By blending rustic charm, industrial edge, and vintage elegance, couples can create a unique wedding aesthetic that reflects their personal style. This stunning wedding inspiration shoot, captured by San Shawe of Sanshine Photography and styled by Rachael Corigliano of Serendipity Weddings, is the perfect example of how to thoughtfully merge different themes.
The combination of mossy green textures, delicate white wildflowers, steel girders, and metallic decor elements adds a layer of sophistication to an urban wedding setting. With every detail carefully curated, from the cake and stationery to the florals and styling, this shoot is a treasure trove of ideas for couples seeking to infuse their special day with warmth and romance.
Through a collaboration of some of London’s most innovative wedding vendors, this inspiration shoot is sure to leave you feeling inspired and ready to bring your own unique vision to life.
About the Shoot
As I conceptualized this shoot, I aimed to merge two wedding themes that have garnered immense popularity – rustic and industrial. The idea struck me while working on modern wedding ideas for my London-based clients, many of whom seek a rustic aesthetic with lush greenery on their special day, without venturing too far from the city they call home. I envisioned showcasing how an urban environment can seamlessly integrate contemporary rustic details and accents to create a harmonious blend.
The Venue
As the rain poured down on a grey September day, San, myself, and a talented group of suppliers embarked on a photo shoot adventure to the West Reservoir Centre in North East London. This former water processing plant, with its unique industrial charm, proved to be an ideal backdrop for our creative endeavors. The majority of the shoot took place within the Centre’s impressive main tower, where four-story high ceilings and original metal beams provided a dramatic setting for our work.
The juxtaposition of this urban venue with the serene natural surroundings, including the greenery-lined reservoir that borders it, added an intriguing layer of depth to our photographs.
The Stationery
Lisa from Paperknots brought a touch of elegance to the photoshoot with her bespoke invitation suite, expertly tailored to the theme. By combining luxurious pale silver blue with rustic kraft and subtle splashes of black, she created an industrial-chic aesthetic that perfectly harmonized with the floral elements. The delicate botanical illustrations added a romantic flair, effortlessly marrying modernity with timeless charm.
The Flowers
Sarah crafted a stunning loose hand-tied bridal bouquet featuring fresh white hydrangea, scabiosa, and astilbe blooms, adding depth with dark red sanguisorba accents and lush foliage from mixed grasses, ferns, and leaves. To complement the elegant arrangement, she also designed a petite posy of Japanese anemones that perfectly harmonized with Clare’s show-stopping cake design (more on that later).
Meanwhile, groom Matt was treated to three unique buttonholes, carefully bound in rustic twine, offering him a delightful surprise.