5 tips for Outdoor Wedding Ceremonies

How to make the most out of your wedding ceremony, even if it is during the Great British summertime.

Create a backdrop

Have a focal point to draw your guests eye to the main focus of your day. Consider using a sail, draping fabric, floral archway or fringe wall. They can be colourful, subtle or a contrast against the venue or colour scheme.

Aisle at Rigger's Yard, SS Great Britain. Image by Bristol Contemporary Photography

Forge an aisle

Whether it's with chairs. benches, straw bales, using vintage rugs, florals and foliage or lanterns. Carve out a clear walkway to get you from A to B.

Add decorative details

Create clusters in small areas to add personality and creativity.

Think about having stations like a prosecco or gin bar, a confetti cone basket or quirky furniture. Add a spattering of florals in this areas to tie everything together.

Images by Bristol Contemporary Photography at Rigger's Yard SS Great Britain and The Radnor Rooms.

Use signage

They add colour, character, information and can be used across more than one part of the wedding, as they are easily moveable. They also can come in a range of sizes, styles and colours and be used as keeps sakes too, after the wedding day.

I also offer a range of hireable items, contact me for a list of options.

Images courtesy of Bristol Contemporary photography, Sarah Gray Photography and James and Kerrie Photography.

Have a back up plan

Not to be negative, but it is Great Britain after all.

Think about ways that you can still make the most out of your wedding day even if the forecast isn't looking its best.

Can you get fancy umbrellas? Only put chairs out when ready, so they don't get wet beforehand.

Is there a way you can have a temporary cover during the ceremony?

Try not to let it stress you out, embrace it even - ask your photographer to capture a shot of you in the rain if it comes to it, with an umbrella or even your wellies.

We can plan for everything, but one thing we can't control is the weather.

Let me know if you've got any questions or need any help with planning your wedding day.

I'm always here to help via email, instagram @hunter_gatherings or this blog.

Goodluck planning, especially at this very difficult time!

Love Fran xxx

Inner city boho styled shoot

Oh what a cup of coffee and a catch up can create…

I remember sitting in a café (inside with no social distancing or face masks, remember these times?) with Charlie of Bristol Contemporary Photography and discussing the desire to create something different, creative and stylish in a local venue and that we could use to showcase independent local wedding businesses.

Lots of ideas were bounced around and the final vibe we decided we wanted to go for was a mix of relaxed chic boho, with the contrast of edgy inner city, industrial, Bristol.

We knew we wanted to find a venue that was in the centre, that was unique and had key features we could highlight. The Radnor Rooms just behind St Nicholas Market in the centre, was perfect.

Rich jewel colours and earthy muted tones were a starting point for the colour palette. We then combined these with softer shades and the rough brick walls of The Radnor Rooms setting to allow for a subtle industrial edge on the common boho style. Their interior design lent itself to the boho vibe with an outdoor area terrace, which has stylish furniture, outdoor lighting and a twist on vintage living. These elements captured the boho festival vibes and were enhanced by garlands, lanterns and metallic decorations, provided by me, Hunter Gatherings.

I created stationery with a modern feel using the muted tones combined with black sans serif text for contrast. I wanted the stationery to feel contemporary but not to harsh, I still wanted the romance of a wedding, but with a twist for an urban venue.

When planning your invites, make sure to link them to your personal style and include all the details you need – see my 5 top invite details blog post for inspiration.

Becci Bakes creates exceptional cakes and she used the stationery colour palette to mimic plaster like qualities on to the cake, which captured a sense of minimalism in a contemporary textural way. Wedding cakes don’t have to have tiers, the can be one large pillar made up of multiple layers of sponge and filling. Or you can have a range of styled smaller cakes, which are arranged in a creative way on a cake table with contemporary cake stands.

Large amounts of foliage, tropical flowers with pinks and purples brought the outdoors indoors adding to the relaxed, modern wedding shoot, these arrangements and stunning bouquets were selected and created by Natalie Lauraine Floral design.

If planning a boho or more contemporary wedding think outside the box when it comes to your wedding flowers. You don’t have to use traditional styles, but can mix it up with tropical larger statement pieces, potted plants and plants you can keep in your home after the day to reduce wastage. Think about scale, quantity and colour and be playful with how you use it across your venue.

Emma Dee creates stunning bespoke pieces, which incorporated the boho style with unique two piece outfits, in off whites and muted pink. We wanted to reflect the ability to be different and the free flowing skirt and crop top add a touch of spirit and individuality to the Brides style. The world is your oyster when it comes to wedding these days and I think your guests like to see the unexpected so wear what you feel comfortable and beautiful in. I also love that a 2 piece can be worn again and not just put in a gown bag and hung at the back of your wardrobe.

Planning a wedding can be daunting but these styled shoots are a great way to see how ideas and inspiration can come alive and also make you see how a space or supplier can be utilised in real life.

If you’re stuck with wedding planning then I’ve created a free checklist and blog post, so take a read.

Let me know what you think of this shoot and if there are any other themes or styles you’d like to know about, comment on this blog or send me a message at huntergatherings@gmail.com

Check out my Instagram for more wedding inspiration.

