Bridal Make Up by Arabella for sense and sensibility styled shoot Wedding

Hi chums,

At the beginning of April, I was asked to assist the super talented and extremely lovely Patricia Soper at a Sense and Sensibility inspired styled shoot at the beautiful Purton House. I have been really keen to share this amazing day with you but we have had to wait until it has been published! I’m thrilled to let you know that it was published over on the Wedding Chicks Blog and can be seen in full here.

This stunning shoot was created by Nicole from House of Elliot and Emma from Emma Hunt London. “Their vision of a overly romantic wedding filled with Sense and Sensibility came to life with a modern twist”. Instead of paraphrasing Nicole’s voice – who is more eloquent than I could hope to be – I have quoted her vision for the shoot below.

As Nicole says: “Dating from the same period as Jane Austen’s novels and bursting with quintessential English charm, Purton House was the perfect venue for the day. With sweeping lawns, beautiful stream, and period detailing throughout, we couldn’t have wished for a more idyllic setting. The shoot centers around the two female protagonists of Sense and Sensibility, sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. Having researched original portraiture of that period, we chose more structured poses, and our models Rosalie and Verity embodied the classic ‘English Rose’ look with their pale complexions and light chestnut hair.”

“Dedicated to the bride who loves the elegance and romance of the Regency era but at the same time desires to express her individual style, we created this shoot with unique period inspired twists. We incorporated vintage details, including antique crockery and glassware, soft laces and satins, and paired them with the soft duck egg and grey colour palette of the early 19th century. The shoot spans all elements of a wedding day including a boudoir scene which showcases the romance of the Regency era, a formal dining scene, and an English outdoor picnic.”

“Each scene was carefully styled to reflect the mood of the Regency era. Accessories included handcrafted lace boots by House of Elliot, inspired by the original ‘half boots’ of the Regency period, handmade accessories by All Things Lucy, and a handmade belt by Vintage Adornments. The boudoir scene featured ethereal lace lingerie by Shell Belle Couture, whilst in the dining and outdoor scene we wanted to create a contrast of structure and softness with beautiful lace, chiffon and satin dresses by Emma Hunt and Truvelle Bridal.”

Claire from Cake Daydreams created a stunning cake focusing on the lace theme of the shoot whilst Zoe from The Golden Letter created a series of love notes, containing quotes from the novel. Ring boxes from La Petit Box encased Nicole’s grandmother’s vintage rings with handcrafted silk ribbons and roses by VV Rouleaux adding a soft, romantic touch.”

hair and make up

I worked with Verity to create three different looks – starting with a boudoir shoot, the formal dining scene and then the outdoor picnic. For me, the real highlights were the beautiful dresses and gorgeous accessories. Throughout the day, I kept Verity’s skin flawless and matte with a subtle highlight and peachy rose blush. I defined her eyes with warm coppery browns and plenty of individual lashes, nestled into her lash-line for a fluffy, fluttery look. Throughout the day, I deepened Verity’s lip colour from soft nude, to a deeper brighter rose colour.

As the day progressed, I adapted Verity’s hair for each dress and accessory that were being paired together. As I knew what the styles would be and how they would develop, I started off by prepping the hair with Percy and Reed’s Abundantly Bouncy Volumising mouse and L’Oreal Techni. Art Pli spray. I used my trusty Babyliss Pro wand to create soft loose curls. I finished each style with a spritz of Bumble and Bumble Dry spun Texturising Spray and added volume with a touch of Bumble and Bumble’s Pret-a-Powder.

This was such a fun and rewarding day – I loved working collaboratively as apart of such clever and talented creatives. Thanks so much for having me! I loved it all.