Ethereal and vibrant, this bridal styled shoot incorporates the inspiring dreamlike landscapes of Iceland and showcases a modern bride of color within the beauty of these natural settings. The rolling plein air environment reminds us again that the greatest event decor specialist will always be nature herself, and allows us to continue to think outside the traditional box in how one approaches their wedding concept and design…
Read all about the inspiration behind this Iceland bridal styled shoot below.
People of color have long been underrepresented in wedding magazines and editorials. For photographer Martine Séverin, and friends, Kpoene’ Kofi Bruce and Nika Vaughan, this absence of inclusion prompted several conversations on how they could be agents of change. With an upcoming vacation to Iceland, they decided to collaborate as an all-black team of creative women and model to flex their creative talents to address this disparity.
“We often talked about the lack of representation of black women in wedding editorials. The three of us have been in the wedding industry for at least a decade, but seldom see black faces except on wedding publications explicitly marketed to black women,” mentions Martine Séverin.
“With Kpoene’ as a designer at Mignonette Bridal, and Nika as a makeup artist and owner of Nika Vaughan Bridal Artists, we began to shape what a fine-art photoshoot that could look like.” The trio would go on to use their craft to explore their relationship with representation, as well as their own identities as black women.
“For many, fine-art weddings connote a non-brown bride. It felt, to us, like the opportunity to explore something missing in wedding and fashion editorials. We wanted to represent beauty in new ways and to amplify the voices, faces, and work of women of color in a new setting,” states Severin. Using Iceland’s natural beauty as an inspiration for the color scheme; lichen lava fields, to its black sand beach, to its draw-dropping waterfalls, the editorial unconventionally juxtaposes a woman of color in ethereal and vibrantly colored gowns.
~ Martine Severin
Vendors:
Photography: Severin Photography
Dress Designer: Mignonette Bridal
Jewelry: Realm Fine Jewelry
Stationery: Made Divine LLC
Makeup Artistry: Nika Vaughan Bridal Artists
Venue: Private Reisdence
Thank you so much for sharing this work. It was so fun working with this amazing team, and the locations were stunning. If anyone has been tempted to check out out Iceland, plan a summer trip and go!
Thank you Munaluchi for sharing our work!