An autumnal tudor inspired shoot at sudeley castle

AN AUTUMNAL TUDOR INSPIRED SHOOT AT SUDELEY CASTLE

An Autumnal Tudor Inspired Styled Shoot at Sudeley Castle Crisp, cold Autumn mornings, woolly jumpers, layering clothes and the lovely hues that this season provide us with are just a few of the reasons why I am so truly, deeply in love with this time of year. I think that it’s sad to know that Autumn is often a season (in the wedding world) that is forgotten about due to cooler days. It’s such a shame as it’s a beautiful season full of wonderful colours, textures and followed by long, cosy evenings.

If you don’t agree, or perhaps your planning an Autumn wedding then today’s styled shoot will tell you exactly why an Autumnal celebration could be the pretty path for you.

Lisa, from Lisa Lucas Photography very kindly send me over this sensational shoot after #weddinghour one evening and the images certainly not did not disappoint.

A fusion of hugely talented, hand-selected suppliers, Lisa’s love for history and a stunning setting makes this a gorgeous Tuesday morning read.

So without further adu, I’ll pass it over to Lisa with some pearls of wedded wisdom and her inspirations behind the styled shoot. Oh, and not forgetting the lovely snaps from the day, either.

“I have always enjoyed photography, since a young age, and over the years I’ve taken great pleasure in taking photographs at the weddings of family and friends. But despite that it never occurred to me to make photography a career or profession. Instead I became a secretary, and that’s been my job ever since.

However, a few years ago, I came to realise that I wanted to do more with my life and that’s when I decided to turn my hobby in to my new career path.

I did a year-long distance learning wedding photography course, working with some of the top wedding photographers in the country, and Lisa Lucas Photography was born.One of my professional highlights to date was being awarded a Licentiate qualification with the Royal Photographic Society, something I was exceptionally proud to receive.

And, organising this styled wedding photo shoot at Sudeley Castle is another proud moment. I’ve taken part in other people’s styled shoots, but this was the first one I organised myself. There were a few hiccups along the way, but on the day all the suppliers came together, and we worked hard to produce these gorgeous images, which I for one am extremely proud of.”

3 Tips for couples planning their special day…

1. “Always meet the photographer you plan to book. You will spend a lot of time with your photographer, not just on the day but during the planning too. You need to make sure that you get along together, that you feel comfortable with them.

You shouldn’t select your photographer just because they have an amazing portfolio of images on their web site, or their price point – meet and talk to them first.”

2. “Always take up the opportunity to have a pre-wedding shoot. Almost every couple will say they dislike having their photographs taken so they don’t want to have a pre-wedding shoot. But if you think about it, on your wedding day you will have a camera pointed at you for most of the time. Consider the pre-wedding shoot as a practice run. Just you and your photographer, there’s no pressure or time constraints, get to know your each other a little better and see how your photographer works. Take the opportunity to learn some tricks of the trade when it comes to getting the best images. In amongst the chaos of wedding planning, why not take a few hours for yourselves and most importantly have some fun.”

The team behind the look on the two ladies, Sian and Louella were Charmagne Berry for hair and the Susan Hunter Hair & Makeup Academy.

3. “Take the time to plan ahead with your photographer. If you have the option, do a venue visit together. It will give you a chance to look around together, discuss where are the best places to do the group shots and the couple portraits, to formulate a ‘plan B’ in case of bad weather. I ask my couples to complete a wedding planner with as much information as possible. We can discuss the group shots that they want; are there any special requirements; are they planning any surprises for their guests; are there any particular details they want photographed etc. It might seem like more work, but it will be worth it in the end so you can enjoy your day, the photographer can get on with their job and present you with a set of amazing images.”

What Type of Venue did you choose, the style of Photography, and a bit of background to the shoot…

“With my love of history, the Tudors especially, I adore the prospect of shooting weddings in any one of the UK’s amazing stately homes, castles and historic venues. We are so blessed in this country to have so many to choose from.

