When two SBS winners met by chance at a styled shoot!
What are the chances of two SBS winners unknowingly coming together for a styled shoot? Quite by chance, Kara and I found ourselves part of a creative team collaborating on an autumnal wedding shoot at the fabulous Compton Verney. It is always so lovely to work with someone who is also part of the amazing Theo Paphitis Small Business Sunday “club”, and this collaboration made the rich, seasonal story even more special from the very beginning.
It almost comes with a guarantee and is a comfort; you just know that you’re in good hands when working with another SBS winner! There is an immediate shared understanding of what it means to build a small business: the long hours, the care behind every decision and the pride we feel in creating something that is truly our own. Being recognised for that work through Theo Paphitis SBS is something we both value deeply, and it gave this collaboration an extra layer of meaning from the very beginning.
The shoot itself at the stunning Compton Verney was conjured up by Beth from Floss and Bea photography who was very clear from the outset about her vision. The result was intimate, expressive and full of the autumn season’s richness.
I was tasked with designing an invitation suite and the table stationery for the day. I love telling love stories through stationery, so the clear narrative set by Beth made this project especially exciting. The brief involved leaning into the bold architecture of the building in contrast to the softer, organic beauty of autumn: figs, grapes, seasonal foliage and rich, burgundy tones. The balance between the building and the season became the foundation for the entire design direction. I always say that “Stationery is the glue that holds everything together” so it needed to feel like part of the setting rather than an afterthought, connecting the architecture, styling, florals, food and celebration into one considered experience.
The invitation suite was able to hold all the important ingredients in one place: the setting, the season, the colour palette and the drama we wanted to create. Key elements were the clean compositions and structured typography including the striking white lettering, modern type and handwritten script which created a fashion-led editorial feel.
From the setting and colour palette to the invitation suite and finishing touches, this shoot showed exactly how stationery can do more than share practical details. It can introduce a feeling, reflect a place and give a wedding its first layer of personality.
The same visual story carried through the invitation suite, menus, signature drinks signs and cake signs. Burgundy envelopes, fig details and soft pink liners complemented the wider autumn styling. Consistent colour, typography and finishing touches helped every piece feel connected while retaining its own purpose.
That is the power of thoughtful stationery: it carries the visual language from the first invitation through to the details guests see on the day, making the celebration feel intentional and beautifully joined up.
For Kara Mia Venue Styling, the brief was to create a floral and styling story that felt right for Compton Verney’s bold architecture, whilst bringing in the warmth and richness of autumn.
Every detail was considered as part of the same picture. The stationery set the tone early on, and we carried those deep burgundy shades, soft pinks and fig details through the florals, tablescape and cake styling. Figs appeared throughout, tying the invitation suite, food styling and floral design together in a way that felt natural rather than forced.
The draped backdrop softened the space behind the cake and created a beautiful setting for the bridal portraits, whilst the table florals were full of seasonal texture and depth without taking over the room. It is those little links between each supplier’s work that make a setup feel really considered. Nothing was there just because it looked nice on its own, it all worked together to create one complete story.
We’ve both always found it rewarding to work with talented colleagues across the wedding and creative industries. There is something particularly special about bringing different skills, ideas and perspectives together to create something beautiful – together. But working with a colleague who is also a Theo Paphitis Small Business Sunday winner certainly hits different! Kara won Theo Paphitis Small Business Sunday in 2023, and I won in 2024. Bringing together Kara Mia Venue Styling and Heart E Designs for this shoot felt like a particularly lovely meeting of two Theo Paphitis SBS winners, with both of us bringing our own perspective to the same setting.
We look forward to working on the next collaboration!
