No Kau a Ka (For Eternity) Polynesian-Inspired Wedding on the Gold Coast, Australia

We make no secret of the fact that we love weddings. We love unique (to Australia!) weddings. We love culture, heritage, and traditions. When we approached Richard (from Sanoia) about a separate shoot, he replied with the concept below. We could not have been more excited. We teamed up with Marisha (from Magnolia Studios) who did the heavy lifting for the planning phase and then styled the shoot alongside Richard. Tyneale (from Tyneale Hahn Makeup Artist) kindly wrote-up the shoot for submission on behalf of the team. We have included Tyneale’s story below. Enjoy!

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Polynesian Wedding Inspiration – luxury and tradition with a modern twist

Shoot Location: Private Property at Springbrook

Theme: Luxury Tropical Styling with Tribal Polynesian accents

Brief: The inspiration for this styled wedding shoot began as a much smaller idea between two vendors - Richard from Sanoia and Marisha from Magnolia Studios, along with some contribution from Poppy and Sage Photography.

The Polynesian aspect was chosen to be the main focus; it needed to be luxurious, tropical and tribal but still modern at heart. From these humble beginnings, genuine connections from one person to the next is how this epic team of vendors was built. The final collection of vendors was either known to one of the three planners or produced work that had been admired from afar.

Our venue - a private property - provided the perfect backdrop for the shoot. The owners kindly let the team take over their property, including a last-minute addition of a Green Tiki Car (Marisha happened to be at a car show with her family and stumbled across the owner).

Our models were dressed impeccably by Urbbana and Pearl Bridal Gold Coast. ‘Jasmine and Taylor’ are Tiara and Josh - a real-life couple. They went with the flow and jokingly hoped to catch a few family members by thinking they had eloped.

Lei, the florist from Lei Luna Leis, was an amazing addition to the team. Her Hawaiian background certainly gifted a real-life aspect to the shoot (it was so important to the entire team that any heritage incorporated be acknowledged appropriately). She created stunning florals that would appear in real-life traditional ceremonies. The green installations created by Big Leaf Boutique were incredible and full of impact!

Our beautiful settings were a team effort with pieces sourced from Exotic Soirees, Arctic Fox Events and Southern Lights Candle Co. All elements were styled beautifully & thoughtfully by Marisha & Richard.

There were mini collaborations formed between stationery/signage and laser engraving vendors. Moser Design Studio really pushed the boundaries by engraving coconuts for this specific project. North Salt Studio created stationery and signage that complemented all elements perfectly.

Chocolate favours were provided by Cravve. A selection of coconut chocolate truffles contributed a luxurious accent. Our feature coconut on the wedding cake (created by Natasha from Simply Divine Occasions) kept our coconut-inspired vibe going strong!

Sharmeen Thomas created the white henna artistry for our bridal muse; this weaved an elegant tribal element into the overall look.

Rings by My Jewellery Shop and celebrant Jo Hurley completed our real-life vision.

Our photographer, Emily of Poppy and Sage Photography, trusted the artistic vision of others and captured it perfectly. Ruri Photo Video was not far from Emily’s shoulder capturing the day on film.

Lastly, Tyneale of Tyneale Hahn Makeup Artist created two beautiful hairstyles, and a makeup look on ‘Jasmine’, our bridal muse.

As with every collaboration, the creation and enjoyment are a full team effort. In the lead up to this day (which was postponed once due to weather), the weather threatened us with a heavy 30-minute downpour just as set up began. Needless to say, the team worked around a few puddles, but everything was still perfect. We have all formed lasting connections and a new network of businesses to love and support!

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Bridal muse: @tiaraa.maree
Groom muse: @josh_robins96

Shrestha Family <3

We had such a lovely time hanging out with the beautiful Shrestha family at our local park. They are our neighbours and are going to be moving away next week. Sujan and Sadhana are some of the kindest people and would periodically drop food off to us - just because. We are going to miss them and their beautiful family (including sweet Evie) very much! We hope that their new home holds all their hopes and dreams for the future - and some amazing new memories.

Planning a Wedding :: An Overview

We want to help you out!

Planning a wedding can be overwhelming and stressful.

