Inclusivity by TDR Bridal Birmingham. Celebrating everyone for everything that they are – because everyone deserves this moment!
Rebecca Baddeley, owner and Director of TDR Bridal and brains behind this incredible shoot tells all:
“Frustration… that’s the word that springs to mind when I think about how this shoot came about… Frustration and, if I’m honest, shame. I have a wonderful brother Chris, who happens to be disabled. His disability does not define him and it doesn’t stop him from doing whatever he sets his mind to. He excelled at school, he got his A-levels, he went to university, he has an excellent, high-flying career, he is married and a father to two gorgeous girls.
Then there’s beautiful soul Paige – a Senior Stylist at TDR who has worked with me for over three years. Paige once said to me: ‘This is the first place I’ve worked where I feel I can be myself!’ For context, she was referring to racism.
I have known for some time that I wanted to do something, needed to do something, to address the elephant in the bridal world room. I remember around eight years ago questioning why there were no black models at a trade show. Don’t get me wrong, things are improving but the diversity shown in the aesthetic we offer out to the world of engaged couples is seriously lacking and, as uncomfortable as it may be, we the collective bridal industry, need to take a long hard look in the mirror, and see what we are portraying. At the moment, it looks like a world where only straight, young, white, able-bodied females, buy wedding dresses. This isn’t real life and I am ashamed, sometimes, of this stereotypical, somewhat archaic representation of brides. My frustration at trying to find images to represent diversity for my Social Media and for my website was considerable; I just couldn’t find anything, anywhere! I just kept coming around to the same question… Do they think these people don’t get married??!!
This shoot was emotional, celebrational, nerve-wracking, exciting, thought-provoking, fun, soul-searching, empowering, educational, enlightening and every other emotion you could possibly imagine. The goosebumps were on high alert and the tears of joy were abundant. Whilst I understand that being a business that is inclusive, in all its forms, can be challenging, it is something I am incredibly passionate about. Being inclusive is always a work in progress, it’s a daily reminder to think about how we treat others and how we respond to different brides and this is a celebration of everybody.
I am immensely proud to know them all and humbled to have worked with these incredible, beautiful people. I hope these beautiful images get shared far and wide, that they are celebrated and championed, and I hope, above all, that these images elicit change. And it is also my hope that people’s perception of what a bride should look like is challenged and may be changed, so that we can all as a collective, ensure that diversity in all its forms is represented in the bridal industry.“
A collaboration of some of the best suppliers and a wonderful team made this possible. We hope you enjoy these images as much as we enjoyed creating them…
SUPPLIERS
TDR Bridal Birmingham @tdrbridalbirmingham
Bohemian Rose Photography @bohemianrosephotography
Through the Lens With Marvin Marius @throughthelensmm
Eyes to Pixels @eyestopixels
The Wedding House Droitwich @theweddinghouse_droitwich
Bridal By Artists @bridalbyartists
MODELS
Alison @alisonwilliams4617
Betti @wildflowercouple
Katie @katieknowles1
Lena @lenamcallister
Cassie @cassie.faye.x
Liam @liammark95
Maariyah @maari.yah
Nadia @godessdiamonds88
Amy @a_marren
Arti @officialartishar
Faye @faye_adams_
Keziah @keziahnkounkou
Poppy @popular_vipfuturestar
Sherrill @cloudysherrill
Elena @elenaevripidou_
Alison @alisonwilliams4617
Here at TDR Bridal we are proud celebrate every body, come and feel the magic that this place has to offer!
