The concept around this photoshoot was Grand Victorian opulence meets modern-day bridal fashion and beauty. Inspiration was taken from the stunning, one-of-a-kind Grand Ballroom at The Grand Hotel Birmingham.
With its Louis XIV-Style, beautifully refurbished décor, its grandeur and its double-height windows, not to mention the semi-private balcony and original art deco golden chandeliers, these beautiful elements all add to the sense of occasion, making this the spotlight of the photoshoot!
There isn’t anything else like it in the Midlands. The hotel is an architectural treasure trove of French Renaissance, Victorian and Art Deco features. So the wedding dresses we chose needed to reflect this whilst maintaining a modern, cutting-edge style in bridal fashion. With its resplendent grand staircase and ornate Art Deco cornice hand-finished in gold leaf, style oozes from every corner of this magnificent building! And that’s why it made the perfect backdrop for our dresses and this incredible shoot.”
Staircase
Choosing the right dress to shoot The Grand Staircase was important so that it captured the beauty of the striking Victorian architecture.
The staircase within the hotel is a key feature that we wanted to ensure the dress embodied the beautifully restored staircase. For this scene, we decided to style the dress Tara from the designer Sassi Holford. Sassi Holford is a luxury British designer, and with her innovative creations, the Tara dress embraced the mixture between the new and old.
It’s hard not to be blown away by Tara. The gown’s crowning glory is her feature skirt crafted from 3D chiffon applique that creates volume and drama as you walk down the aisle. Featuring a long sleeve-panelled bodice with crew nice and open back, it is the perfect balance to Tara’s featured full skirt.
The dress is the main feature, so we decided to go for minimal accessories for a ‘Less is More’ look. A floral and pearl hair comb into one side of the hair with a soft, effortless curl. The styling came from the idea that we wanted the combination of an effortless style with maximum effect. The demure neckline and clean cuts of the dress complemented the Grand Staircase.
The Grand Ballroom
This luxurious venue was best suited for designers with hints of tradition with modern and extraordinary detailing. For the Grand Ballroom, we styled the dresses, Phoebe and Annabel, both from the High-end classic London designer Sassi Holford.
Phoebe is a truly captivating gown adorned with pearls; it balances modernity with femininity. The bodice is impeccably structured, with a sheer tulle back and a memorable plunging neckline. The beautiful tulle bell sleeves and wistfully flowing skirt finish this romantic bridal look. One of the key trends that filtered into the newest seasons of bridal is a statement headband.
When styling the Phoebe gown was instantly knew that incorporating the pearls would bring the whole look together. We styled the Phoebe gown with a pearl headband to tie together the pearl on the skirt and pearl sleeves. The structured and slightly raised headband gave a focal point and continued the clean cuts of the dress.
Annabel’s pure blend of playfulness and sophistication makes falling in love feel easy. Delicate soft petals scattered across fine tulle make for a mesmerising display, but the plunging neckline and structured bodice make it a timeless ball gown.
Admire the wispy, sheer petal sleeves that flatter your arms but keep the focus on your decolletage and the sculpting cummerbund waistband. This gown says it all without any accessories, such as a veil, to interfere with the 3D petals that are covering the dress. A pearl headband gives a clean and polished bridal look and adds volume to the crown of the head. With the room styled with florals, this dress is just the epitome of elegance, embracing the styling of the grand ballroom.
Balcony
This part of The Grand Hotel has the most incredible photo opportunities. We decided on using the Sassi Holford Sophia. There are no other words to describe Sophia except elegantly refined. Featuring a silk satin bateau neckline with a deep waistband that flows into an A-line skirt, Sophia has been crafted to perfection.
Whilst the front is simply stunning, Sophia’s crowning glory is the cowl back detail that adds just the right amount of theatre. With the high ceilings of The Grand Hotel, we decided to be creative with the styling and create more height with this high-end fashion look. The headband we chose calls out to all unique brides out there.
This beautiful headpiece gives a dramatic statement to anyone wanting something truly different on their wedding day. A stunning 3D opal and crystal detail intricately adorn the gold headband and embrace the gold architecture throughout the building.
The Delancy gown by the brand ÉLYSÉE was another gown we chose for the Balcony shots. ÉLYSÉE is inspired by the harmony and balance of Neoclassical art and architecture and uses modern silhouettes to accentuate the figure and contour the body’s shape.
We chose the Delancy gown as it takes on a fresh take on a classic, clean ball gown silhouette. It features a spectacular, figure-flattering draped bodice, exquisite side draping, a subtly sexy high slit, and a sweetheart neckline with striking, uniquely modern pointed edge detailing.
We used an ivory and gold bold pearl headband to create a dramatic look without the fuss. We wanted to reflect the hotel’s historical background and the traditional feeling throughout the building but add a cutting edge.
SUPPLIERS
The Grand Hotel Birmingham
@grandhotelbirmingham
https://www.thegrandhotelbirmingham.co.uk
Bridal Gowns & Accessories
TDR Bridal Birmingham
Instagram: @tdrbridalbirmingham
Hair & Makeup
Bridal by Elite Boutique Agency
Instagram: @bridalbyartists
https://www.bridalby.co.uk
Cake
ZM Wedding Cakes
Instagram: @zmweddingcakes
Wedding Planner
Kelly-Anne Weddings
Instagram: @kelly_anneweddings
Website: www.kellyanneweddings.co.uk
Stationery
Weddings By Kathy B
Instagram: @weddings_by_kathyb
https://www.weddingsbykathyb.co.uk/
Cutlery
Diamond Event styling
Instagram: @diamondeventstyling
https://diamondeventstyling.co.uk/
Florist
The Flower Garden
Instagram: @theflowergardenbirmingham
https://www.theflowergardenbirmingham.co.uk
Videographer
Through The Lens With Marvin Marius
Instagram: @throughthelensmm
https://throughthelensmm.com
Photographer
Robyn Francesca Photography
Instagram: @robynfrancescaphoto
www.robynfrancesca.co.uk
Venue stylist
LV Wedding Event Hire
Instagram: @louisevictoriaweddinghire
www.lvweddingeventhire.com
Models
Lucia Needham @lucianeedham
Yasmin Flemming-Smith @yasmineflemingsmithmodel
