If you’ve ever dreamed of riding off into the sunset on the back of a motorbike to kickstart your happily ever after, this is truly the inspiration you’ve been waiting for. Calling all brides, grooms and rebels without a cause…
Mindy Coe is a Lake District based photographer who captures weddings and elopements for couples who are outdoor enthusiasts with a passion and a connection to the raw, natural landscape around them. Today she’s pulled together a group of fellow creatives and we’ve got a captivating, true romance shoot for all you free birds out there.
The resulting images really let the location sing, capturing the dramatic scenery of the breathtaking Lakeland countryside and the adventures that are out there to be had on the open road, weather be damned. The enchanting mist brings an intimacy and impact to the shoot, and with a palette of neutrals and deep, romantic reds, this is a real elopement to go wild for. Let’s get this show on the road…
With images by Mindy Coe Photography
CONCEPT
Mindy says: With the wedding industry taking a huge hit this year due to Covid19, it seemed like a fantastic idea to create an informal styled shoot with real life Northern couple Monique and Nathan, set in the breathtaking scenery of the Lake District.
More than ever couples are now getting married with a small number of their nearest and dearest, and planning their larger celebration for next year. We wanted to create a photo shoot where the bride and groom were submerged in all the things they most love to celebrate their official wedding day. Monique and Nathan love nothing more than to ride out on their motorbikes together, exploring the exciting, beautiful roads through the mountains.
Our incredible couple battled with the wind and rain, and still laughed throughout the entire shoot, having a lot of fun. I would love to invite couples to think about the things that they most love to do together and create a day full of adventure, entirely designed by and for them. This is something which is very often missed with a larger wedding created with the couple’s friends and family in mind.
LOCATION
Hardknott Pass is one of the most breathtaking and epic roads through this mountainous region. It provided the perfect setting for our styled shoot. The weather was moody with the odd glimmer of golden sunlight pouring down on us, creating the most dramatic, adventurous and playful shots during our biker elopement.
STYLING
The styling for this shoot was very minimal. With the shoot being an elopement, we used only the natural landscape around us, creating connections and adventure
Flowers were provided by Green House Floristry, based in the Lake District. They’re an eco conscious florist sourcing organic British flowers to create wild and rustic floral arrangements
ATTIRE
Outfits for this photo shoot were deliberately chosen so that our couple would be able to ride on their motorcycles. We went for a biker, rock vibe with a grey tulle skirt and a white lacy body for Monique, with a personalised “bride” leather jacket over the top by Abigail Laura, a Surrey-based designer who creates personal items for brides. Skirt and body were from ASOS. Nathan wore a vintage brown leather pilot jacket with an open paisley shirt and flared, faded jeans.
BEAUTY
We wanted the core of this natural look to be shown off despite the unpredictable wind and weather. We did this by using plaits to create a soft movement throughout the hair and having the flower crown as the main focus.
We then brought the skin to life through a strong blood-red lip against the black leather jacket. Melissa Oldridge, a Surrey-based team of hair and makeup artists, offers natural hair and makeup to enhance your own features and make you feel amazing.
RESULTS
We woke up on the day of the photo shoot to full force gales and lots of rain. There were trees down on the way to the photo shoot. But we arrived safely, coffee flasks and croissants in hand, and we all had a blast. Lots of giggles, fun and adventure – just as an elopement should be!
We want to encourage couples to design a day for them to enjoy. Think of all the things you love to do most together and a design a day full of fun and adventure for you both.
