not seen her for 10 years (!) and having a bit of a penchant for pretty blooms, I jumped at the chance to go and have a play. The idea was to do some quick DIY tutorials to show you all how to make your own bouquets, buttonholes and finally a cute flower crown. However much gossip and laughter meant that the photographs I took weren’t the best to illustrate what we did! Whoops…

Emma has written up a very helpful step by step guide for the bouquet and the buttonhole though so I do hope you enjoy these despite my rubbish photos. Why not have a go yourself? (and send me your photos afterwards too please!)

I was also so in love with my flower crown. I’m very sad that it died. I might have to invest in a faux flower crown (WhichGoose on etsy have some amaaazing ones!) so I can feel like a festival hippy chick on a daily basis.

A rustic & vintage inspired bouquet

Flowers used for the bouquet
♥ Pepita spray roses
♥ Hypnose roses
♥ Anemones
♥ Thlaspi (also known as field penny cress or in our shop Mr. funky funky)
♥ Populus eucalyptus (we used the leaves and the berries)
♥ Muscari (aka grape hyacinths)

You will need
♥ Scissors
♥ Flowers
♥ Ribbon, lace, material
♥ Pin or a brooch

1. First things first, make sure all the roses are de-thorned otherwise you may end up with a few bouquet battle scars.

2. I always like to use a rose at the centre of my bouquet as it gives a really lovely focus point as you look at the bouquet from above. We chose to use Pepita spray roses as our first and central flower to give a lovely relaxed dome.

3. Hold the central rose in your non-writing hand about 10cm down from the flower head.

4. We wanted something garden inspired and surrounded the rose with Thlaspi (the green fluffy stuff) you don’t need the whole stem, break bits off and en-circle the central rose – it doesn’t have to be too neat, as long as its about the same height as your central flower.

5. I couldn’t resist the Muscari (the blue buds) for the next bit – they smell just like sweets – just in the same way that we put the Thlaspi around the rose you want to do the same with the muscari so that there is a little ring of the blue flowers poking out in all directions.

6. Now to really start to create a ‘dome’ take 3 Hypnose roses and place around the muscari at a slightly lower height – this will make a triangle around the bouquet and you can fill in the gaps with any type of foliage you like – we went for Populus eucalyptus for its amazing berries.

7.    Carry on the same steps as above, slightly lowering the level of your flowers and adding in anemones, more roses, anything you fancy, until they almost touch your hand.

8. Have someone on hand to help you tie your bouquet together – a standard garden twine is just perfect for this job!

9. Choose your ribbon – I especially love the lace look at the moment – and wrap around your bouquet attach bows, more ribbon, buttons, old brooches anything you like

10. Voila! Get someone else to hold the bouquet so you can see how lovely it looks – pop in a vase ready for your big day.

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Gorgeous Vintage Bouquets from DC Bouquets

January 10, 2011 in Styled Photo Shoots by Kat | 23 comments

I love it when a great idea comes together – especially when in some small way the Rock n Roll Bride wedding blog can help! The fabulous (and she sooo is) Debs of DC Bouquets was browsing her favourite wedding blog (yes, yours truly’s) one day back in April 2010 and she came across a photographer local to her in South Yorkshire, Dolly Photography. She loved her style and so contacted her to see if she would be up for photographing some of her latest vintage bouquet designs.

“It was perfect timing as I was looking for some shots to use on my new website that would reflect the way my work has developed in the 12 months since I started Debbie Carlisle Bouquets – it’s my official business birthday on January 15th!” explained Debs. “The aim of the shoot was to produce something that showcased the vintage style of my jewellery and button bouquets and hair accessories but that also reflected the edgy alternative style of my brides. Dolly really ‘got’ what I was after and decided to go for a richer, more fashion-orientated look than the twee bridal product shoots you see so often. Stephanie Kipling from MAC did the make-up for the shoot, and I especially loved her decision to give my gorgeous brunette model Laura Charlton a more dramatic look, rather than play it safe with the more obvious ‘peaches and cream’ bridal tones.”

Don’t you just love these? For more info on all of the bouquets and accessories you see here, be sure to check out the DC Bouquets website!

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Amelia & Gareth’s Stunning Vintage Wedding

November 24, 2010 in British Brides, Wedding by Kat | 10 comments

“Oh Le. Swoon!” was my first thought when I saw Amelia & Gareth’s gorgeous vintage wedding a few weeks ago. The bride wore a genuine vintage dress from one of my most favourite bridal shops, Fur Coat No Knickers too! The couple were married at Bow Registry Office and had their reception The Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green, London.

Their reception was pretty special, with the food they served taking centre stage. “It was really experimental – Heston Blumenthal kind of stuff,” photographer Matt told me. “The Town Hall Hotel has a fairly famous chef who makes up all sorts of weird concoctions.” 

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Vashti Cassinelli Flower Couture

November 24, 2010 in Styled Photo Shoots by Kat | 8 comments

Flower Couture is the perfect way to describe these awesome creations by Bristol based florist Vashti Cassinelli. The brainchild of the super creative lady, who has previously launched the successful Belle & Fifi Flowers, her couture range really pushes the boundaries of what can be created with blooms!

“I guess my ‘flower couture’ business came about from my desire to push floristry to the limits and test my own creativity and skills,” Vashti told me. ”I love flowers and love placing them into new contexts. As I have a strong love of fashion, flower couture seemed a fun and exciting venture. The response so far has been amazing. I am still dedicated to sourcing as ethically as possible with both businesses. This has always been important to me.”

“The Chelsea Flower Show sponsors this year commissioned me to design and make a dress out of English roses and lavender to promote Gold medal winner, Roger Plait’s garden. Since then I have been taking commissions for one off bespoke pieces for weddings and parties. Of course the flowers do not last; but for me that is all part of their beauty! My work is cinderella-esque and ephemeral. My designs are like pieces of wearable art, designed to last for the duration of an event before their beauty fades. I am quite a romantic!”

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