When this delicious shoot landed in our inbox, we knew we had to share it with the world. It’s wild, romantic and, well…wild some more! From the flowing dresses, to the abundant flowers, the whole shoot is a perfect juxtaposition between the rugged landscape and the soft, romanticism of the bridal styling. And when something is shot so authentically, it’s hard not to fall in love hard. We could feel the emotion behind the camera and photographer, Elena Popa, tells us more…
“Dorset – and in particular Lulworth cove and the Jurassic Coast – has for a long while held a special place in my heart. Many happy memories stem from this corner of the world, not to mention I am a total sucker for a dramatic coastline, so naturally the day arrived when I decided I just had to shoot there. I’d already sourced a couple of dresses should the occasion arise – and I wanted to keep it quick and simple, so I contacted wonderful model Holly Drinkwater and super talented flower queen Elspeth Louise Flowers who were kind enough to say yes to this adventure.”
Elena’s concept incorporated both her love for the location and her desire for adventurous weddings and elopements to become more of a thing in the UK.
“There’s nothing quite like tying the knot in the midst of an epic landscape like this and I wish UK laws could accommodate this for those who wish to marry in the wild.”
Elena chose two dresses in completely different styles. One, a simple white wrap dress from Asos – the neckline and sleeve combination being incredibly flattering. The other dress was the ethereal dusty pink Supernova gown from Needle and Thread. The look was complemented with a boho white tassel throw, brown shearling jacket and boots.
We are complete suckers for abundant bouquets, and Elena is of the same mind…
“Oversize bouquets are the way to go and Elspeth truly outdid herself with this one – all the while using flowers that were still in season. I absolutely love the flower crown she created, in keeping with the autumnal vibes I was trying to incorporate in the shoot.”
Of course, the biggest concern with the shoot was the unpredictable British weather; but Elena explains that Holly (the model) was such a trooper during the shoot! The wind was fierce but the team spent a good couple of hours shooting on the breathtaking clifftops surrounding Lulworth Cove, before returning to their cars for warmth. The flowers held together remarkably well in the windy conditions too – Elspeth, the florist, must have put them together with magic!
We asked Elena, what her favourite aspect of the shoot was…
‘The simplicity of it – not having to worry about a huge production – and the way all the elements came together to provide the dramatic aesthetic I was striving for”
And we completely agree Elena…you and your team smashed it!
Supplier Love
Planning | Elena Popa Photography
Flowers | Elspeth Louise Flowers
Model | Holly Drinkwater
Dresses | Needle and Thread and ASOS