East Meets West: a Fusion of Beauty

A styled shoot that is ‘otherworldly’ in every sense of the word, inspired by authentic cultural elements fused into a wedding. We travelled to Taupo for the set, choosing a rugged landscape and snow capped mountains for our backdrop. The juxtaposing of universal elegance and bright touches of culture against a snowy mountainside led to something truly magical. The plan was to create a ‘West meets East’ atmosphere, with particular focus on the gowns and styling of the brides. Elizabeth May Bridal was the mastermind behind the dresses, working tirelessly alongside Zibido Hair and Abbie Hartland Makeup to bring our vision into reality. This gown itself is an expression of the divine feminine within, as well as the wild abandonment in creating from the heart with no boundaries or rules. With the idea of shooting amongst snow dusting our thoughts, we merged together the idea of an ‘ice witch’ alongside the mysterious magic of geishas. Colour came into play exactly as we’d hoped, through the use of fabrics and detailing, with a hand-cut bodice and contrasting hues. This styled shoot was an expression of global beauty, a kind of wordless splendour that arises from cultures coming together and blooming into something enchanting. We were so lucky to work with such a talented team, so dedicated and so free in their crafts, able to breathe life into our dreams.

Thanks to all the contributing vendors:

Hair: Zibido Hair
Florals: xoxoFloral
Makeup: Abbie Hartland Makeup
Dress: Elizabeth May Bridal
Models: Yingqiao Ma & Daniel Kuang
Photography: Two Little Starfish