Fine Art & Editorial Wedding, Styled Collaboration at Layer Marney Tower, Colchester, Essex

On the 21st January 2025, wedding suppliers across Essex, Suffolk and the UK collaborated to bring an astonishing vision to life, named “Amandine”, meaning, ‘worthy of love’.

This aspiration would become a reality at the timeless, classic, historic, luxury venue of ‘Layer Marney Tower’ in Colchester, Essex. The team that came together fused with such dynamic, creative passion have delivered beyond expectation and I am delighted to share with you a sample of the highlights of this influential and inspirational collaboration.

Part of the vision behind ‘Amandine’ was to celebrate ‘self-expression in love’. Part of the day included a beautiful ‘Milla London’ gown, modelled by ‘Grace’, from ‘Samuel and Grace’, and involved a Ballet piece to highlight this self-expression, movement, appreciation of dance and the arts and encouraging the influence of arts in every aspect of the wedding industry.

With model ‘Grace’, being a dancer this came to fruition so eloquently and elegantly as she performed on point ballet shoes; moving the exquisite dress around in ways only a true artist could. The shapes Grace created in the ‘Millia London’ gown were stunning and captured the essence of the vision so aptly.

‘Amandine’ involved three different looks, in various different wedding scenes, from ceremony, to Rolls Royce Car Photos, Cake Cutting to first dance and dancing. This celebrated different wedding fashion, created a great variety in the content for all suppliers involved and really utilised different aspects of a wedding day to bring more inspiration and captivating imagery.

In addition to the ‘Millia London’ gown, the other two dresses were by ‘Veni Infantino’. The fine quality suits were by ‘The Groomsroom Essex’ and beautiful bridesmaid dresses were supplied by ‘Amara Bridesmaid Studio’. Shoes by ‘Harriet Wilde shoes’ and accessories by ‘Liberty in Love’. The rings were by ‘Essex Bespoke Jewellery’. Flowers by ‘Thrive Floristry’. Many other suppliers that brought this masterpiece together are also mentioned in the suppliers list below.

‘Layer Marney Tower’, England’s tallest Tudor Gatehouse, with views to River Blackwater is a beautiful setting and has wonderful outside and inside areas for a luxurious, authentic and unique wedding.

For ‘Amandine’, we utilised every room and every part of Layer Marney Tower including the beautiful ‘Rolls Royce Car’ that the venue has to offer couples.

Part of the collaboration was to bring artistic expression in to every part of the wedding celebration, to celebrate, expressing love creatively. There was no other than ‘Rebecca Anne Designs‘ to partner with for her bespoke and spoken veils. Poetic beauty in every article.

Three model bridesmaids were part of the ‘Amandine’ collaboration, adding even more context, soul and depth to this wonderful styled shoot. The three models, Nicole Headworth, Lauryn Price and Emma Hayes fabulously modelled ‘Amara Bridesmaid Studio’ dresses; ‘Liberty in Love ‘ accessories and ‘Harriet Wilde’ shoes.

Hair by Lynnette Chasmer and Make Up by Jessica Cant from Flawless Faces, Essex. For more suppliers involved please see the list*

Bridesmaid models

In the morning, we were blessed with a fog that settled beautifully over the gardens and tower, creating a soft, effervescent white hue. This was so wonderful to capture Grace modelling the first of the Veni Infantino bridal dresses, ‘The Heatherly Wedding Dress’, a contemporary fit and flare wedding dress with ruffle floral on one shoulder.

Samuel and Grace walked down the stairs into the manicured gardens at Layer Marney Tower like they had come from a fairy tale. The whole day felt very much like that; a vision board now becoming a reality in front of us all.

Award winning singer ‘Sammi Sings’ was phenomenal, her soulful, emotive, unique and moving voice had us all stopped us in our tracks several times. We had to remind ourselves to get back to work and continue. Sammi sang during the ceremony and first dance and dancing scenes. Timeless meets contemporary, classic, yet modern. Sammi is exceptional.

The table and styling was by CMA Events Hire There high end, luxury, refined table settings with the champagne gold, soft blue and white colour palette fitted the ‘Amandine’ mood board perfectly.

