Ancient Japanese Wedding Styling

My vision for the shoot was to embrace the ancient Japanese aesthetic and the art of Kintsugi in a wedding setting. We made full use of the grounds and interior at Gorse Hill Wedding venue in Surrey for the shoot.

We chose to go for a muted natural makeup look with a chic hair up-do to start, moving on to having a stronger makeup look with red lipstick. We also showed off a range of looser-down hairstyles using accessories and flowers to enhance the look. The dress was made from antique lace with stunning Kimono-style sleeves. It was held together by a yellow velvet ribbon for a pop of colour. Underneath was a satin slip-style dress. We used both looks in the shoot to show the versatility of the dress. The white jacket had been upcycled and embroidered with Japanese styling.

The tableware included chopsticks, bamboo mats and wooden rice bowls combined with classic English crockery and glassware trimmed in gold for extra luxury. Our accessory supplier hand-created all her pieces using ethical silver and sustainable methods. We also included traditional origami cranes hung from a bamboo frame to symbolise good fortune. I took advice from a Japanese supplier to ensure our shoot and vision were fully respectful and showcased the beauty of Japanese styling.