A group of wedding professionals have come together to raise awareness of VOW for Girls, a charity they are collectively passionate about, in a joyful styled shoot.
The shoot features a group of young girls having fun and enjoying a tea party that celebrates girlhood and their individual potential.
It all started when I approached the ‘queen of sugar craft magic’ Elizabeth S, and asked her to collaborate. I’d been having visions of painting directly onto one of Elizabeth’s gorgeous cakes, and I love new creative challenges.
Our creative project soon became a wonderful, styled shoot with many wedding industry greats giving up their time for free. It was my first time organising and directing a creative shoot, and it was a whirlwind I am beyond proud and excited with the result.
VOW for Girl’s vision is a world where no child is ever a bride. The charity partners with wedding professionals, brands and individuals to raise awareness and much-needed funds to end the international child marriage crisis.
Every year, 12 million girls worldwide become brides before they turn 18. That is one girl every 3 seconds. This international crisis spans cultures, religions and countries; VOW for Girls provides much-needed funds locally by focusing on effective yet overlooked grassroots organisations supporting girls’ education and social and career development.
The shoot is significant as it demonstrates how wedding professionals can come together creatively to raise awareness of an important cause. It was designed to not only inspire professionals and couples of ways they can incorporate VOW’s message into their events but also to celebrate girlhood, the importance of girls to society and their limitless potential.
The shoot focuses on five girls and expresses each girl’s individuality and freedom to be whatever they dream of being and live a life they love as they become strong and valued women with the world at their feet.
Clay Dunn, CEO of VOW for Girls, said, “We are thrilled this team of talented wedding professionals that partner with VOW have joined together for this creative project to raise awareness about VOW for Girls and the work we do with wedding industry professionals, engaged couples, brands, and the public to end the international child marriage crisis. The idea for VOW was born at a wedding, and from its inception, VOW for Girls was designed to complement and work with this amazingly generous industry.”
Dunn added, “This project is a great example of how wedding professionals can take a stand and say #LoveIsOurBusiness while using their skills to support VOW’s vision of a world where no child is ever a bride.”
The shoot represented VOW for Girl’s vision in every way possible. The colours and flowers were chosen based on VOW’s branding. The stationery promoted its key message and values. Each girl was also given a cake and dress representing their dreams and personalities.
Elizabeth Solaru of Elizabeth’s Cake Emporium created individual cakes for each girl involved in the shoot. She commented, “The individual cakes in different designs and shoot colours were made for each girl to celebrate their common girlhood, different personalities and individuality. We must set a good example for our girls by believing in them and their dreams, which are limitless in their potential.”
The Live Event Artist Lucy McLoughlin had the initial idea for the shoot. She painted an illustration of one of the girls onto a four-tier cake for the shoot, adding, “Everything came together beautifully on the day, and the uplifting theme shines through in every photograph. We are so proud and privileged to be able to share VOW’s message in such a joyous and symbolic way.”
The energetic tea party atmosphere and the hot air balloon represented that girlhood is about having fun as you learn who you are and what you want to become. The world is your oyster, and your limitless potential is celebrated.
Wedding planner, Jane Riddell, was in charge of planning and styling; she added, “What better way to celebrate with young girls than with a bright, vibrant, and energetic tea party, full of fun and laughter? The celebration culminated with a ride in a hot air balloon, allowing the girls to fly away, to explore the world, a world where anything and everything is possible and where girls can be whoever and whatever they want to be.”
It is hoped this shoot will not only convey the positive message of a girl’s infinite potential but also inspire other wedding professionals and couples to support VOW, whether by becoming a VOW Pro supporter (as these collaborators are) or by collating donations to VOW for Girls as an alternative to their gift list.
Shoot Credits:
Charity: VOW for girls – @vowforgirls
Venue: Four Seasons Hampshire – @fshampshire & @fshampshireevents
Artist & Shoot Creator: Live Event Artist – @liveeventartist
Planner / Stylist: Planned for Perfection – @plannedforperfection
Cakes: Elizabeth’s Cake Emporium – @elizabethscakeemporium
Stationery: Intricate Creations – @intricatecreations
Photographer: Cristina Ilao – @cristinailaophoto
Videographer: Muse Motion Pictures – @musemotionpictures
Flowers: Paula Rooney – @paularooneyfloraldesigner
Hair & Makeup: J&L Hair and Makeup – @jujuwest15 and @lisabridalhairandmakeup
Balloons: Bubblegum Balloons – @bubblegumballoons
Main dresses: Shimmering Ivory – @shimmering_ivory
Silk dresses (Orange & Grey): Little Bevan – @littlebevanlondon
Outfits: House of Gallet, ladies’ designer wear – @houseofgallet
Shoes: Models own
Accessories: Models own
Hot Air Balloon: Atmosphere Hot Air Balloons – @atmosphere_hot_air_balloons
Furniture: Event Hire Hub – @londoneventhire
Linen: Just 4 Linen -@just_4_linen
Tableware: Whitehouse Event Crockery – @whitehouse_crockery
Additional / Full Quotes for Publications
- Lucy McLoughlin, Live Event Artist – “A wonderful team of talented, high-end wedding suppliers came together because they feel passionate about promoting the charity VOW for Girls, a worthy cause. Working in this wonderful industry we are very aware that sadly, weddings aren’t always a joyful experience in other parts of the world and we want to spread the word and tell other wedding professionals and couples about the very important work VOW does and encourage everyone to get involved.”
- Jane Riddell, from Planned For Perfection – “When Lucy asked me to be involved in this charity shoot for VOW, I didn’t hesitate to say yes – VOW for girls is an incredible charity aiming to end child marriage and support young girls to be able to lead a life that they deserve. What better way to celebrate with young girls than with a bright, vibrant, energetic tea party full of fun and laughter? The celebration culminated with a ride in a hot air balloon, allowing the girls to fly away, to explore the world, a world where anything and everything is possible and where girls can be whoever and whatever they want to be.”
- Sian Hughes Cooke, from Shimmering Ivory – “Layla (9) wore a bespoke dress for this photoshoot. The origami butterfly emulated the butterfly logo of Vow for Girls, and the feather design of the skirt was made using poly chiffon and poly organdie made from 100% RPET. RPET means that these fabrics are made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. The blue volume fabric worn by Emily (11) was also created using sustainable fabric”.
- Elizabeth Solaru, from Elizabeth’s Cake Emporium – “It was a pleasure to work on this project with the best wedding suppliers in the industry. Seven cakes were created for this project, all with different flavours. The individual cakes, in different designs and shoot colours, were made for each girl to celebrate their common girlhood, their different personalities and individuality. We must set a good example for our girls by believing in them and their dreams, which are limitless in their potential”.
- Paula Rooney, Floral Designer – “The VOW’s website inspired the colours for the shoot to incorporate their charity branding into the event. We added yellow, orange and pink to the bold coral and blue colours for a vivacious party, for independent young girls with the world at their feet.”
Contact information
For further information or comment about this press release, please contact:
- Lucy McLoughlin – +44 (0)7815 746505 / [email protected]
- Jane Riddell – +44 (0)7917273180 / [email protected]
- Elizabeth Solaru – +44 (0)7958069116 / [email protected]
