Abby + Jarvis
Late last year, Han from the Giraffe Shed got in touch, wanting to organise a styled shoot, to showcase her new idea for the venue - to alongside the incredible, unique large weddings at the shed, to start offering wild elopements in the Welsh hills surrounding the venue.
The Giraffe Shed is a beautiful, ultra bespoke wedding venue in Mid Wales. Run lovingly by Han and Neil, who built the venue themselves literally from the ground up, for the past few years it's positioned itself as a firm favourite for couples who want a wedding that's completely personal, unique, and non traditional. At the shed, Han and Neil don't really impose any of the usual wedding industry rules, it's yours for the weekend to design your wedding how you want. Complete with accommodation on site, the shed is an alternative haven, for any couples wanting to do their wedding their way, and transform this beautiful blank space structure. As small weddings are on the rise, Han wanted to offer elopement experiences to couples here too, whilst the venue itself is amazing, so is the landscape surrounding, and if couples can elope in Scotland, then why not in the Welsh mountains too? Near to the venue is affectionately named, Neilo's Hill - which is set to become to backdrop for eloping couples at the shed. Stay over in the accommodation, driven up the hill, choose your celebrant, have a personal symbolic ceremony, and back down for your meal, drinks, and evening together in your own little slice of the welsh countryside. So - we planned the shoot, got halfway up the hill to find an abundance of snow, made some magic, came back down and warmed up in the shed with a first dance and plenty of candles.
We wanted the story to be what a real couple could do, in the kind of style that the shed usually hosts - enter Abby and Jarvis, who drove up from Cardiff to be our eloping couple. Beck from Jean Jackson couture custom made Jarvis' burgundy suit, hand sewing on the appliques and embroidery, for a truly retro and beautiful suit. Beck also made Abby's entire outfit - from the custom Jean Jackson Couture corset and skirt, to the showstopping lace cape. Chelsea from Seed and Wild created a bouquet in nude and maroon tones, a super moody set of florals that matched Jarvis' suit and popped against the snow, and Helena Restall made up Abby in a natural but glamorous makeup look, to finish it all, a pair of handamade Alabaster Dream earrings. The snow was completely unplanned and unexpected, but that's the beauty of eloping in nature, you never know what you'll get, and the snow truly made this shoot. I can't wait to see The Giraffe Shed's entry into elopements, and more couples experience the magic of eloping in this incredible place.
Venue - The Giraffe Shed
Outfits - Jean Jackson Couture
Florals - Seed and Wild
Makeup - Helena Restall
Video - Jo Greenfield
Earrings - Alabaster Dream
