As part of 'Fetcham Friday' {see here and here}, I'd like to now focus on the fashions that guests were treated to at the launch of Fetcham Park. The curator of the creative concept for The Sirens Collection fashion show, as well as the launch event design and management was Penny of Tigerlily Weddings, who I am now going to hand you over to for the rest of this blog post. Also contributing towards this post is Emma Meek of Miss Bush Bridal Wear. These two ladies are a creative force to be reckoned with and I hope whether you are in industry creative or Bride to be, that this post inspires you somehow, be it the drop-deaad worthy bridal wear (many of which hasn't even been published in any magazines before now} to the way Penny shares her expertise and approach to planning an event like this.
For a behind-the-scenes perspective of the day, head on over to the Florence Finds Blog too, where blogger Rebecca Norris who assisted Penny on the day shares some of her experiences.
Penny, over to you…
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After my initial meeting with Emma and Laura, I was very clear that they both wanted to design a fashion show and launch that created real moments and memories for the guests attending…
Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photography Copyright (c) 2011, Eddie Judd
Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photography Copyright (c) 2011, Mark Bothwell
Emma is so flamboyant and loves all things a little gothic (like me) and the venue was the perfect backdrop for me to create an event that had elements of theatre and drama…
Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photography Copyright (c) 2011, Mark Bothwell
My concept for the show was 'The Fetcham Sirens'. In Greek mythology, the 'Sirens' were three dangerous bird-women, portrayed as seductresses who lured nearby sailors with their enchanting music and voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island. Roman poets placed them on an island called Sirenum scopuli…
Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photography Copyright (c) 2011, Mark Bothwell
I wanted the show to have a light and dark side, reflecting the two side of the character of the sirens light being alluring enchanting and singing to capture the hearts and minds of the sailors and the dark side being the internal inner dark thought of luring the men to their deaths, ultimately…
Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photography Copyright (c) 2011, Mark Bothwell
So I wanted the light and dark side of the characters to be reflected in everything I put together for the show,
* from hair and make up
* to the model used for each part of the show
* dresses and styling of each model so they could play the sirens
I had a very clear vision for the fashion show I wanted to set a dark scene that had real beauty and when the models first came in sight to the audience I wanted it to feel haunting…
Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photography Copyright (c) 2011, Eddie Judd
Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photography Copyright (c) 2011, EFC Photography
Isn't that skull above amazing? It was breathtakingly covered in real petals and REAL sparkly diamonds – the genius idea of Penny from Tigerlily Weddings, and Florist Gayle Evans from Blomin'Gayles describes how she created it…
"For those who were present when the gorgeous Gemma turned and glided effortlessly down the catwalks stairs in THAT Suzanne Neville dress, or those of you whom follow me on Twitter and Facebook will all Know of Borris. Yes Borris my affectionately named floral rhinestone and crystal skull that took me a grand total of 36 hours, 167 rhinestones, 18 white carnations, 1 African violet plant, parts of a Victorian chandelier, a complete tube of floral glue, glycerine preserved foliage and the last of my sanity to create.
Not to mention the hours of researching, testing, sourcing and sketching designs in the prep of construction!… Borris and I had many highs (scaring the pap out of my guy being one of my favourites) and some lows in our journey of creation together, but I’m his creator, his mother if you will and what a proud mother I was when he revealed himself at the top of the stairs….I’d like to think that the outbreak of applause that rippled through the Wedding celeb crowd was for him…if only a little bit of it :)"
Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photography Copyright (c) 2011, EFC Photography
We wanted the show to also be fashion forward for weddings and added in some real show stopping pieces which I hoped will inspire brides for 2012. Emma Meek from Miss Bush Bridal shares details about the bridal wear…
"My remit was the dresses. The labels stocked at Miss Bush Bridal are many and varied with quality of cut and manufacture, design integrity and originality being the deciding factors on who I work with. I threw my wardrobes and collections open to Penny. It was liberating having a stylist create a concept and choose dresses that fulfilled her creative vision as I love all my dresses.
The Sirens theme suggested other worldly sheer fabrics; Penny homed in on Jesus Peiro’s gauzy tulles, satinised organza, and crewel-work lace. Jenny Packha's abstract web-like beading was a standout must-have teamed with silk chiffon and fine tulle…."
Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photography Copyright (c) 2011, EFC Photography
"I insisted on Suzanne Neville as I truly believe her to be one of the finest UK exponents of couture dressmaking. I was secretly thrilled to be able to point Penny in the direction of Siren Mae, an aptly named dress from her 2012 collection yet to be seen in print or online.
Then, like an eager new girl, I asked Suzanne to make us a special exclusive dress for the show. The resulting Black Siren dress provoked a round of applause from the Fetcham Park audience…"
Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photography Copyright (c) 2011, Eddie Judd
Magpie vintage made two amazing bespoke pieces for me for the light and dark sirens opening the show in the Suzanne Neville Siren Mae Gown I really wanted the models faces to be covered by a fine netting with a Swarovski touch to reflect water again but to reflect the siren being untouchable with a hidden depth which drew you to them to want to find out more…
Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photography Copyright (c) 2011, EFC Photography
Emma from Miss Bush Bridal shares more on the bridal fashion with us...