The Wedding Cake was by The Iced Vegan. Sustainable, eco-conscious, ethical wedding cakes, beautiful, elegant and delicious in taste.

The rings were by Essex Bespoke Jewellery. Each ring unique, created bespoke. No other ring to be the same. The shine, the opulence, the weight, the quality exuded every part of refinement and mastery.

Other magical parts of the day included seeing live illustrations by Trudi from ‘Scribble and Sparkle’. Trudi is a live wedding illustrator, her work is stunning and you can see more of Trudi’s art work here.

Flowers by Claire from Thrive Floristry were delicate, sweet and artistically displayed. The bouquets for the bride and bridesmaids models were stunning and button holes for model groom, Sam, fitted the theme perfectly, elevating the wedding fashion by Millia London, Veni Infantino, Amara Bridesmaid Studio and The Groomsroom Essex perfectly.

Stationary, signage, accessories and shoes; there are so many other elements that make up a wedding day. “Amandine” would not have been complete without the bespoke, luxury wedding stationary from Georgia Eleanor Designs . The most elegant of accessories by Liberty in Love; The wonderful shoes of Harriet Wilde. Delightful welcome and table seating signage by wedding suppliers ‘QT Designs’. Ties & Bow Ties by The Groomsroom Essex.

Hair stylist, Lynnette Chasmer and Make Up Artist, Jessica Cant from Flawless Faces Essex delivered hair and make up beyond everyone’s expectations. Again, showing true creativity, artistry and within such time constraints of the day too. I am in awe of them. I am in awe of every supplier involved in this collaboration. The Models were exceptional, every supplier, incredible.

Gemma and Megan from ‘The Wed It’ have captured some wonderful content creation from the day, and behind the scenes footage. Connor Cast with videography. More to come from them all soon. Please follow them on instagram to see more.

“Amandine”, meaning ‘worthy of love’ – we absolutely all are. This culmination of every suppliers work achieving such expression of art and love. I am so proud of what we have achieved and I thank everyone that was a part of it.

A special thanks to Karen and Nick at Layer Marney Tower. The most befit venue for such an extraordinary, timeless, styled shoot.

*The Suppliers:

Concept + Photographer: Tracey Davies Photography @traceydaviesphotography_ traceydaviesphotography.com

Venue: Layer Marney Tower @weddings_at_layer_marney_tower & @layermarneytower

Videographer: Connor Cast @connorcastweddings

Content Creator: Gemma and Megan, The Wed It @the_wedit_

Make Up Artist: Jessica Cant, Flawless Faces Essex @flawlessfacesessex

Hair Stylist: Lynnette Chasmer @lynnettechasmerhairstylist ‘The Wedding Hair Pro’

Flowers: Thrive Floristry @thrive_floristry

Tableware + styling: CMA Hire @cmahire

Cake: The Iced Vegan @theicedvegan_wedding_cakes theicedvegan.co.uk

Musician: Sammi Sings @sammisings_

Live Illustrator: Scribble and Sparkle @scribbleandsparkleillustrator

Stationary: Georgia Eleanor Designs @georgiaeleanordesigns

Signs: QT Designs @_qtdesigns

Bridal Dresses: Veni Infantino @veniinfantinobridal @veniinfantino

Millia London @millia.london

Bridesmaid Dresses: Amara Bridesmaid Studio @amarabridesmaidstudio

Veils: Rebecca Anne Designs @rebeccaannedesigns

Shoes: Harriet Wilde Shoes @harrietwildeshoes

Suits: The Groomsroom Essex @thegroomsroomessex 

Accessories: Liberty in Love @libertyinlove_style

Wedding Rings: Essex Bespoke Jewellery @essexbespokejewellery

Wedding Car: Rolls Royce – Layer Marney Tower @weddings_at_layer_marney_tower

Model couple: Samuel and Grace @samuel_and_grace

Model bridesmaids: Nicole Headworth @nicoleheadworth

Emma Hayes @emmsmodelpage

Lauryn Price @laurynpriceee

If you would like to see more beautiful content from this incredible day, please send me an email info@traceydaviesphotography.com

Please visit my website for more information about ‘Tracey Davies Photography’ Click Here