A soft, neutral palette, modern decor and the largest sand desert in the world – this stunning wedding inspiration blends the old world with new, modern aesthetics and the results couldn’t be more breathtaking. From the bride’s sleek, contemporary wedding gown to a crescent-shaped arbor made entirely of pampas grass by Flourish Flowers to the vast sandy scenery… check out the full gallery of details captured by Maria Sundin Photography to see it all!
From Maria Sundin Photography… Bringing together the old and the new, our aim was to capture the spirit of Arabia in a modern take. Collaborating with the beautiful desert resort wedding venue Qasr al Sarab, in the very heart of the Empty Quarter, the largest sand desert in the world, we brought together raw industrial and modern aesthetics with old cultural and traditional elements of the Arabian Peninsula.
When we came across the beautiful desert resort of Qasr al Sarab, which rises as a sand castle in the infinite Rub’ al Khali Desert, we knew that we had to create something special here. The buildings adorned with towers that represent old architecture and wind towers, the old urns, and a collection of authentic antiques from past days makes this a very unique place. Drawing on traditional elements such as clay pots, della’s (Arabic brass coffee pots), leather poufs with beautiful detailing and combining this with dry flowers bound to give a sense of wilderness fit well with the mysticism and heritage of this exceptional place.
“We drew inspiration from regional history and decided to use the crescent moon, a symbol essential to the region for thousands of years, and combined the moon with pampas grass and dry palm leaves, both locally significant as it’s part of the only vegetation that grows naturally in this region”, says the styling team from The Purple Chair. While in keeping with today’s modern brides, The Purple Chair brought in a modern twist with a black industrial wire backdrop, dinner tables with wire legs and a rattan lounge seating to give a 21st century eclectic feel that’s becoming popular in the region. Mustard, wheat and natural tones with a highlight of white, black and brass were used throughout to bring a subtle blend with a modern edge. Stationery artist Robyn from Feather Paper used handmade paper in wheat tones with mustard highlights and gold calligraphy to really draw out those desert hues. Flourish Flowers mixed the soft yellow colours with dry florals and palm leaves which were offset with white roses and ranunculus to create wild and local inspired arrangements. The Bo & Luca dresses in in silk chiffon and silk satin with cuff beading from Ginger & Poppy gave a feminine luxurious touch to a gown that fit well with the fresh desert vibe.
“I always love to blend cultural aspects with a modern vibe and I loved to see how the ideas of bridging this gap came together on the day. I’m naturally drawn to a neutral palette which I think works so great on film stocks like the Fuji400h”, says photographer Maria Sundin. “My personal hope with this editorial inspiration is to show off the beauty of this region that I’m so passionate about and show brides that you can have the best of two worlds if you choose to have a wedding in this endless and mystical desert of the Empty Quarter”.
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Photographer: Maria Sundin Photography | Videographer: Jake Borland | Styling: The Purple Chair | Flowers: Flourish Flowers | Dress: Ginger and Poppy Bridal Boutique | Cake: Whisk Bakery | Stationery: Feather Paper | Wedding Venue: Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara | Backdrop & tables: Mint Event Rentals | Hair & Make-up: Corrie Elle | Rentals: Electra | Seating chart sticker: E-Walls Studio | Tableware: Tesdi