"Ugo Zaldi – with only their 3rd collection about to arrive in store and Stephanie Allin completed the roll call of talent for the catwalk show. I was thrilled to give such a big and stylish platform to these labels as they have been quietly making some staggering dresses. And, with the exception of Jenny Packham, they have not even dipped a toe in the water of social media.
Herein lies my motivation. I suddenly felt it very important to show how skilled in cutting our labels we are; how exacting we at Miss Bush Bridal are about fitting dresses; how in fact wedding dress shops can be pretty damn cool and fashionable if you find the right one. Contrary to popular belief there are many wedding dress shops that have a truly boutique spirit and provide well edited collections with an amazing back up service. Miss Bush is about individuality and choice delivered with caring frankness, and like Fetcham Park it is not about dictating designers or formulas…"
Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photography Copyright (c) 2011, Eddie Judd
When we did the catwalk run through with the models we practiced them walk with a glide so it felt also a little ghostly.
The Music was so instrumental for the show to feel haunting Matt Maurice took my track list and brief and delivered an exceptional mixed soundtrack to the show, working in partnership with White light to create the show stopping moment in the show the crossover of the siren from light to dark with thunder and lightning. This was a really tremendous moment for me to see come together after the careful orchestration.
Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photography Copyright (c) 2011, Eddie Judd
Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photography Copyright (c) 2011, Mark Bothwell
Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photography Copyright (c) 2011, Mark Bothwell
Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photography Copyright (c) 2011, Eddie Judd
Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photography Copyright (c) 2011, Mark Bothwell
How The Look Came Together – Behind The Scenes…
Makeup…
In regards to the make up I was inspired by sirens as you know for the light look it was key for me to get a dewy base with highlight areas to the cheek and brow bone, to be like the models have got out of the water.
I then love the thought of the siren having a silver shimmer on the lid, with a black eyeliner flick with fake lashes to make their eyes strong with the inner corner of the eye with a silver highlight, totally alluring and layering of light & textures. I then wanted muted pale pinks or nude lips in a rose bud style so the look was alluring but looked like they have been touched by water.
Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photography Copyright (c) 2011, EFC Photography
This was to really be the strong contrast of the change in the siren to dark. Again I really wanted a dewy base with muted pale pinks or nude lips in a rose bud style.
But this time dramatic eyes with various level of Smokey eye from a more subtle to really heavy with glitter. I am really keen for this look to be strong and bold but sexy not deathly.
Hair…
We wanted the hair to be alluring, but bang on trend I took lots of inspiration from the run way. We had a real mix of styles for the sirens some very polished & others messy , the Models that had plaits within their hair these were to represent water snakes to tie in with the original show inspiration.
My original mood-board below…
Leo Bancroft and his team were so creative in taking the looks to the next level with a fashion edge and with the amazing make up team they really created a wow look for the catwalk.
Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photography Copyright (c) 2011, Mark Bothwell
Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photography Copyright (c) 2011, EFC Photography
For more of a behind-the-scenes look at the fashion show, head on over to the Florence Finds Blog today.
Penny – Fashion Show Curator + Event Design & Management for Fetcham Park Launch Party
Tigerlily Weddings
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Huge thanks to Penny and Emma for contributing to this piece and allowing us an insight into the huge effort and level of creativity that goes into planning an event like this – something for all event planners to aspire to.
If you are interested in having you wedding day or special event planned and styled by Penny, please get in touch via Tigerlily Weddings.
For further information about any of the bridal fashion on this page, please contact Emma Meek at Miss Bush Bridal.
And finally, if you are looking for an absolutely beautiful wedding venue which you can treat as your own blank canvass for the day, styling in whatever way you wish, please drop Laura Caudery line via
Much love all,
Annabel xXx
♥
Credits
Venue – Fetcham Park
Photography (official) – Mark Bothwell, Eddie Judd and EFC Photography + Juliet McKee
Fashion Show Curator + Event Design & Management – Tigerlily Weddings
Bridal Fashion – Miss Bush Bridal
Film (see here) – Two Hearts Films
Beverages – Shaken and Stirred
Flowers: Wildabout (Orchid stair dressing), Bloomingayles (catwalk ‘skull bouquet’) + Scarlet and Violet
Entertainment – DJ Matt Maurice and Band + The Swinging Little Big Band
Lighting – White Light
Chair Hire – Options Hire
Programs and signage – Kate Taylor, Coquette Paper and Press, Tigerlily Weddings, Nicola Catchpole and Paul Antonio.
Sirens Black Laser cut sign and invitations – Cutture
Transport – Yorkshire Heritage Bus Company
Hair – Leo Bancroft + Wonderful Wedding Hai
Makeiup – Mariam Jensen + Carolanne Armstrong + Rachel Kent + Rebecca McMahon makeup + Arianne Jaksch
Accessories & Jewellery – Debbie Carlisle + Jon Dibben + Magpie Vintage
Champagne by Les Caves De Pyrene
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.
