Afternoon Lovely People

We have such a beautiful bridal shoot to share with you today.

Styled and captured by the very talented Ela Aksoy of Bochic Weddings and Events, this bohemian styled shoot took place within the most magical bluebell woodland and the results are really quite something. A white dress against a sea of bluebells? You can't go wrong really.

Using the woodland and bluebells as her main inspiration, Ela kept things simple in the styling of the shoot. The bride wore a plain white dress with bare feet and natural make-up and held in her hand a modest bouquet of lavender flowers. There were no props or styled decor. This shoot was all about celebrating a brides natural beauty within a gorgeous location.

Ela talks us through the shoot....

I've always enjoyed photography and after starting Bochic, I wanted to set myself a little creative project to inspire alternative brides who wanted a minimalist, bohemian and natural look for their big day. Think light flowy dress, natural hair and make-up, bare feet and of course flowers in her hair! I didn't include jewellery or accessories in styling the bride - just the bouquet of lavender limonium flowers. I used two totally different natural locations to illustrate how two different boho bridal looks can be created, using nature and florals as my prime inspiration.

The first, Lyde Gardens, is a secluded almost secret (no one knows about it!) garden with bridges, a lake and plenty of greenery! It sort of feels like another country yet it's just a little walk behind a gate off a country road in Princes Risborough.

Showcasing statement floral crowns and soft bridal wear, the first shoot draws from a summery colour palette of cantaloupe, rogue pink, leaf green and white. The dress (a hand-made piece from unknown designer) was a soft, light and flowing fit with crochet detail around the top and tie-up tassels on the back, giving a little festival feel to it. I love the tiers in the dress, it hangs really beautifully!

The tones of the make-up were taken from the colours of the flowers and the styling of the overall shoot with natural pinks, bronze and lighter browns. I thought using these shades highlighted her light blue eyes and opting for minimal make-up is a great way to keep the natural, spring boho bridal look.

To finish off a relaxed, understated look, the 'bride's' hair was relieved of hours of styling and was instead just rolled, tousled and unfussed! Loose, unstructured waves adorned with a flower crown.

The second shoot, in the bluebell carpets of Dockey Woods, was photographed later on in the afternoon and into the evening sunset. I thought this time of day was perfect to capture the wildness of the bluebell wood, creating an ethereal and somewhat magical feel. I wanted a different feel to the images taken in Lyde Gardens.

The bluebell woodland was the perfect setting for a wild woodland vibe complete with a simple, hand-tied bouquet and naturally adorned bride. With shades of violet and dashes of spring green, I wanted to inspire Spring time brides looking to create a wedding with a wild, bohemian edge. The carpets of bluebells looked stunning against the contrast of the white dress making the bare-foot bride stand out beautifully. The bouquet consisted of lavender limonium florals and was hand-tied together with white ribbon and organic crochet fabric to match the dress.

Her hair was braided from the top of her head, twisted and wound round the back, all the way down her face into a long fishtail braid. I styled it by entwining dainty purple flowers and small leaves into the braid, weaving them in and out. This added texture to an otherwise fairly ordinary hair style, creating the perfect finishing touch by tying in nature with style. Again, my inspiration for the hair was led by the surroundings to create a style that looked naturally wild.

In both of these bridal shoots, we were inspired by simplicity and nature. We didn't want to over do it with detail and accessories but instead wanted to work in harmony with the natural outdoor settings. A stunning natural location can be the perfect backdrop just the way it is!

Photography and Styling: Bochic Weddings and Events
Model: Laura Mulford
Bouquet: The Flower Gallery
Flower Crowns: Handmade from
Signage and Ribbon: Hobbycraft
Dress: Designer Unknown
Locations: Lyde Gardens & Dockey Woods