Hope. Never before, at least, not in many years, has the nation woke feeling such collective hope, ahead of the UEFA EURO 2020 final this evening.
But it’s not just football that is uniting our nation right now, it is the incredible bright light of optimism and hope that we’ve dared to let enter our thoughts and creative spaces, ahead of ‘Freedom Day’, on 19th July.
Each & Every Moment + Follow
There is an incredibly, heady mix of anticipation, ambition and optimism coursing through the day to day thoughts of so many thousands of couples, wedding business owners and employees right now, that it daren’t seem real.
But it is, and ahead of whatever the Prime Minister has to say in his press conference tomorrow, we hope with all our hearts that his decisions will bring our beautiful, talented wedding industry the hope and freedom it has been longing for for so long now.
Benjamin Wheeler + Follow
These images today were a special project, a collaboration between a collective of talented souls our industry should be incredibly proud of.
They represent artists and designers at the top of their game, who came together with one focus in mind, hope, and a desire to visually project their feelings of hope through beautiful imagery and film.
Leading this collaboration were destination wedding planners, Isla & Smith, who teamed up with the incredibly talented film makers Angel and Taibo of Each & Every Momen and photographer Benjamin Wheeler. I will leave you to enjoy the fruits of their creative labours…
“It had been a long old winter – the third and lengthy lockdown weighing so heavily on us all.”
“We were craving something fresh and hopeful-for a year of weddings to go ahead, impossible restrictions to be lifted and otherworldly beauty to be created.”
“That’s when we got our heads together with photographer Benjamin Wheeler and floral designer Liberty Lane, to produce a studio based shoot of simplistic beauty, flooded with delicious natural light.”
“Using one of Manchester’s stunning converted warehouses, we were blessed with incredible sunlight (thank you Manchester for turning on the charm) dancing through the sculptural honesty installation Jennie at Liberty Lane had produced.”
“Delicate, strikingly simple and offering a purity like no other flower could, we chose it for it’s symbolism – known for being protective and keeping away (covid!) monsters.”
“In the middle of a hellish pandemic which had turned most bride’s world’s upside down, it felt utterly appropriate.”
“We gathered breathtaking tulle, buttery metallic silks from New York and playful ruffles from the amazing Ghost Orchid Bridal Boutique and The White Closet-both flying the flag for the north’s upcoming fashion forward scene, paired with Miu Miu and Cecilile Bahnsen for an unconventional take on life celebrations.”
“Plump glowing skin by hair and makeup artist Amy George, and the softest hair waves added the final pizazz we needed to set this studio based shoot alight.”
“Showcased against the white washed walls of the studio, it’s all we needed to press reset on a fresh, clean start in 2021.”
My love and thanks to the incredible team behind this sublime film and images, it truly is an honour to share your work.
Ahead of this evening and ahead of tomorrow and whatever they may bring, lets hold our thoughts of hope together. I hope you feel that collective energy today. I certainly can.
Annabel
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Annabel is the founder of Love My Dress. She lives in rural North Yorkshire with her husband and business partner Philip, two daughters Eska and Leanora and three dogs. She is passionate about photography, supporting women in business and in life, and is in her element being surrounded by nature and the countryside.