African Roots Wedding Inspiration

After working and serving in Africa on and off for years, Kristy fell in love with the colors, the culture and the people. Little did she know she would actually be set up with an actual native of the country she loved so much and end up falling in love with him, as well. The African-inspired wedding she and Luke dreamed of wasn’t in their budget, so they were more than thrilled to participate as models in this styled wedding inspiration designed by Mylyn Wood Photography and other vendors! The whole shoot was inspired by the flame trees. For the bride’s makeup, Cherese Palacios Beauty & Makeup went for a natural smokey eye and really let the colors of the style board inspire her with the lip color and soft corals in her cheeks. Pena House Boutique designer Michelle Sablan worked with the team to pair the bold accessories with the perfect gown. Her gown was purposely more simple with lace details to create a softness to balance the bold nature of the accessories. “We all come from different cultures and sometimes the culture we resonate with the most isn’t even our own. Whatever the case may be, just go with it! Don’t be afraid to be bold and meaningful. Embrace the things you love and know that your heart is never wrong.”

A styled shoot based on an African roots wedding in Mariana Island

The diverse cultures throughout Africa are all so vibrant. When I think of Africa I imagine bright colors, lots of dirt, soulful drumming, and very happy dancing! Africa is such a unique and diverse continent. The colors, accent pieces, and overall vibe that the vendors went for represent the vibrant, powerful continent well. One of my favorite parts was when our hands and wrists were tied together in tribal cloth during a small ceremony. It was so moving and deeply seeded you couldn’t help but appreciate the time and research the vendors took to make every detail matter. It is such a great visual of what marriage is really all about: working together and staying close. It is also the perfect opportunity to use meaningful fabric (even if you don’t use tribal cloth, you could use your grandmother’s tablecloth or part of you mother’s wedding dress.) It is also just a great opportunity to add fun pops of color. If I can make note of a second favorite, it would be the Lion crest I wore around my chest. Lions have always had great meaning to us in our marriage, our officiant even mentioned Luke’s “Lion Heart” during our own wedding ceremony and it was especially heartwarming and meaningful to us. Everything about the process, from trying on dresses with Michelle Sablan (of Pena House Boutique) to getting my makeup done by the wonderfully talented Cherese Palacios was so personal. Everyone was geniunely interested in our story and our lives in Africa. I hope that any bride planning a wedding with either a culture or location as their center of inspiration can have fun with colors and fabric designs! Keep things simple, but don’t be shy to pick a few really bold pieces. Add touches that have deep meaning for you and your family. Those are the things that will mean the most and you will remember as the years pass. – Kristy