Top of my wedding photography bucket list is to shoot a Tudor/medieval themed wedding. Sudeley Castle, although not local to me, is one of my favourite places to be. With it’s Tudor connections, I find it peaceful walking around and the grounds are simply gorgeous. I’ve been lucky enough to have walked the grounds dressed as a lady of the Tudor Court, at a number of events there.

My idea behind the shoot was to show that a bride can wear a contemporary gown but still have a gorgeous themed wedding. Although the bridal gowns for the shoot are relatively simple in their design, they have beautiful detailing, and with the addition of an amazing floral crown and matching loose bouquet, you can achieve a beautiful look, as we did here.

And wouldn’t a bride love to be escorted to her wedding by a knight in shining armour riding his trusty horse, in this case the magnificent Asgard.”

“With the backdrop of the Castle in autumn, and being able to enlist the services of The Cavalry of Heroes for our knight and horse, and the Ladies of the Tudor Court who can entertain your guests (if you ask very politely, you may be honoured with the presence of one of Henry VIII’s queens…!!) this was a vision I couldn’t let go of and I needed to see it come to life.

On the day we had a brilliant time, everything went smoothly, the weather behaved, everyone got on so well together and the suppliers worked miracles for me. The bridal gowns were perfect and the flowers were exactly what I’d imagined but had struggled slightly to explain to the florist, but she read my mind.”The blooming’ beautiful flowers were sourced from Kerry of Cottage Garden Weddings. I’m sure you will agree on just how lovely they are.

What are your Plans and Where do I see myself in 5 years…

“I want to continue to expand my photography business, so I can continue to live my life on my terms. I adore my photography, it brings me to life when I have a camera in my hands, and the more I do the more I learn and the more I love it.

I love weddings, but I also enjoy learning and adding to the types of photography I do. The continued partnership with The Cavalry of Heroes to photograph their jousting shows gives me the opportunity to indulge my love of history and to photograph fast action events, involving horses.

Meeting new clients and getting to know them before I even pick up a camera is important to me and so enjoyable. I’m looking forward to expanding my personal branding photography package. It’s so much fun meeting ladies in business and helping them create beautiful images for their social media platforms.”

The gowns were from Nina Furness Couture, a bespoke designer. We loved the romantic accents, lace detailing and flowing fabrics that complimented the venue so well.

What do you love about Wedding Photography…

“It’s so satisfying to see the fruition of my couples’ plans on their big day. We spend quite a bit of time together before the day, putting plans in place etc, and I enjoy getting to know them and hearing all about what’s happening. At the beginning of the day, during the bridal prep and while everyone is running around, I almost feel like a fly on the wall, capturing the activity on my camera and listening to the conversations – the excitement and anticipation for the rest of the day. I feel privileged to be a part of a couple’s wedding day and I simply love the whole experience.

This year’s weddings have seen a guard of honour by the bride’s Rainbow group, from the church; the cutest otter cake toppers; the groom’s mother tripping, hurting her ankle and an unexpected appearance by paramedics (she was just fine); and a zipper emergency with a bridesmaid’s gown, thankfully sorted out in the nick of time.”

What Makes you Different…

“My mission for my wedding couples is to make the wedding photography process as painless as possible for them. I’m here to help them, every step of the way, and to take the stress of organising the photography away from hem. With planning ahead of time, I can do my job and they can enjoy their day. They are creating their own moments in history with their wedding photography, and it’s one of the very few elements to remain after the day, and I want them to feel happy and comfortable when we work together.”

The Talent Behind The Shoot…

Photography & Planner: Lisa Lucas Photography – Venue: Sudeley Castle & Gardens – Knight & Horse: The Cavalry of Heroes – Models: Sian Jocelyn, Louella VeeJay Jenkinson, Marc Lovatt & Asgard – Ladies Of The Tudor Court: Elle MacPherson & Karen Bowman of The Living History Group – Hair: Charmagne Berry – Make Up: Susan Hunter Hair & Makeup Academy – Bridal Gowns: Nina Furness Couture – Floist: Cottage Garden Weddings A huge thank you to Lisa for allowing me to blog this lovely shoot, what a gorgeous day it looked. Also, a huge thank you to everyone that was involved! X

For details information, please visit us https://www.theweddingaffair.co.uk/