Mediterranean Minimalism at Pelham House

Whilst the team were careful not to go too OTT with the decor I absolutely love the addition of colour here – splashes of warm oranges, rich pinks and pretty peaches manage to elevate this editorial to another level. This may be a wedding venue set firmly in the south of England, but this shoot has gorgeous European-esque elements and is making me dream of summers spent abroad! Over to photographer Alessandro Piolanti to walk us through all of the dreamy details…

Alessandro says…

I was looking for a venue that could provide me with an outdoor space that offered a European feel. Pelham House, nestled in the heart of Lewes, East Sussex had both outdoor and indoor wedding ceremony options which was perfect. The venue’s amazing outside space overlooks the garden which I thought worked perfectly for the style of shoot I wanted to create.

The overall theme for the shoot was to create a warm alfresco wedding setting and give prominence to our beautiful bride. I really wanted to create something feminine and pretty, but with an underlying feeling of strength and individuality.

We used a range of warm colours to create a Mediterranean spring / summer palette including rich shades of pinks, peaches and oranges which was reflected in the flowers and table decor.

I was keen for the bride to be in a jumpsuit which we sourced from John Lewis, as my aim was to create something modern and stylish while still having a traditional element with the addition of a veil. We had Lisa Carrington Couture to design and create the two-tier veil which looked absolutely incredible on the day.

Because the main focus for this shoot was the venue’s outdoor area and of course our bride, I didn’t want to distract from these key elements too much so kept everything else fairly minimal. The crockery was simple but stylish and by adding just a few candles to the table and a floral centrepiece this gave the table an elegant alfresco feel. We created a champagne chill out area with Hire Societies who styled the set up and table with chocolate bonbons from Cake Gallery London and stationery from Design by Emily, adding another layer of sophistication.

We used Tony Dunn as our florist and left the flower selection in his capable hands. As well as the bouquet and table arrangement we asked Tony to create a circular installation which would surround the couple for their wedding ceremony. This was created out of pink and red roses, tulips and antirrhinum (snapdragons), with the addition of eucalyptus and anthuriums which enhanced the Mediterranean vibe.

As this shoot did not contain too much over-the-top detail, I believe couples can achieve something similar fairly simply. Aim for a minimalistic but chic theme with vivid flower arrangements, simple table settings and stylish furniture hire. The only thing I would suggest when creating a minimalistic style of wedding is don’t be afraid to add a strategic pop of colour to bring everything to life.

Wedding Planner/stylist Hire Societies

Photographer Alessandro Piolanti

Venue Pelham House

Florist Tony Dunn

Model Couple Jessica & James

Hair + Make Up Kate Waller

Veil Lisa Carrington

Stationary Emily Louise Reynolds

Vows Kemi Akilapa

Cake Designer Cake Gallery London

Props + Tableware Co-ordination Hire

Jewellery L Guess

Cellist Emily Mitchell

Celebrant Amanda’s Ceremonies

Videographer Holly Cassidy