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Happy Tuesday lovely people and long time no speak!
We are coming out of hiding today after personal circumstances meant we had to take a very impromptu break from sharing content on Festival Brides and sadly this break looks like it will be continuing way into 2023. However, when our gorgeous friends Assumpta and Olivia of Our Owambe, a beautiful black owned design led wedding blog whose mission is to redefine black love and joy in the wedding industry, reached out and asked if we would share their GORGEOUS vow renewal shoot we simply could not say no. We are huge fans of these two ladies and the work they are doing through Our Owambe is something to be celebrated, cherished and shared. Plus this shoot is boasting an autumnal colour palette of earthy terracotta colours against a backdrop of blue Portuguese skies and what else can you ask on a rainy afternoon!
Featuring real life couple Elyse and James, and a line up of wonderful black suppliers, this shoot takes us on a walk through the streets of Lisbon in Portugal where Elyse and James glisten brightly in their modern all white bridal and groom attire. The energy and spark between them radiates through these images and is captured brilliantly by Lourenço Wedding Photography
Make sure you check out the video below by Every Heart Films – it is an absolute joy. Look out for the thumb war!
Olivia De Santos of Our Owambe shares with us more details on the shoot and how it all came together.
The Film…
The Photos…
Black Love and Joy…
Our vow renewal shoot came to be in a somewhat unusual way! Elyse and James originally hired me to plan an intimate wedding in the South of Portugal but due to circumstances out of their control, they had to cancel their wedding. Because I connected with them so much as their planner, I decided to create a shoot around them to inspire couples to celebrate their vow renewals in a unique way.
The concept centered on an autumnal colour scheme with punchy black details. As an Our Owambe production, it was important to us to have a balance of black talent behind the scenes and not just on screen. So the entire shoot is a celebration of renewing black love and joy!
We chose The Insólito, one of Lisbon’s best rooftop bars to give us an incredible view of the Lisbon skyline while also providing moody, artistic interiors. This venue has it all. Original artwork, hanging origami cranes and mismatched furniture. It was perfect for the relaxed, alternative vibe of the shoot.
For tableware, I chose select pieces from Zara Home, including black charger plates, black textured metal cutlery and linen napkins. Traditional Portuguese egg tarts (pasteis de nata) is a signature trick of mine as placecards and favours rolled into one.
Florals were lovingly created by one of my favourite florists in Portugal, Happy Day Events. She channelled the autumnal colours into these bright orange, rose and coral tones that popped against the black tapered candles and gold candlesticks.
We love the stationery from Chloe Ainsley Creative for its unusual shapes and warm colour palette. It suited the shoot perfectly and we were even able to personalise the invitation to our couple.
A Confident Love…
Elyse had simple bridal makeup by Bruna Amaral and styled her own locks into a cute structural up-do. We love to see brides rocking natural hairstyles on their wedding day!
Elyse and James wore their own clothes for their vow renewal, showing their personalities with a playful white pantsuit and veil cape, and a crisp white tuxedo respectively.
Dado from Every Heart Films and João from Lourenço Wedding Photography were an incredible duo on the day, capturing the pure joy of our couple as they ambled the streets of Lisbon together and twirled in the evening light.
Elyse and James are what truly make this shoot what it is. They’re love is confident, heart-warming and joyful. They have a sparkle about them that makes you feel warm and light in their company. I hope you can feel that through the photos and video!
This was a special kind of shoot. It’s not just a celebration of black joy, but it’s a call to do things a little outside the box whether you are tying the knot for the first time or renewing your vows after several years! Thank you to all of the amazing suppliers who helped this Our Owambe production come alive and to our gorgeous couple for allowing us to channel their love to design this shoot.
The Line Up…
Creative Direction and Production: Our Owambe; Styling and Planning: Nulyweds; Venue: The Insólito Bar; Videographer: Every Heart Films; Photographer: Lourenço Wedding Photography; Florist: Happy Day Events; Stationery: Chloe Ainsley Creative; Makeup Artist: Bruna Amaral
