Art Deco at The Duke
For decades the hotel has been a sensational venue for wedding ceremonies and receptions. With its grand, elegant spaces, the Duke oozes style and sophistication, and delivers the sense of occasion that a wedding deserves.
With so many fashion trends we enjoy working with creative and talented suppliers to showcase the Duke in a variety of styles to inspire future couples. This time it was an Art Deco theme selected by Agata from UpArt photography who captured and coordinated the shoot. As an iconic venue in the heart of Britain’s Ocean City we couldn’t wait to see how Agata and her carefully selected team transformed the hotel. We are delighted to be able to share the images with you all, now that the shoot has been featured in the fantastic Devon Wed Magazine. Thank you to the team at Wed for the stunning four page feature. To see the shoot in the magazine, be sure to buy your copy of issue 35!
Having worked with Agata on a number of occasions in the past, including our Mini Wedding Collections, we knew the shoot was going to be an amazing showcase for the hotel. Agata’s dedication and drive has led to her becoming one of our recommended wedding suppliers Agata explains:
“I have always been fascinated by the history behind the hotel and love the fact that it has seen many different styles and eras since opening in 1863. The photo shoot needed to be in keeping with age of the hotel, reflecting the history. It was decided that the photo shoot should reflect the 1920’s with an element of Art Deco / Hollywood glam. Working together, we styled the shoot with a clear 1920’s influence. I am thrilled with the result and feel that whilst being a 1920’s shoot, a modern bride-to-be could easily take inspiration from this shoot and bring those elements to her own big day.”
Agata worked with some of the finest wedding suppliers in the South West. Danielle from The Wedding Hub supplied the beautiful Rock the Frock wedding dress, along with the charming suit from The Vintage Suit Hire Company. Taking inspiration from Agata’s vision, Danielle explains:
“Agata’s concept was refreshing and made it possible to show off the versatility of the venue. I loved how there were just hints to an era rather than being overdone, it goes to show that with a bit of imagination and styling you can add a touch of any theme to your wedding.”
Another essential element in a perfectly styled wedding day is the bridal bouquet and flowers. Louise Brumpton from The Secret Garden Flowers provided stunning flowers and foliage for the shoot. She explains:
“We decided to choose a monochromatic look with accents of crystal, glass and a bit of bling, so I decided white anemones with their almost black centres would be perfect. I designed a shower bouquet similar to those that would have been carried on the arms of 1920s brides, with the trail being made from beautiful white Singapore orchids and eucalyptus foliage. To add a bit of bling I threaded ivory pearls onto silver bullion wire and trailed it through the bouquet, and a natural placuna shell collar for shine and interest. Extra anemones were added to the crystal ware for the tables, styled by Danielle at The Wedding Hub, to finish the look. The whole day was relaxed and fun, and I even got a bit of exercise being UpArt photography’s lighting assistant for a while!”
The striking, unique wedding cake was created by the very talented Rachel from Cut Me Off A Slice. Rachel explains:
“There was a group discussion with all the wonderful suppliers, a lot of the conversation involved all of the design elements that influenced the shoot. I looked at all of these different elements and took inspiration from the bold and distinctive style. Taking into account the colours that were being used throughout the stationery & flowers and incorporating that into my design. We went for a classic, bold look, which didn’t include any flowers, something very different for us, but it all came together beautifully.”
Adding to the art deco theme, the Prop Factory provided some stunning pieces including a gramophone and a globe drinks cabinet (which we love!) Carmen explains that the styling for the shoot was subtle and minimalistic, as the Hayward Room provides a fantastic backdrop, and old Hollywood vibes.
“Being a huge 1920’s fan I love the classic character this room oozes. It is a really good size too.”
The Brides hair was delicately styled by the very creative April from Wags Hair and Beauty, resulting in a stunning finish. April explains:
“Following the 1920s theme and beautiful thick, multi tonal hair I had to work with, I chose to add a wave to the hair using my wand and then created a Gatsby style bob with a slightly modern twist.”
Gem Ryder MUA added the glamourous makeup for the Bride, providing a contemporary take on the 1920’s. Gem explains:ry take on the 1920’s. Gem explains:
“I concentrated on a simple eye with a wash of pale gold over the lid and a touch of Black Flicked eyeliner. The skin was given a flawless pale finish with a cheek colour to compliment. And the whole look was finished off with a pop of colour on the lips using a Dark Cerise lipstick, rather than a more traditional red, to give the look a more updated feel. Together with the hair and accessories I think we achieved a really beautiful contemporary take on the 1920’s style, a look which can easily be recreated for today’s brides.”
The choice of wedding stationery is yet another feature which defines the feel of a wedding day. In this shoot, stylish wedding place cards and menus added flair and personality which were provided by wedding stationers Knots and Kisses. Nikki explains:
“It was lovely to create some stationery especially for this shoot. An Art Deco theme can sometimes come across as a pastiche of an another style so it was fantastic to see a modern interpretation of this theme. To go with this I created a stationery suite with a deco style font but a distinctly modern feel with clean lines and just a simple fine grosgrain ribbon.”
This shoot really came together with our stunning models – Mark and Philippa Bowden. Thank you so much guys, we really enjoying working with you and hope you enjoyed the experience!
UpArt Photography perfectly captured the hotel, showing off the Duke in its full splendour. The shoot brought together a wonderfully talented range of suppliers, who styled the hotel’s Hayward Room with a beautiful finish. With sensational spaces and abundant historic character, it’s the ideal place for such a momentous occasion. Added to that, the hotel offers a brilliant range of wedding packages and has a reputation for excellent service. All in all, this makes the Duke a simply superb choice as a wedding day venue.
We have a proud history of playing a part in couples’ love stories. We’d love to help make your dream day come true too. For a private tour of the hotel with Toni, our dedicated Wedding Coordinator, please email weddings@thedukeofcornwall.co.uk or call direct on 01752 275861.
To find out more about the Duke of Cornwall Hotel’s wedding packages, click here.
We look forward to sharing Up Art Photography’s stunning images from the March Mini Wedding Collection in the coming weeks.
The suppliers featured in this wedding photo shoot are:
Venue: The Duke of Cornwall Hotel
Contact Toni Sharpe on 01752 275861 | thedukeofcornwall.co.uk | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
Photography: UpArt Photography
Contact Agata on 01752 330697 | upartphotography.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Florist: The Secret Garden Flowers
Contact Louise on 07772 422583 | thesecretgardenflowers.co.uk | Facebook | Twitter
Suits and Shoes: The Vintage Suit Hire @ The Wedding Hub
Contact Danielle on 07595 533287 | thewedhub.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
Dress: Rock The Frock @ The Wedding Hub
Contact Danielle on 07595 533287 | rockthefrockbridal.co.uk | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
Cake: Cut Me Off A Slice
Contact Rachel on 07514 388221 | cutmeoffaslice.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
Stationery: Knots and Kisses
Contact Nikki on 07976 625201 | knotsandkisses.co.uk Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
Props: The Prop Factory
Contact Carmen on 01392 493660 | propfactory.co.uk | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
Hair Stylist: Wags Hair
Contact April on 07961 609147 | Facebook |
Make-up: Gem Ryder MUA
Call Gemma on 07979 496361 | gemryder.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Bride model: Philippa Bowden
Groom model: Mark Bowden