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Wedding photographer Cristeal Felien created a “Bridgerton”-inspired photo shoot.
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Felien and a team of vendors combined the romance of the Regency era with modern wedding decor.
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They hope the shoot will act as a blueprint for couples who want a “Bridgerton” wedding.
Netflix’s “Bridgerton” was so popular when it was released in 2020 that it’s becoming a source of inspiration for people as they plan their weddings.
Photographer Cristeal Felien and wedding planner Michelle of Nixi Weddings decided to create a “Bridgerton”-inspired wedding shoot after Felien saw posts about the show on Instagram.
Felien told Insider she was inspired by the classic beauty of Regency-era romance, and she thought the aesthetic of the series would translate well for a wedding.
Felien and Michelle worked with a team of all women-owned small businesses in California to make their vision a reality.
The faux wedding brought Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton together, but the models Felien enlisted, Courtney and Ethan, are a real couple.
“There is something so special when somebody is genuinely in love with the other person that you can’t really replicate,” Felien said of photographing a real couple.
The shoot included a themed invitation suite, addressed to Eloise Bridgerton.
There was even a Lady Whistledown announcement of the nuptials.
Felien chose a romantic gown with a full skirt for Courtney to model during the shoot, even though it wasn’t the same silhouette as dresses from the “Bridgerton” era.
“It has that sexiness to it because it’s sheer in certain areas, but it also has this incredible elegance that I was just dumbfounded by,” Felien said of why she chose the dress.
The accessories Felien paired with the dress tied the theme together.
A crown, a fan, and the iconic “Bridgerton” gloves made Courtney’s look feel authentic to the era without being cheesy.
Ethan’s tuxedo also offered a modernized version of the “Bridgerton” style.
The cream suit had a subtle floral pattern, nodding to the Duke of Hastings’ ornate vests on “Bridgerton.”
The Nixi Weddings team used flowers, candles, and gold accessories to make a tablescape fit for the “Bridgerton” cast.
An elaborate cheese board nodded to the heavy hors d’oeuvres the “Bridgerton” cast snacked on at balls throughout the series.
Mirrors engraved with the names of “Bridgerton” cast members served as place cards.
Ethan and Courtney posed in front of an aged chapel, evoking the same vibe as Daphne Bridgerton and the Duke of Hastings’ wedding.
Felien told Insider it was important to balance the theme and modernity so the shoot didn’t come across as gauche.
“I was really nervous about it going in, because I didn’t want it to look cheesy,” Felien said. “I wanted it to be something that would inspire my brides.”
Felien went on to say that some of the things that made the shoot feel authentic were happy accidents.
For instance, Ethan’s pants ended up being shorter than the team anticipated, but they looked authentic to the Regency era.
Likewise, the owner of the venue stumbled upon a group of baby bunnies the day of the shoot that added to the old-world feel of the day.
Felien said the bunnies made the day feel like a real-life Disney princess movie.
Felien advises couples who want to have a real “Bridgerton”-inspired wedding to combine modern decor with nods to the show.
“Modern elements are a huge part of what made the shoot so successful,” she said.
“If I had just done a full-fledged costume for each of them, it wouldn’t have looked the way that it looked,” she added.
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Read the original article on Insider
