Behind the scenes of Europe’s biggest Asian wedding show
Exhibitors from around the UK gathered to flaunt their latest creations, from expensive jewellery to the latest bridal designs. Photography by Saima Khalid
Budding brides and grooms came in large numbers to visit the National Asian Wedding Show, Europe’s largest Asian wedding exhibition, on November 20 in London.
Hundreds of exhibitors gathered inside the Novotel West in Hammersmith, showcasing the latest in jewellery and clothing designs.
At the centre of the show was a fashion catwalk which showcased some of the UK’s leading bridal and groomswear designers. The UK wedding industry is worth £14.7bn per year with the average cost of Asian nuptials estimated at £20,000-£30,000. A sizeable proportion of those budgets are spent on bridal clothing and jewellery.
Hyphen went backstage and followed Mirza Miah, head stylist and co-founder of Asian Bridal Gallery, to capture some of the day’s highlights
Mirza Miah (right) first became interested in events and styling in 2018. For the National Asian Wedding Show, he put in weeks of planning, including sourcing designer clothes and models. “The hours of hard work and chaos that go on behind the scenes leading up to the day go very much unnoticed,” he said. Fittings for clothes take place 24 hours before the wedding show so models and stylists can make sure everything is ready for the big event.“It can get quite exhausting doing the rehearsals and fittings,” said one of the catwalk models. “The pressure is real.”Backstage, minutes before the show, the male models set their hair, fix their ties and touch up their skin.Between outfit changes, up to four stylists can often help each model, replacing clothing and accessories, including earrings and necklaces.A hair and makeup artist sets the hair of one model before she walks down the runway.Each collection from a designer usually features an element of storytelling for the audience. “A considerable amount of time goes into creating a story with the garments with the help of music, backdrop and lights,” said Miah. “The planning starts many months in advance.” Groomswear in different colours was a dominant theme this year. Male wedding designs are steering away from traditional gold and red attire to more vibrant styles.Asian bridal wear is becoming more contemporary, with western styles increasingly exerting an influence.The couturiers also showed runway collections for groomsmen and bridesmaids, each with intricate designs. Despite the organised chaos backstage, the models took to the catwalk with elegance. “When the show starts and the adrenaline kicks in, it is amazing,” said Miah.
