Puketutu Island Estate - South Asian Inspired Styled Shoot
With the amount of effort and love that was poured into the creation of this shoot, you bet I'll be writing up a blog post about the magic we all created! This post will take you through my why, the incredible vendors involved and of course some imagery from the shoot itself.
Let's start with my why, when I started planning this shoot I knew that I wanted the colours and overall feel to be very modern yet regal, I also wanted to release a 'new look' for Indian Weddings in New Zealand. Often the assumption is bright, bold and colourful when we think of Indian Weddings - don't get me wrong this is such a beautiful style for Indian weddings, but I wanted take this opportunity to showcase Indian weddings in possibly a different light - Neutral, beige toned and untraditional. Whatever style you choose for your big day I hope it's a vibe that resonates with you and your partner the most!
The Location: Puketutu Island Estate
When I first entered Puketutu Island Estate, I knew what a dream come true it would be to shoot here some day! Tucked away in the picturesque Manukau Harbour, just a quick hop from Auckland's lively city center, you'll stumble upon the delightful Puketutu Island Estate. This place is like a hidden treasure chest, where nature, relaxation, and a touch of luxury all blend seamlessly.
It's an experience – an oasis of calm and elegance right in Auckland's backyard. With its stunning surroundings, historic charm, and a commitment to making your special moments truly special, Puketutu Island Estate is where memories are made.
The Palette: Subtle and Neutral
South Asian weddings are renowned for their colorful and elaborate decor, and our styled shoot wanted to showcase South Asian weddings in a more beige light. We incorporated a range of neutral colors, from the models beige lehenga to the exteriors of the estate. The colors of Auckland's natural scenery blended seamlessly with the colour palette.
The Fashion: Sabyasachi
When it comes to capturing the essence of South Asian fashion in the heart of Auckland, New Zealand, you've got to start with the right outfit. That's why we couldn't resist featuring a Sabyasachi beige lehenga in our styled shoot.
One cool thing about this lehenga is how versatile it is. It doesn't scream "Indian bridal," which made it perfect for our shoot where we wanted to blend South Asian and Kiwi vibes. Its neutral color played nice with both traditional and contemporary elements, giving us the fusion we were after.
Sabyasachi is famous for his attention to detail, and you can totally see it in this lehenga. The intricate embroidery and delicate embellishments added a dash of regal charm that we just couldn't resist. It was like the icing on the fashion cake.
The Decor: Raj Tent Club
Raj Tent Club is where Indian heritage meets Kiwi vibes. Whether it's a wedding, a corporate bash, or just a killer party, their tents and decor bring a fusion of traditional Indian vibes and modern Kiwi cool to the scene. It's like a cultural mashup that sets the mood just right. We used their stunning low wooden chairs with lanterns for the decor and the whole scene was brought to life with their stunning 'Jaali screen', highly recommend this piece if you're looking at doing a mehndi night!
The Florals - Ruby Lou Floral Design
We got Ruby Lou Floral Design on board and BAM!! Her florals were the absolute cherry on top when it came to styling poses and the decor. The best part of all of this was, in the middle of all this planning I somehow managed to miss telling her the colour scheme we were going for as this ended up being a last minute addition, but Ruby absolutely nailed it and brought the most stunning floral installation along with a beautifully relaxed looking bundle of flowers for our 'bride' to hold onto. She nailed the effortless vibe and the touch of orange from the poppies made for the perfect pop of colour!
The Makeup - Sarika Patel
When it comes to makeup artistry there's one artist who I've absolutely loved for as long as I can remember (probably my high school days I'll be honest) and she is the incredible Sarika Patel!! This wonderful lady is a true master at her craft, her beautiful personality and insane talent makes her highly sought after within the New Zealand wedding industry.
Sarika's level of attention to detail is amazing! After the makeup was done, she took a brush and started brushing our 'bride's hands, at first we were wondering what this was for, later she explained that because of the weather fluctuations our hands can also change colour, making them a little 'blue' - I'm telling you she's insanely talented!!
The Jewellery - Aafreen Jewellery
Having worked with Aafreen Jewellery before, I knew we had to have them on board for this styled shoot too! With the most beautiful Indian jewellery pieces perfect for brides, bridal party and guests they are the ones to go to for all your Indian Jewellery needs.
The pieces selected for this shoot needed to have a regal and modern blend, and that's exactly was Aafreen delivered on!
The Car - Yours Sincerely
The vintage Rolls-Royce was the ultimate cherry on top for our South Asian styled shoot. It brought that extra splash of luxury and style that completed the whole vibe. Amidst the gorgeous estate and its surrounding fauna, this classic beauty added a touch of old-school charm that made the shoot feel like a celebration of love and culture, but with a seriously cool twist. It's like the Rolls-Royce whispered, "Let's make this shoot unforgettable," and that's exactly what happened.
A massive thank you to all the vendors that were involved with this shoot along Syra and Prince who were acting as Bride and Groom throughout this shoot, always a pleasure working with you both to create magic!
Please see links below for all the vendors involved:
Venue: https://www.instagram.com/puketutuislandestate/
Makeup: https://www.instagram.com/ssarika/
Decor: https://www.instagram.com/raj_tent_club_nz/
Florals: https://www.instagram.com/rubylou.floraldesign/
Car: https://www.instagram.com/yourssincerely.co.nz/
I really hope this post gave you inspiration on styling tips for your big day!
Lots of love,
The HP Collective