This styled shoot organised by our brand new #guestlist recruits, sustainable wedding planner Willow and Rust Weddings, is giving us all the autumnal feels. We spoke to owner and creative director Samantha to discover how it all came together in fabulous fashion.

THE BRIEF WAS SOPHISTICATION AND GLAMOUR IN A BARN SETTING WITH THE ENVIRONMENT IN MIND – AND I THINK WE NAILED IT!

SAMANTHA, THE PLANNER

A Barn Above

Luckily for Samantha, the sun showed its hat all day – giving her the opportunity to use the whole of this stunning venue. A dramatic Dutch Barn restored and given a contemporary edge, this brand new wedding venue is set in the stunning countryside of Nottingham providing the perfect blank canvas for a rustic romance.

The reception space comprises of a modern oak interior, an impressive overhead mezzanine and floor-to-ceiling windows offering sprawling views across the surrounding countryside. Outside, there’s a cool and quirky Gypsy Caravan which is available to hire – summertime staycation anyone? – plus a beautiful old threshing barn to host the ultimate intimate ceremony.

Perfect Palette

“Colour wise, I wanted a palette that was relevant all year round but referenced the autumnal tones of this time of year that I love, especially when mixed with my signature pale blush. When brought together with the greying foliage of eucalyptus, the overall effect was a rich yet muted palette that worked perfectly with the wooden and brick exteriors of the venue.”

We absolutely love the delicate cupcakes and marble tiered show-stopper from baker Strawberry Cupcakes, dressed beautifully with wild foliage and rust-hued ribbon. Sweet style with a rustic, elegant edge.

Eco Elegance

Sustainability was, as always for Willow and Rust, a top priority. In terms of attire, the dress and hair accessories were vintage pieces purchased from eco-minded stores, and the suit was hired from The Wedding Boutique Ilkeston, dispelling the damaging results of fast fashion. The props were a mix of reclaimed, vintage and bargain buys sourced by Samantha herself, and the table linen was coloured with natural dyes.

When it came to stationery Lilac and White opted to print their designs on SFC certified card, eco-board and plant-based vellum, demonstrating Samantha’s desire to always work with like-minded suppliers.

The florals were sourced from local and ethical suppliers and the florists own garden, a mix of dried and real were used to create the look. Wire was used to create the larger installations and the bouquet was hand tied with naturally died silk ribbon, keeping the whole set completely single use plastic-free.

“The only slightly naughty bit was probably the Glitter bar, but hey, everyone needs a little bit of glitter in their lives right now! For the table setting I went for vintage glamour with cut glass, brass and pretty white plates nestled on the naturally died cotton muslin table linens. The beautiful roses helped add to the vintage feeling.”

To find out how Samantha can make your rustic romance dreams come alive, visit her portfolio on our Supplier Guest List.

For more sumptuous styled wedding inspiration, visit our dedicated Photoshoots page – pretty pictures made with love.