I have had the privilege of working with many brides who come from black heritage or have darker skin tones. When wearing western wedding dress styles, a fashion first evolved to suit white skin women, different choices can be made to ensure the dresses flatter darker skin tones. Often this includes ensuring any sheer or skin-tone matching elements are created to match the bride’s actual skin. I hand dye tulle for illusion neckline dresses, usually with two or three samples so a bride can decide which is the best and most invisible choice.
Being sensitive to and interested in different cultures comes naturally to me. I love learning about wedding customs and traditions that are new to me. I really enjoy designing dresses for brides who are planning a wedding from their own background, or a fusion blended celebration.
Creating a bespoke wedding dress for Ayesha included hand dyeing her tulle for the illusion back and plunge front necklines. I really enjoy this aspect of making wedding dresses for black or dark skin brides.
Official photography by DSVisuals
Angela wanted a subtle oyster pink dress and jacket for her white-tie wedding day. The opulent duchess satin and delicate chantilly lace combined to give a sophisticated and pretty look. You can see more pictures of Angela’s wedding ensemble here.
Photography bywww.christellephoto.com
Cultural Fusion Wedding
Iram’s London wedding was planned a cultural fusion vibe. She wanted to wear a modern wedding ensemble in Western white colours, but with a big nod to her Indian background. My ‘Evie’ set was the perfect match, created custom for her with the latkan and belt details chosen to match her colour scheme. You can see more designs for cultural fusion weddings on this page.
You can see this set for sale in my Etsy shop, or contact me directly to discuss your custom order.
Photography – Rohit Gautam
I made Vanessa’s wedding dress with a very full silk dupion skirt pleated to her waist. Corded lace was used for the illuion bodice with tulle dyed to match her skintone as the support.
Safiya ordered a bespoke bias cut wedding dress in white silk satin. Cutting a dress ‘on the bias’ create a beautiful drape and close fit. Metallic embroidery was created for the dress by ‘Hand and Lock’
Official Wedding pictures by Indigo Images
Hannah brought me a wedding dress she had found elsewhere to have the skirt section remade with more flaboyance. I created a stunning waterfall skirt in cascades of organza with lace applique to blend it into the main dress above. You can click here to find out more about booking wedding dress alterations with me.
Weddings with another Religious element
Reeta’s wedding dress was made in buttermilk coloured silk satin and ivory lace to compliment her beautiful mid skintone. Official photographs by www.photofactorysite.com
This bride wanted a dress made in African lace. I cut and sewed her beautiful lace fabric using the scalloped edges to trim the hem and full train. We also used more lace to create her hijab for the Muslim part of her wedding ceremony. It is always such an honour to make wedding dresses for black brides, especially when I am given such exquisite materials to work with.
Photoshoot wedding dresses for black brides
This photoshoot in London featured the beautiful Vanessa as our model. I designed a cadbury purple silk dress coat and an ivory short wedding dress.
Photography: Jessica Jill Partridge,
I designed an asymmetric wedding dress with a gold corset to wear over the top for a photoshoot in London’s RSA House. The stunning Dom and Yana were our models.
Photographer – Jamie Edward
Asian brides in cultural fusion designs
I design and made these two cultural fusion looks for an inspiration photoshoot. Both our beautiful bridal models have gorgeous warm brown Asian skintones. Simi wears a version of my ‘Evie-Set’ in wine coloured silk satin for her cropped blouse with ivory silk trousers. Meera-rose wears a European style wedding dress made from a pink lehenga and dupatta with zardozi embroidery.
To see more from this Salthouse-fusion photoshoot head over to this dedicated portfolio entry.
Concept production & lead photographer – Puli Creative
I also have a whole page dedicated to cultural fusion wedding dress designs.
