When my sister said she’d always dreamed of having a smaller, intimate wedding (unlike the 400 person wedding I had), we’d never have imagined that it would result in just a 30 guest micro wedding! If you come from an Indian/ South Asian background, you already know that these weddings are (or at least were) unheard of, and for many, still out of the question. However with the civil wedding believed to be just a ‘formality’ in our culture, why wait?
Upholding the duty of maid of honour and helping your sister plan a ‘smaller’ wedding is no fun task, so believe me when I say, I understand what all my brides are going through during this difficult period of COVID-wedding planning. Nevertheless, it turned out to be one of the most beautiful, intimate, and efficient civil weddings I have ever attended in my time.
Meera always anticipated having an outdoor element to her wedding, so when the forecast for September miraculously indicated a summer sun blazed day, we knew an outdoor ceremony was the perfect perk to make the day extra special.
Scheduling ample time for hair and makeup is key to starting the day right and ensuring the wedding day is stress-free, after all this is where it all begins. Being her makeup artist on the day meant scheduling a timetable for myself, my mum, and my sister to ensure there was plenty of time for all three of us to get ready without any panic. If you know me well, then you’ll know that running late gives me serious anxiety!
Bridal Hair and Makeup
Natural, beautiful, you. This couldn’t be more true for Meera’s bridal makeover. As you’re probably already aware, I have a very natural but full coverage makeup style and I love using soft colours for a Civil wedding look. I gained inspiration through Meera’s bridal bouquet – incorporating rose pink and pearl white to create a subtle spotlight eye look. I find neutrals and soft nudes work best for my brides and are the most complimentary when it comes to a western ensemble and daytime look. I also love a glowy complexion and since it was a warm, sunny day, it was important to keep the face matte and long-wearing but also adding enough glow to catch the sun in all the right places.
Even though I love a boho hairstyle all year round, there’s something about it that screams Summer. This half twisted updo with cascading curls and gypsophila flowers was the perfect combo for an outdoor garden ceremony.
The Day Before Prep
Want to save money and have some fun with your bridal party? Try making your own DIY flower bouquets. They’re super easy to put together (especially when you’ve had plenty of previous experience). All you need are some fresh flowers of choice (keep seasonality in mind), ribbon, and some elastic bands. They looked so pretty!
Adamapple confetti have a real passion when it comes to confetti. Their extensive range of beautiful bespoke products are handpicked to suit every need. The confetti is biodegradable (no plastic at all) and the petal colours are 100% natural. You can choose from a cone or packet and all of the packaging is environmentally friendly. It was so much fun putting these cute, personalised confetti packets together and they smelled incredible.
COVID-secure wedding experience
Having been the first and last wedding of this year, it was certainly a unique experience witnessing a COVID-19 wedding. Aside from providing track and trace details for each guest, numerous strict guidelines were handed to the Bride and Groom by Brent Civic Centre, prior to their ceremony. However, it was a really pleasant, and most importantly a safe experience and we’d like to thank all our guests for adhering to these rules and making it so easy to manage.
Live streaming the ceremony
A lot of couples have had to come to terms with not having all their loved ones present on their special day and so many of you may be looking into how you can host a virtual wedding instead. Courtesy of my amazing husband, we were able to live stream the ceremony on YouTube via a link we sent out to all our guests 24hrs prior to the event. It was a real treat for anyone who wasn’t able to attend in person, and especially for those who were watching from abroad.
A few highlights from the day
Last but not least, thank you to all the suppliers and guests for making Meera & Jaimin’s wedding a special one to remember.
Photography: Filmmakers of London
Bride’s dress: Chi Chi London
Groom’s suit: Hawes & Curtis
Bride’s bouquet: Valerie Nicole Accesso
Buttonholes: Rani
Bridesmaid dress: Dorothy Perkins
Groomsmen ties: M&S
Venue: Brent Civic Centre
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