Opulent Gold and Marsala Baroque Wedding Inspiration

With Christmas around the corner, we thought it would be a fabulous time of year to share this beautiful luxe Baroque inspiration shoot we created together with the lovely Emma Hunt London.

Dedicated to the daring bride who wants to be unique, romantic and impeccably elegant at the same time, this shoot is full of beautiful period wedding details with shades of gold, dark sumptuous marsala red and jet black. Featuring a selection of our handmade lace wedding boots which are perfect for the Bride looking for a pair of unique wedding shoes we paired each look with fairytale bridal dresses by couturier Chantal Mallett including a dramatic gothic black wedding dress!

The wonderful Philippa from Philippa Sian Photography takes us through the most breathtaking visual journey whilst Siobhan from McGill Sister Films captured the elegance of the shoot perfectly in a sumptuous video.

I am so grateful to the amazing team who brought this idea to life for us and we hope you enjoy feasting your eyes on the opulence of this gorgeous shoot!

Wedding wishes & love as always,

Nicole xxx

P.S. This shoot was also featured on the amazing Strictly Weddings Blog! Take a look at the feature here.

The Inspiration:

Inspired by the opulence of the Baroque era we wanted to capture a feeling of richness, sumptuous textures and period nostalgia whilst showcasing a unique and luxurious bridal style which spans beyond traditional wedding looks. When styling the shoot Emma from Emma Hunt London and I knew that Chantal Mallett’s dresses would be perfect as her designs are inspired by the cut of 18th century corsets and the textured fabrics of the baroque era. House of Elliot’s unique lace boots added a sense of romance so as to inspire a bride who is not afraid of breaking with traditional wedding styles. The story of the shoot progresses from light to dark and is meant to encompass all the elements of a wedding, from the sweet and dinner table, the day and evening bridal looks and a boudoir scene which transitions between the two. Philippa’s photography style was perfect for the shoot as she captured all these elements perfectly with a soft natural and romantic feel.

The Venue:

It took a while to find the venue as I had a very specific style in mind but I was absolutely beside myself with excitement when I found Purton House. Tucked away in a secluded corner of the English countryside, this grand old Georgian stately home is a hidden gem bursting with treasures. Its pillared portico entrance and sweeping staircase evoke a feeling of grandeur and elegance which was perfect for our theme. The magnificent period detailing and original furnishings throughout the house were the ideal complement to the gold and marsala colour palette of the shoot.

The Colour Palette:

Wanting to recreate the richness and opulence of the Baroque era’s fascination with bold contrasting colours, we focused our attention on gold; adding hints of a velvety marsala red to add depth and vibrancy. As the shoot progresses the gold and reds deepen, enhancing the more moody elements of the black boudoir and final bridal scene.

The Bride:

Our beautiful bride and model Charlotte wore three different Chantal Mallett couture dresses, each paired with a pair of handmade lace boots by House of Elliot, England. The styling transitions from light gold to rich gold and finally to black in order to elicit a sense of the day passing from morning to evening. For the first light gold look, Charlotte wore the ‘Valentina’ dress, a modernised French Revolution silhouette with shorter high/low skirt, made in gold french lace, silk tulle & taffeta. This look was paired with our classic ‘Beatrice Elliot’ ivory lace boots. For the second look we choose ‘Elizabeth’ a deep gold, silk damask gown with pearl hand beading, a lace & pearl choker & complementary hair pins & earrings, all from Chantal’s accessories collection. Our sumptuous ‘Goodnight Sweetheart’ ivory over the knee boots were customised with matching gold ribbon to compliment this stunning dress.

For the last look Charlotte wore Dolce Vita, a Chantal Mallett, dramatic black tulle ball gown paired with a statement black choker by Annaliese Rivers. Each look was complemented by a pair of House of Elliot boots, every pair hand finished with customized ribbon to match the colour of the dress fabrics.

