A GROUP of Fermanagh Creatives came together recently to put together a bridal shoot at one of the most picturesque wedding venues in the county.

Belle Isle Estate was the venue for the shoot that aimed at showcasing a bridal style which is authentic, sustainable and complementary.

Martin Mullarkey, from Big Beard Photography, along with Briege McManus Hair, Jasmine Swift Make-Up Artistry, FMK the Flowersmith, along with models Sarah Carters, Lauren McBrien and Kelly McAdam, created a shoot which they hoped would “inspire you all to put people and places at the centre of your wedding styling and to let everything flow out from there”.

“We flipped the traditional bridal styling model on its head and made the shoot people- and place-centric,” explained Martin.

“This wasn’t about pushing any one collaborator’s ideals about what was ‘trendy’ or aesthetically pleasing to them.

“We chose our perfect wedding venue and made a decision to showcase three looks; each distinctly different, but subtly so, and we worked out from there, outlining a persona for each look and creating the styling around that.

“It was important to think about what each model’s alter-ego would feel fabulous wearing in real life.”

To help the creative team differentiate between the three looks, during the planning stages the team referred to the chosen models as ‘Earthy Bride’, ‘Rainbow Bride’ and ‘Classic Bride’ – broad terms to describe the looks they’d be wearing.

Sustainability

In terms of sustainability, the team looked at Belle Isle and its credentials as an eco-friendly venue.

“Belle Isle is said to be the first castle in Ireland to go Green,” said Martin.

“The 470-acre estate is a designated area of Special Scientific Interest, with the estate and working farm dedicated to protecting and preserving some of Fermanagh’s most unique natural heritage.

“In 2006, it installed a biomass boiler which not only boosted its eco credentials, but reduced its carbon impact by 68 tonnes per year, and saves an impressive £6,000 in yearly fuel costs.

“Belle Isle also boasts an award-winning cookery school which practices a slow food ethos, linking exquisite food with a commitment to the community and environment.

“It was this focus on doing things slowly and thoughtfully, with special care given to the community, environment and clientele they serve, that drew us as a creative team to Belle Isle, and we were delighted when the castle jumped on board with our vision.”

The brides were dressed in high-street dresses in complementing styles to show how effective this can be as a strategy for dressing bridesmaids, or indeed, the bride herself.

“Going High Street can be a great way to have a more sustainable wedding, both in terms of the money you’ll save as a couple, and also – despite first impressions – the impact your wedding fashion will have on the environment.”

The ribbons used were Etsy-purchased from @roseslane, and were hand-dyed, with the help of some avocados, and made from torn strips of recycled silk fabric left over from sari-manufacturing in India.

The flowers, although imported from overseas out of necessity, were chosen for their seasonality in the UK and used naturally-occurring colours and forms.

“This shoot was about being true, not trendy. It was about inspiring our audience to go against the grain when it comes to wedding styling; to show that it is okay to not conform to a set norm.

“It was also to show that it is in fact a really sensible thing to have the people and places that the couple has so carefully selected to be part of their wedding, to be at the forefront of their wedding styling decisions,” added Martin.