In the Mood for Love

Chinese wedding traditions are often filled with with bold colours such as red and gold. As beautiful as they are, how can the more quiet and artistic Chinese brides who want to honour their culture design a softer colour palette for their wedding? With this editorial, we wanted to explore creative ways incorporating Chinese elements into wedding design. How can we find the delicate balance between the two? How can we reinvent traditions with a modern romantic twist?

This shoot is inspired by the classic Hong Kong movie "In the Mood for Love", set in the 1960s. And thus the location we chose for the shoot is Haw Par Mansion. Once owned by a Burmese Tycoon in Hong Kong in the early 20th century, he was very much attracted to Art Deco Style. The architecture of the building is very much a perfect blend of the East and the West, with Chinese style rooftops and colors and decorated with Western style stained glass and tall ceilings. It is a perfect representation of the old Hong Kong, yet it is also meditative, immersive and imbued with the beauty of nature,

"In the Mood for Love" is a movie with an utterly beautiful and impressionable sense of nostalgia, longing, and grace--exactly what we want to recreate in our shoot. May this editorial be an example of Chinese poetry coming alive. With the mesmorizing embroidery on the Cinobi gown, expertly designed florals to fit the mood, classic pearl accessories, illustrations and handwritten calligraphy in both Chinese and English, we find the balance between extravagance, drama and sophistication. Here’s to honouring traditions and heritage.

Planning & Styling: Af Atelier
Venue Support | Har Par Music
Hair and Makeup | Jen Ho Artistry
Gown | Cinobi from The Other Half Bridal
Invitation and Illustration | Daylight Letters