If you follow me regularly, you’ll know that with all weddings cancelled last summer, I threw myself into planning wedding editorials around the south. As an Essex wedding photographer, I wanted to shoot at Browning Bros wedding venue for ages! I love outdoor wedding venues and had an idea for a woodland elopement editorial for a long time! In fact I’d originally planned this for Spring 2020, but for weather and COVID related reasons, it took us three attempts to actually make it happen! I think you’ll see from this blog, it was totally worth the wait.
This shoot is full of gorgeous woodland elopement inspiration for you adventurous couples. Featuring a pastel pink colour palette, forest ceremony and a campervan chill out area, it’s my idea of an intimate micro wedding dream!
Browning Bros wedding venue – A unique outdoor space in Essex
Browning Bros is a beautiful outdoor wedding venue and glamping site just outside Colchester. The venue is split into two – Teybrook Orchard, a woodland wonderland, and Chalkney Water Meadows, next to a lake. This wedding editorial was shot at Teybrook Orchard as I loved the woodland ceremony space and the glamping accomodation fits so well with the idea of an intimate micro wedding and evening.
Chalkney Meadows is a larger area and perfect for a outdoor tipi wedding in Essex! The site also has glamping accommodation in the form of bell tents and two cabins.
Woodland Wedding Ceremony venue in Essex
Inspired by elopements in USA National Parks and amongst redwoods in Big Sur, I wanted to bring the feel of American elopements to the British countryside! Rock the Day Styling and Anthology Vintage Hire set up an intimate ceremony area amongst the trees in the beautiful dappled light of Teybrook Orchard. I adored this simple ceremony backdrop. The burgundy really stood out amongst the trees, especially paired with this antique rug.
Pastel outdoor wedding breakfast
One of my favourite things about this wedding editorial is the colour palette. I wanted it to feel fresh but at the same time natural and rustic. The pastel pinks really pop against all the greenery of the surroundings. Knots & Kisses created a seriously pretty stationery suite which included these tasseled menus.
Rock the Day showed how some simple accessories such as the macrame chandelier can really spice up an outdoor area. Our florist, Iris & Co brought the outdoors to the table with fresh moss and spring flowers as a centrepiece.
Additionally, I need to take a second to appreciate this utterly divine wedding cake by Botanico! When Rock The Day suggested we hang the cake from a tree, I was immediately sold on the idea. This is the cutest cake setup I’ve ever seen!
Wedding portraits with a furry friend!
I love dogs on a wedding day and adore these wedding portraits we shot in the woods of Browning Bros. I always love to incorporate some background or foreground interest with foliage and nature, and loved the way the festoon lights lined the path here. In fact, if you go further into the woods you’ll come across a selection of bell tents. Imagine your first night as a married couple in one of those, with a campfire going!
Chilled elopement evening with VW Camper
We ended this wedding editorial with one of my favourite ever setups! I wanted to create an intimate evening setup for ending your wedding day on. V Dub Rides VW camper van was the centre point and we added a rustic drinks bar, with chill area. In a word, great for sitting with a campfire or gazing up at the stars while having some cocktails!
Hopefully this wedding editorial inspired you! It shows you can have a intimate but truly unique and personal elopement in the UK. Browning Bros wedding venue has so much to offer on this front! You can really make a micro wedding your own with minimal hire and effort!
If you’re getting married at Browning Bros and are looking for a laid back and fun photographer, head to my enquiry form to get in touch!
Venue – Browning Bros @browningbros
Photography – Caroline Opacic Photography @carolineopacicphotography
Videography – Callum Macbeth @calmacbeth.weddings
Styling – Rock the day styling @rockthedaystyling
Furniture – Anthology Vintage Hire @anthologyvintagehire
Flowers – Iris & Co @irisandco
Planning – Events by Keenda @eventsbykeenda
Dress – Lisa Lyons Bridal @lisa.lyons.bridal
Celebrant – Caroline Lambie @humanistcaroline
Cake – Botanico @botanicocakes
VW Campervan – V Dub Rides @v_dub_rides
Stationery – Knots and Kisses @knotsandkisses
Ribbons – Ambers Rose @ambersrosepreservation
Hair – Bespoke hair by Nicola @bespokebridal_hairbynicola
Rings – Eco Wood rings @ecowoodrings
Shoes – Wedding Converse @wedding_converse
Shawl – Laremi @weddingsbylaremi
Jacket – Rock Paper Nib @rockpapernib
Models – Elle & Pete @elle_e_model & @peterjamestyrrell
