An eclectic, vintage-inspired Jewish wedding styled shoot, paying homage to Palm Springs

Jewish-Wedding-Fulham-Palace
You may not believe this but it’s true – here at Smashing the Glass, we have never featured a styled shoot. No, really, if you don’t believe us, go back and check (it’s an excuse to gaze at hundreds of pretty weddings, if nothing else).

But, as they say, there’s a first time for everything – and we were really holding out for something special, and something that specifically catered to Jewish wedding traditions and aesthetic.

Enter Kylie McMichael, our much-loved STG Recommended Vendor and hair and makeup artist extraordinaire! Kylie, wishing to showcase her love of Jewish weddings, put together a team of luxury, fine-art wedding professionals to create a fashion-forward, yet timeless shoot.

Of course, that dream team included two more of our fabulous Recommended Vendors, Fulham Palace, an idyllic setting for Jewish weddings, and The Golden Letter, who acted as a Jewish consultant on the shoot, and whose wonderful modern-Hebrew stationery designs feature below.

We were absolutely blown away by it, and it’s a real treat to have something styled especially for us Jewish gals. Have a read of Kylie’s full account below, soak in the sensational images by Kitty Wheeler Shaw Photography and watch the gorgeous video by Irene Piera Films.

Oh, and, of course, if you love what you see as much as we do, get pinning, and if you want to find or book any vendors for your own big day, credits are, as always, at the bottom of the piece.

A fine art Jewish photoshoot

Kylie McMichael, hair and makeup artist, and STG Recommended Vendor:

Being the first Jewish styled shoot to ever appear on Smashing The Glass is incredibly exciting. I always wanted this shoot to mean something, to be something special. It’s a 10-months-in-the-making-homage to every couple that has ever hired me, and every Jewish bride who wants something truly stunning and fine-art inspired to draw ideas from, for the most beautiful day of their lives.

I decided to hand pick a team of luxury, fine-art wedding professionals who truly get the awesomeness involved with Jewish weddings, and wanted to showcase what they can do.

Vintage-inspired ‘botanica’ with a hint of Palm Springs

I decided our shoot should be a beautiful mixture of eclectic, vintage-inspired ‘botanica’, with a hint of Palm Springs. I wanted our venue setup, and bride, to look as thought they were pulled out of a Millais/ Waterhouse scene, and dropped in California.

We used a palette of botanical deep greens, mixed with dirty vintage blush and peaches, hints of magenta, and shocks of luxe gold.

Tradition!

Unlike most styled shoots, I wanted the chosen venue to echo a true Jewish wedding in terms of religious tradition and relevance.

Fulham Palace not only offers a kosher service, but its grounds and rooms, specifically the Great Hall, are the perfect setting for any Jewish celebration.

Cassandra June Events, along with our florist, Gill Pike, created an intimate setting using pieces from their own collections, based on my concepts for our bride to prepare herself in.

As a team, we wanted to capture the feelings, emotions of the steps leading up to the wedding and the build up to the ceremony, touching on the kiddushin, the veiling of our kallah (a beautiful bespoke veil made specifically for the shoot by Heart Aflutter Bridal), and the most stunning chuppah of magenta and peach peonies, jasmine, cafà© au lait dahlias, vuvuzela roses, and nicholii eucalyptus.

Modern Hebrew invitations

Our Jewish consultant was our wonderful stationer, Zoe at The Golden Letter who was on hand to make sure everything we were doing was true to Jewish culture and ceremony preparation.

This is echoed in the modern Hebrew touches on the invites she created, as well my choosing of the gowns from the Katya Katya Shehurina Morning Mist collection: feminine, unwaveringly romantic while being modest.

As well as the setting, I wanted the bride to completely capture everyone’s attention.

Dewey skin and a hint of sparkle

Drawing on the Palm Springs, fine-art aesthetic, I wanted our kallah’s skin to be clean, dewy, effortless and for her eyes to have a sophisticated edge, to glint with every downward glance.

I used varying shades of Bobbi Brown’s sparkle eyeshadows to achieve this, and the skin serum foundation. Every detail and emotion as been captured beautifully by Kitty Wheeler Shaw and Irene Piera Films.

A dream Jewish day

Throughout the curation of this shoot, my thoughts revolved around “what would I want for my wedding day if I were Jewish?”

I think that’s ultimately what should be your guide for planning your wedding. Take elements of everything you love, everything you want to be involved in your celebration and put it in the hands of suppliers you love and trust.