We’ve teamed up with incredible Black Wedding Professionals in the industry to gather some of their top advice for Black Brides as they navigate their wedding planning journey.

5 Hair + Makeup Tips

TIPS FOR FINDING A HAIR + MAKEUP ARTIST for black brides🤎

From Autumn Artistry

Diversity

Look for diversity in the artist’s portfolio, specifically in terms of skin tones and hair textures. It indicates their ability to enhance and celebrate different types of beauty. A diverse portfolio shows that the artist has experience working with a range of clients, including Black brides.

Representation

Check if the artist has specifically highlighted their work with Black brides. Look for images or testimonials from Black clients. This demonstarates that the artist values and celebrates the beauty of Black brides and has experience working with them.

Consistency

Look for consistency in the artist’s work. The images should showcase a cohesive style or signature aesthetic that aligns with your preferences. Consistency also indicates professionalis and attention to detail.

Attention to Detail

Pay attention to small details like flawless skin finish, well-groomed eyebrows, and precise eyeliner application. These details reflect the artist’s skill and dedication to creating a polished and complete look.

Client Testimonials

If available, read clients or reviews on the artist’s website or social media platforms. These reviews can provide valuable insights into the artist’s professionalism, communication skills, and ability to meet client’s expectations.

By considering these factors, you can assess the artist’s expertise, style and professionalism through their portfolio and website. It will help you fetermine if their work aligns with your vision for your wedding day look as a Black bride.

5 Photography Tips

TIPS FOR NON-POC PHOTOGRAPHERS for shooting and editing black brides 🤎

From Mina Ejieh

Consultation

This is the most important research you do when preparing to photograph your black bride. Who better to tell you in detail what the bride wants in terms of mood and overall vibe of the final images than the bride herself? Ask clarifying questions as you discuss her preferences, vision, and any specific concerns she may have concerning the wedding images. A good place to start is to ask the bride what she wants to remember from her wedding when she looks through her final gallery.

Lighting is crucial in wedding photography

Your understanding of the nuances of lighting [both natural and artificial] for various skin tones can have a significant impact on your representation of the same in your photography. Darker skin can absorb more light, so proper exposure is extremely important. Do not be afraid to experiment with different lighting setups to find what works best for highlighting the beauty of black skin tones. I definitely encourage photographers to perform some test shots during different times of the day to understand how lighting conditions affect the appearance of skin tones.

Posing, Angles + Backgrounds

Choose backgrounds that complement the skin tones and overall mood and aesthetic. Explore inclusive poses that highlight the natural grace and elegance of the bride. Encourage natural and relaxed poses that reflect her personality. Pay keen attention to those in-between, unposed but precious moments throughout the day. BE PRESENT!

Educate and Familiarize yourself with relevant traditions

If the bride is incorporating cultural or religious elements into her wedding, take the time to understand and respect these traditions. Where you are unsure, ASK QUESTIONS. This knowledge can inform your photography and help you capture meaningful moments that will be cherished forever. This builds trust with the bride as you capture her through the day, and also demonstrates to the bride your care and commitment to delivering exceptional images from her special day.

Editing + Post-processing

Be mindful not to go overboard with editing/retouching thereby altering the natural skin tones. You may wanna dial back on those filters. Strive for authenticity and accuracy in representing the richness and diversity of skin tones. Utilize color grading and color correction techniques that bring the overall look and mood together.

Remember, the key is to celebrate and enhance the natural black beauty of the bride while maintaining authenticity in both photography and editing. In some cases, It may not hurt to share some samples of your edits [usually in a sneak peek album] before going ahead with editing the entire gallery. This allows the bride to share any areas for adjustments or improvements to help you stay in line with her preferences. A great way to improve customer satisfaction.

5 Wedding Planner Tips

From Matrimony Events

WEDDING PLANNING INSIGHT FOR FOR BLACK BRIDES 🤎

What’s something you always tell brides when planning their wedding?

 I always tell brides to be true to themselves. Their wedding is a representation of their love story. Guests want to see who they are as a couple.  In Black culture, it is very common for parents and older family members to impress upon a bride or groom things that they may want or highlight as being most important for the couple’s wedding day. It is important that the couple remember it is THEIR day and to plan and design their wedding as they see fit. There are no rules.

Any helpful tips you have for brides who want to plan their wedding themselves?

When planning your own wedding, it’s important to take your time. Get organized, think things through in terms of vision and budget. Things add up quite quickly and details can become overwhelming. When a clear vision is outlined, they experience less stress and things fall into place.

Are there any personal rules you follow when reaching out to other vendors?

 When reaching out to vendors I do my best to pay attention to their professionalism, responsiveness, and overall vibe. I aim to ensure a good fit not only for the couple, but for all vendor parties involved.

What are important things to you when planning a wedding? 

As a wedding designer, ensuring that the aesthetic is cohesive is very important to me. I aim to make sure that all elements tie in well with each other and deliver the overall vision exceptionally. Secondly, infusing the couple’s culture, personality and sentimental touches are also key when making one’s wedding unique.

How can brides be sure their wedding planner hears and understands them?

The best way for a bride to ensure their wedding planner understands them is through genuine and honest conversation. When a bride explains the reason why they choose to do or not do something, it allows me to get a true understanding of where they are coming from and accept their decision.

Do you have any words of wisdom?

Choose your vendors carefully. Cost and style are important, but you want a team behind you who are considerate, patient and make you feel comfortable. Working with vendors who are members of the Black community can often bring comfort to a Black bride and groom. They relate to various experiences and have the foresight to advise the bride and groom accordingly based on their shared culture.

Check out our past blog for event more vendor resources, voices from our community and call to actions for our designers!