Melina and David’s Whimsical and Sunkissed Oxfam Engagement Shoot…

Those of you who read this blog regularly will recall that earlier this
year, I became an Ambassador for Oxfam Weddings and worked with them on
a wedding auction to raise almost £40,000
for their charity. We could
only raise all of that money because so many kind and generous wedding
suppliers
came forward to give away their products and services so that
people wanting to support the auction could bid for them. 

One of the
services that was donated was an engagement shoot by photographer Kat Hill and I'm so absolutely delighted to be sharing the actual shoot with
you today – it is utterly dreamy, my heart jumped out of my rib cage
when I first saw these images taken at Brick House Farm in Kent!

Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photography Copyright (c) 2012, Kat Hill

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

The lucky couple are Melina and David. Before we speak to Melina, let's hear from Kat Hill about how these glorious images came to be…

"The shoot was absolutely magic – a great combination of the
perfect venue, amazing couple, fantastic styling and incredible
light…"

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

"Melina and David had examples of the look they wanted to
achieve and so that was our starting point. Within days we had a Pinterest board going and it all fell into place after that.  We wanted
to create something a bit rustic, a bit boho – with lots of soft light
and sunkissed colours…"

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

"Our Stylist Meryl Tabner found the perfect venue by way of Brick House Farm in Kent – it has a little fishing shack, gypsy caravans,
gorgeously styled barns – the works!  It couldn't have been more perfect
and the owners were so generous in allowing us to shoot there.  Best of
all, it's an actual wedding venue and one that I think needs serious
consideration by brides. It's amazing!"

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

"Melina and David brought a
few props themselves, including some books and an old photograph of
Melina's beautiful grandmother.  The rest was styled absolutely
perfectly by Meryl Tabner.  The icing on the cake was the wonderful
florals by Gwenda of The Vintage Floral Design Company.

Melina's
headband really made the shoot, I think – it was absolutely gorgeous and
suited our theme so well. It also smelt divine!  Melina's make up was
by Ana Ospina, who's magic kept Melina looking gorgeous and fresh as a
daisy all day, despite the 30'c heat!"

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Meryl Tabner styled this shoot beautifully, here she talks about how she did it… 

"My
involvement with the Oxfam engagement shoot was to assist
Kat with the
overall look and style. We knew we wanted this to be something special
as it was part of the auction but we also wanted to make sure it matched
the couples expectations.

Using the information from the couple
and a link to an engagement shoot they both liked the look I managed to
find the perfect location. Brick House Farm is a working farm and
venue. It has outdoor barns, tipis, vintage caravans and a lake with a
fishing shack built on the edge. It embodied so many possibilities that
Kat and I were squealing with joy when  we were able to photograph
there…"

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

"I was extremely grateful when I managed to get Gwenda
from Vintage Floral Design doing the head crown. With my handy bottles I
sprayed them all gold so we could also have flowers dotted around the
shack. I also brought with me some crepe streamers to create a whimsical
look. With a few more additions for styling the whole shoot came
together quite quickly…"

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Bride to be Melina told me…

"David and I met at Sheffield University, introduced by our joint
friend Alice, who is now a bridesmaid alongside my sister.  It was love
at the first sight and we talked all night, drinking Gin and Tonic and
putting the world to rights. The rest is history: we got engaged in
January this year and will get married in July next year.  There are
honestly no words to describe how in love and how excited we are for our
wedding day and I think it has been clear since the day we met that we 
will get married. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with David!"
Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com 

"Never in a million years would I have dared to
dream about getting married in a real Palace, and we are absolutely
thrilled about getting married at Westminster Palace in London!  Our
ceremony and drinks reception at Westminster Palace will be followed by
the wedding breakfast and dance at One Whitehall Place, just across the
river Thames…"

 

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

"My bridesmaid Alice told me
about the Wedding Oxfam auction on Ebay and I was really excited about
the idea of a styled engagement photo shoot and knowing that the money
would go to charity was great.  I always wanted a boho/rustic engagement
shoot and we are absolutely thrilled with the results!"

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

"The location
was magical and the weather couldn't have been better. We had a great
time during the shoot and
Kat Hill is truly amazing – taking pictures
with her felt really easy and the results are stunning.  Thank you so
much to the rest of the team for the beautiful styling by Meryl Tabner,
the phenomenal flower garland by Gwenda Wilkes and the pretty make-up by
Ana Ospina Ruiz – we had a wonderful day and can't wait to share the
pictures with family and friends…"



Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

 

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

The Florist for the shoot was Gwenda of Vintage Floral Design 

"When Meryl and Kat sent out a
request for help on this shoot I immediately jumped at the chance to
work with them. I knew it would be something quite magical and I wasn't
the least bit disappointed. The weather was exceptional and Kat's use of
the natural light gives every image an aura of Boho beauty. Meryl's
styling was perfectly suited to the location, as well as to the sense of
romance and fun one felt from the gorgeous couple.

I interpreted the
inspiration board into various tones of peaches, pinks and yellows,
keeping the overall look natural, feminine but with a hint of
vivaciousness. It was a wonderful day, so exquisitely captured – I hope
Melina and David have great memories of the day and wish them both a
lifetime of love and happiness together.
.."

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Oxfam Engagement Shoot at Brick House Farm, by www.kat-hill.com

Totally adore these images – they capture the essence of true love.

Thank you so much Kat and the whole team for sharing with me today, these are exquisite an I'm so proud that Oxfam and Love My Dress had a little part to play in them happening 🙂

And anyone interested in using the location as a wedding venue should look up Brick House Farm which is available as a wedding venue for up to 150 guests…

"Darling
Buds of May’ is the way people usually describe the style of wedding
that we have here on
Brick House Farm . An old canvas marquee festooned with
bunting and chandeliers. Long trestle tables decorated with floral table
clothes and jugs of flowers. Cricket teas of cakes and sandwiches. Tea
served from an eclectic collection of china cups and saucers. Straw bale
seating and a very casual approach to wedding formalities. Pig roasts
on an oak fire and apple sauce."

 

I'd love to hear what yo think of this shoot?

Much love all,

Annabel

Heart

Photography : Kat Hill
Styling: Meryl Tabner
Venue: Brick House Farm
Florals:  Vintage Floral Design
Make Up:  Ana Ospina

Annabel

Annabel View all Annabel's articles

Founder of Love My Dress. Passionate Podcaster and Editor. Annabel lives in rural North Yorkshire with her husband and business partner Philip, their two daughters and menagerie of furry hounds. She loves photography, meditation, walking, being outdoors and star gazing. She is fierce when it comes to championing talent within the wedding industry and when she's not working on Love My Dress, she supports her husband Philip in the running of the family's sustainable flower farm and floral design business, Moonwind Flowers. In 2013, she became a published author.

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