Sumptuous Gold and Black Bridal Boudoir:

When planning the shoot we decided to add a boudoir element to encompass the wonderful anticipation a bride goes through whilst getting ready for her big day. In keeping with the luxurious and sumptuous styling handmade black lace and silk lingerie pieces by Pompadour Couture Lingerie were used whilst organza drapery and the lace of the black over the knee ‘Goodnight Sweetheart’ boots added a romantic and sumptuous feel. A hand beaded black crystal Venetian mask by Chantal Mallett and handmade gold hydrangea flower crown from Sophie and Luna added a final touch of decadence.

The Hair & Makeup

For our gorgeous model Charlotte, four hair and makeup looks were created by the amazing Patricia Soper to reflect the romance and awe-inspiring elements of the shoot. The first look was all about softness, barely there with an air of innocence. The makeup was kept very subtle with a wash of gold for the eyes, delicately highlighted cheekbones with a soft lip. Charlotte’s hair was styled to complement the overall look with romantic tumbling tousled waves.

For the second look, a more defined elegant look was created. Charlotte’s hair was styled in a soft romantic half up half down with the makeup slightly bolder but keeping a romantic softness. Rich opulent colours of gold and masala were applied to the eyes and lips. For the boudoir scene the hair and makeup were as kept as before but with a slightly bolder lip.

For the final dining room scene the hair was loosely braided with the addition of florals entwined throughout the back. For Charlotte’s eyes a metallic gold was applied with more definition to the lashline. The lips took on a richer darker shade of Masala which completed this radiant look perfectly.

The Flowers:

Taking inspiration from the grandeur of a country house and the decadence of period couture tones of soft blush combined with warm marsala reds and rich antique golds were used by our talented florist Jenny Fleur. Delicate Quicksand, gold Combo and burgundy Grand Prix roses featured throughout with seasonal flowers and textural foliage, grasses and seed heads for a natural, autumnal feel to soften the formal setting. A large statement arrangement of florals and fruit in deep reds and gold featured on the dining table; with a smaller compote arrangement of blush roses on the dessert table. Loose, natural style hand tied bouquets set off the beautiful gowns and lace boots; in soft romantic tones with the gold dresses, and dark moody colours against the statement black gown and boots.

The Tablescape:

To enhance the elegant and sumptuous period feel of the shoot an array of original vintage crockery, glass, candlesticks and metalware was used throughout. Both the sweet table and dining table were draped in fine silks and organzas in gold and marsala provided by Sophie from Pompom Blossom and laid out with original vintage china from Ellen at Vintage Flair. White and gold fine bone china with heavy gold gilt gave a luxurious look to the tables and using different patterns within each place setting created a unique table setting. Brass metalware, candles and original candelabra from Purton House added warm gold touches to the table displays. For the menus, place setting and sweet tags, Zoe from The Golden Letter created hand dyed paper with marsala dye, and combined this with a variety of gold and gilded edges, in keeping with the Baroque style.

The Details:

Amy Swann Cakes created a stunning cake featuring her signature handcrafted sugar flowers, every one meticulously sculpted and coloured. Twinkling lights were added to create a gorgeous statement cake which enhanced the gold colour palette. Additional handmade delights from The Centrepiece Cake Company and Cakes by Krishanthi, including raspberry ripple marshmallows and white chocolate truffles, completed the sweet table setting.

Antique Gold and Silver Bridal Tablescape

Zoe from The Golden Letter created all the hand dyed stationary in a rich marsala, allowing the colours and textures of the paper to come through, each element beautifully adorned with her signature gold calligraphy. A beautiful ring box from La Petit Box encased my grandmother’s gold and aquamarine vintage ring with gorgeous hand dyed silk ribbon by Pompom blossom adding texture and rich colour. We also used two of The London Victorian Ring Company’s stunning and unique ring designs.

The video which Siobhan from McGill Sister Films created for this shoot is breathtaking and captures all the wonderful details of the shoot in such a romantic way!