Here at Mrs2be.ie we get a lot of really lovely emails containing gorgeous bridal inspiration photo shoots that excite us, and sometimes we get really, really excited to share those shoots with you! Today’s incredible Victorian shoot was created by Irish photographer, Olga Hogan and is sure to inspire and delight you, especially if you dream of bringing some of the beautiful past to your Big Day.
“The theme behind our shoot was old world charm and Victorian elegance. People so often romanticise this era and constantly draw inspiration from it so we wanted to recreate the elegance, grace and atmosphere of the by-gone days. After all, it was Queen Victoria who set the trend for the classic white wedding gown!” explained Olga. “The starting point for the shoot was the choice of locations. The exquisite banquet hall of Smock Alley Theatre boasts gorgeous old-style brick walls and original tall stained glass windows that evoke the idea of a traditional church wedding and a lavish banquet. The luxurious rose garden in the Irish Memorial Gardens adds a more romantic and informal note to the style.”
“To complement the colours of the venue we used a royal Victorian colour palette of white, pale pink, burgundy and gold. Elements of these hues were used in all aspects of the shoot – the floral arrangements, the table setting, the invitations, the jewellery and the cake. Reka from Annie Bloom created amazing table arrangements, buttonholes and bridal bouquets, including lavish Victorian cascades. The table setting uses the traditional elements of gold and crystal that give beautiful reflections in romantic candlelight. The same colour palette was used for the classic three-tier wedding cake.”
“Pearls and lace were very popular in the Victorian era, and we included these elements in the bridal look as well as the stationery. The bespoke invitation suite was designed by Marta from Love Blossoms and uses beautiful cream paper and calligraphy together with elements of gold and burgundy.”
“The groom’s outfit was a traditional morning coat with a decorated white waistcoat and a burgundy cravat. For the bride, the hair and make up team went for three very different looks using Victorian-style up-dos and curls. Queen Victoria brought luxurious floral crowns into fashion, and we can still see them commonly used by romantic brides these days. These styles perfectly match the three types of dresses we used for the shoot. Not many people know that before the Queen’s wedding there were no strict rules on the colour of the wedding gown. We highlighted this idea with three fabulous dresses: a traditional white veiled lace dress, a heavily decorated champagne-coloured dress with a low neckline and a romantic pink lace-adorned gown with puff sleeves – all vintage from Dirty Fabulous. The bridal look was complete with exquisite ruby and diamond antique jewellery from Delphi Antiques.”
Creative Team & Suppliers
Photography, art direction & props: Olga Hogan Photography
Venue: Irish War Memorial Gardens & Smock Alley Theatre
Florist: Reka Kurtos from Annie Bloom
Cakes: Victoria from Victorias Heavenly Cupcakes
Hair: Michelle O’Hare from Upstyles by Michelle
Makeup: Helen Steadmond from Purr-fect
Models: Alex & Leo
Stationery – Marta from Love Blossoms
Jewellery: Declan from Delphi Antiques
Wedding dresses: Dirty Fabulous
Groom’s outfit: Aston Formal Wear
Dinnerware: Cater Hire
