Edwardian Style Shoot

Immerse yourself in the beauty of the imposing architecture, English garden florals and decorative lace of the Edwardian era

This styled shoot tiptoes back to the turn of the 20th century. The house at Hillersdon is a fitting setting, with its light-filled high ceilings, sweeping staircase and grandiose great hall complete with crystal chandeliers. Embracing magnificence, the shoot evokes regal resplendence at its finest.

"My starting point for this shoot was a book that sat on my mother's bookshelf as a child, Edith Holden's 'The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady'," says Jennifer Shoubridge of Jennifer Jane Photography.

"Published 70 years after its creation, the collection of seasonal observations, poetry and pictures of birds, plants, and insects had the nostalgic charm of a vanished world. Edith Holden would go out each morning and document what she saw around her in the fields, hedgerows and trees, as the seasons changed. I wanted to do the same for this shoot. I wanted to use very soft, natural flowers that you would find growing locally. To keep the shoot as natural, soft and romantic as possible, but with a modern edge."

Edwardian in its inspiration, the initial look is one of class and sophistication. But glance at the details and you'll see a gentle prettiness. Tiny fresh flowers lighten the heavy-set styling; a lace runner adorns the table, while ornate plates and golden cutlery sit aside crystal glasses and chunky antique candlesticks.

The stationery, with its hand-painted stems and fluttering butterflies, adds a touch of nature to the Edwardian styling, with large gilt-edged mirrors to reflect the surrounding splendour.

"Hillersdon House was the perfect place, with its abundance of beautiful grounds, fields, kitchen gardens, lakes and flower beds, as well as geese, swans and deer," says Jennifer. "It had everything one could want for a wedding shoot with nature at the heart of its theme."

In a nod to the Edwardian tradition of placing utmost importance on the gown, the bride is dressed in vintage-inspired lace, the strong silhouette paired with a bouquet of flowers from an English country garden. Embracing fashion's most romantic period, the bride exudes a refined gracefulness, poised to take her vows alongside her dashing groom.

words Lucy Higgins