The best of both worlds! A modern Asian bridal shoot from Baddow Park House

Published by Claire Gould on April 15, 2020April 15, 2020

Hey lovelies! Sending hugs today for all of you who are feeling in shock and lost in this awful situation. I feel it too – I just hope we’ll all come out the other side of this ok. You’re in my thoughts, all of you lovely brides and grooms to be, and my lovely wedding industry friends.

Shall we escape for a few moments together, right now, and share some joyful images to lighten our hearts? Sabina M, a make up artist in London, came up with the concept for this modern Asian bridal shoot at Baddow Park House. As a mixed race bride with both English and Indian heritage, marrying a Sri Lankan groom, Sabina’s own wedding reflected their relationship as a modern couple while incorporating elements of the different cultures and traditions – and this shoot follows on beautifully from that concept. I will leave Sabina to tell you more!

Stay safe, stay home and stay well, lovelies.

Red is traditionally the colour that Indian brides wear, but with contemporary fashion as well as western influences, there are now so many more options for the modern Asian bride. I kept this colour theme running throughout the shoot, with rich reds and burgundies shown in the flowers, makeup, table styling, stationery and cake as a call-back to those traditions.

Instead of a heavy lehenga with layers of jewellery, we opted for a versatile anarkali with an over jacket to show how our modern brides could change their look from day to night, civil ceremony to religious, or any way they like! We styled our model bride with a matha patti on her head. This is a traditional Indian headpiece, but due to its lightweight feel and layered pearls, it brought a bohemian or even vintage western feel to the look.

I took elements and colour cues from typical Asian bridal makeup trends, but gave them a contemporary spin with a softer base. This toned down look allows the bride’s skin to shine through, whilst still enhancing her features. I think this look perfectly blends both English and Asian bridal makeup styles to create a contemporary yet classic bridal look.

Every supplier that worked on this shoot was a perfect fit for my vision. What they all do successfully is bring something different to the table, whilst still being able to adapt to the needs of the client with their flexible approach.