Love Fran xxx

Shoot details and suppliers list:

Venue The Radnor Rooms

www.theradnorrooms.co.uk

Photographer: Bristol Contemporary Photography

www.bristolcontemporaryphotography.com

Dresses and accessories(boutique) Emma Dee

www.emmaddee.co.uk

Hair and make-up: Lousie Jane Make Up Artist

www.louisejanemakeupartist.co.uk

Suits (store) Models own

Wedding cake: Becci Bakes

www.beccibakes.co.uk

Flowers: Natalie Lauraine Floral Design

www.natalielauraine.co.uk

Stationery and Styling: Hunter Gatherings

www.hunter-gatherings.com

Are you ready to party?

With lockdown lifting in the near future, there is certainly plenty to celebrate.

I cannot wait to get together with friends, catch up, celebrate missed occasions and just hang out with more than my household.

So with this in mind and your bestie’s bridesmaids duties calling, I thought it would be a good time to share some ideas to help you get planning!

Hen parties are a great way to bring friends together to celebrate getting married and with so many options out there, there is much fun to be had.

However, you may have never organised a hen party before, or even been to one, so they can seem a little daunting at first, but don’t worry I have some ideas and inspiration right here for you.

Hen parties can be as much or as little as you want! They can be a full weekend or a day or night. There are lots of options out there and whatever you choose to do, just make sure you have the Bride in mind. This will be one of her final moments as a single lady, with all her nearest and dearest, so make sure to make lots of memories.

A few things to consider:

• Time – how long to do you want it to be?

• Location – where will it be? Local, UK, abroad?

• Accommodation – what type? A big house, hotel, airbnb?

• Budget – how much can the guests afford without feeling anxious about it and what will be included in the price?

• Activities – how many? What sort of things? What would the group and bride enjoy?

• Food and drink – home cooked, self-catering, restaurant meals, cocktails, prosecco, drinks in and/or out ?

• Decorations/theme – what colours, style or décor does the bride like? How can you bring elements of her into the hen party?

• Extras – hen party book, Polaroid camera, butler in the buff, fancy dress and branded t-shirts.

There’s lots of ideas out there, so make sure you do your research via google, pinterest and blogs, think about the above tips to come up with a simple plan and work with your fellow bridesmaids to get started.

Hunter Gatherings can offer creative craft hen party workshops in a venue of your choice.

I have 6 options to choose from or if you’ve got an idea then I am happy to discuss bespoke craft options. They are suitable for all ages and craft ability and all materials and equipment are provided. All you need to do is show up and bring drinks and nibbles.

Flower crowns

£35pp based on 8 people minimum (6 during covid restrictions)

Festival fashion lover? Summer sunshine worhsipper? Why not create beautiful headband to channel those floral vibes.

Choose from a variety of gorgeous artificial flowers and foliage to hand make your own floral headband which you can all wear for the rest of the day. You can also reuse it at your next music festival or summer party.

Floral crowns can be tailored to more autumnal/winter themes on request.

This is our most popular party!

Knicker decorating

£32 pp based on 8 people minimum (6 during covid restrictions)

Add your own touch of cheeky flair and have fun styling a pair of sassy knickers.

Using a range of ribbons, frills, fabric, lace and feathers to customise a pair of knickers.

Will they be naughty or nice?

A great activity, with lots of laughs and is one of our most popular choices.

Printed totebags

£32 pp based on 8 people minimum (6 during covid restrictions)

We all know how much we like to shop and why not do it in style with this party, to create your own stylish canvas shopper.

Print your own tote bag using your own inspiration and creativity or with a variety of stencils and templates.

DIY sashes

£32 pp based on 8 people minimum (6 during covid restrictions)

Not a fan of stereptypical hen do sashes available in the shops, then why not be different and make your own.

Using pastel coloured fabrics, prints, sew and embellish your own sashed to make them personal to your style and hen party.

Wear them with pride for the rest of the day!

A colour scheme or theme can be organised on request.

Pennant flags

£32 pp based on 8 people minimum (6 during covid restrictions)

Add some glamour to your walls with this party.

Whether it’s a quote, name or image. These look great hung up.

Using a range of fabrics, trimmings, ribbons, frills and pom poms. You’ll produce a pennant flag to hand as a decoration to brighten any space.

Paper cut craft

£32 pp based on 8 people minimum (6 during covid restrictions)

Want to create something you can display at home for all to see?

This party is a great way to get creative and learn a new skill.

Using basic cutting techniques you’ll create either a design from one of my templates or can be creative and come up with one of your own to cut out.

Prints and card designs available to try and a range of background papers to add pops of colour.

Personalised initial template supplied for each person.

Any of these catching your eye?

All of these are super fun to do, whilst sipping cocktails or prosecco (provided by you or the venue), singing loudly along to cheesy music and being surrounded by your closest friends and family.

Also even if you’re not having a hen party and just want to get a group of friends or celebrate a birthday together after one hell of year, then please get in touch.

To check my availability and party options send me an email to huntergatherings@gmail.com or use my contact form.

Goodluck with the hen party planning and let me know if you have any questions.

Love Fran xxx