by “Ricardo [Ghezzi] and I got married last September, and the wedding took place on the private estate of Tenuta Corbinaia, 19thA century villa with its own winery and stunning views of the surrounding Tuscan hills,” says Royal Ballet principal ballerina Yasmine Naghdi to Harper’s Bazaar.
The overall theme of their fairytale wedding was “understated chic and elegance, blending with the natural beauty of the Tuscan landscape,” she explained – although the inspiration for her dress was “traditional and elegant but with a fun contemporary twist”. . It didn’t take her long to find it. “I relied on various wedding dress designers in the UK and internationally but as soon as I saw the ‘Sara’ [designed by the all female-led Ukrainian bridal brand Milla Nova], I knew immediately that was the one!” The ivory satin strapless dress had a long train and mikado ruched bodice, “its delicate folds – like rose petals – created a rich texture with a soft shine, which maintained its shape exceptionally”, and a floor-length multi-fold draped skirt with high slit in the middle revealing a miniskirt underneath.
Naghdi discovered the brand through a CNN documentary. “I was so impressed with how Milla Nova helped many of their female team members, along with their families and children, relocate to a new safe facility in Warsaw. My dresses were made in their atelier and when they arrived in London, I asked Rosana Rosa from Alterations Boutique in Marble Arch to adjust the length and folds of my dress to get the perfect fit.”
Below, the award-winning British ballerina shares more insights into her bridal look, including how she achieved flawless complexion, high-visibility hair and heat-resistant make-up for her special day.
On building her hairstyle around her dress…
“I spent a lot of time thinking about different hairstyles but, in the end, I decided to go for a simple look; I wanted to look like ‘me’ without any kind of dramatic transformation.
“At home one evening I tried on a look I thought might work and then decided to team up with Ciro Via delle Terme, a hair and beauty salon in Florence. The day before my wedding, I met with her stylist Maurizio Nelli and they explained the look I envisioned: parting in the middle, the front part of my hair gently brushed behind my ears, soft waves through the lengths at the back, and white satin. ribbon acting as a hair band. The next evening he took it off and attached my classic long veil, personalized with ‘In my heart always’ embroidered on it.”
When she chooses to do her own wedding make-up…
“I’m used to doing my own stage make-up whenever I perform at the Royal Opera House or internationally, so I decided not to use bridal make-up. I used Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation as a base, with Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder; Nars Blush in the shade Orgasm; Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant Heat Bronzer and Brow MVP Ultra Fine Brow Pencil & Styler; and a very small amount of Bobbi Brown Cream Shadow Stick for eye shadow. To keep my natural look, I decided against fake lashes, but I applied a light layer of the Dior DiorShow Mascara in a waterproof formula, preventing any risk of panda eyes when the tears start to roll. On my lips, I used Bobbi Brown’s Artist Stick in the shade Bare. Finally, a spritz of Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Spray helped keep my makeup looking fresh and long-lasting.”
On training her skin for the big day…
“My skin care before the wedding was very important to me to ensure a perfect glow. Starting a few months before my big day, I went to Santi London in South Kensington, for a course of customized facials.
“Santi Spa is my place to recover and relax after any of my performances at the Royal Opera House; her massages, as well as her beauty treatments, are perfectly suited to my recovery needs as a ballerina.”
On booking for other bridal beauty treatments…
“Before the wedding I had several microblading sessions to improve the shape of my brows, and a deep hair conditioning treatment so that my hair was brighter and less frizzy, and could withstand the Toscana humidity.
“The day before my wedding I visited the same salon that took care of my hair, with my mother and sister, to have pedicures and manicures. It was a very special moment to be together just the three of us. I chose a translucent light-pink nail varnish for my fingers and toes.”
When she chooses her wedding day perfume…
“I chose Chantecaille’s Tiare eau de parfum, a perfume that will forever remind me of my wedding day. It is a very seductive scent – the tiare known as ‘the flower of love’. It is also an energetic scent; it is subtly sweet. It evokes the relaxed feeling of the tropics: calm seas, muted winds and lush foliage. It’s a fragrance that perfectly suits and complements my personality.”
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