Here are our posts addressing different parts of the journey consolidated in one place and framed as potential questions you might have:

We hope this is helpful for us and, as always, feel free to reach out anytime :)

Or any colour for that matter! <3

Engagement Session :: Why We Recommend It

How about we see how many reasons we can come up with for having an engagement session:

  • You can establish a comfortable relationship with your photographer

  • You can relax/gain confidence in front of the camera in a fun & casual environment (we nearly always meet up with our local couples prior to the wedding day but there is a big difference between sitting down over a cuppa and being on the other side of a lens); quieten those “I am really awkward in front of the camera” voices in the back of your head

  • Relaxing goes both ways: the more we know about both of you (what makes you laugh, and so on), the more we can help you on your day

  • Engagement is such an exciting time in life and will not last forever; embrace & preserve the season with some images

  • The session provides a clearer point of reference for determining wedding coverage/expectations as you personally are in the frame - this makes it easier to see what you like and dislike

  • You can practice the kind of shots important to you and that you want from your wedding

  • Try out your hair and makeup style - or mix up the content so you have different looks

  • Include some of your favourites in your wedding stationery suite (save the date, thank you cards or guest book… or just create a Facebook album and share your love with your loved ones)

  • The wedding day is about so many things - love, family/friends, emotions - whereas the engagement session is really about just the two of you as the focal point

  • In amongst the crazy that is wedding planning, an engagement session can ensure a bonding session/opportunity to reconnect for both of you and remind you of what is most important at the end of the day - a really nice pause button, in a way. Make it a date!

  • Engagement, just like the wedding, is a milestone in itself and worth celebrating one way or another

  • As time goes by, you might find that you treasure both: images of you in your wedding attire and images of you that are more relatable day to day

  • Express your personal style (very often, there are multiple people involved in a wedding day with different opinions - puffed sleeves, no train, peonies like grandma’s bouquet, save the dates or no save the dates, Polaroid cameras on each table or no Polaroids… we could go on and on) - this is your day really! No traditional expectations!

  • While we are creating images different to your wedding day, why not mix up the location, too! Sometimes we hear from couples that they would love images at a location sentimental to them, but it is too far from the wedding venue to reasonably expect people to travel/wait. This is your chance.

  • Speaking of traditional expectations, if you are wanting something unique from your session, there is a greater chance of that happening at your engagement session than on your wedding day - don’t be shy and work together with your photographer to create some unique magic!

  • Tell your story as there is more to both of you than a wedding day

  • You might even learn a little more about each other during the process - embrace it! <3

  • As always, if you don’t want to do something (including an engagement session), don’t. No one should make you do something you do not feel comfortable with. If this is you, focus on the things that are important to you and, if you go with the flow, your wedding day will come together perfectly!

Dreamy Wedding Venues from around the World

We regularly discover new, beautiful wedding venues in our travels for inspiration. We decided to make it easy and collate it all in one spot. As we find (new-to-us) venues, we will add them below. If you know of any that should be on this list, please feel free to reach out. If there are any that should not be on the list (assume that if they are below, we are unaware of any inherent racism, ageism, or discrimination of any form that might be known to local vendors/businesses; again, feel free to reach out to us and let us know). We are most familiar with the venues in our local area - Brisbane, Queensland, Australia - and so the majority of venues listed will probably be concentrated around this area. Enjoy the following 100+ venues!

Australia

Queensland

Brisbane & Surrounds

Boulevard Gardens

Brisbane City Hall

Brisbane Marriott Hotel

Bundaleer Rainforest Gardens

Clear Mountain Lodge

Customs House

Dorset Bottega

Factory 51

Glengariff Historic Estate

Hanworth House

Hillstone St Lucia

Howard Smith Wharves

Loft West End

Loyal Hope of the Valley

Old Museum

QAGOMA

QUT Wedding Collection (Old Government House, in particular)

Riverlife

Smoked Garage

Stamford Plaza

Tangalooma Island

Tattersall’s Club

The Calile Hotel

The Lussh

Victoria Park

Sunshine Coast & Surrounds

Hideaway Weddings

Maleny Manor

Maleny Retreat Weddings

Noosa Boathouse

Secrets on the Lake

The Old Dairy Maleny

Weddings at Tiffany’s

Gold Coast & Surrounds

Albert River Winery

Black Hall Kalbar

Coolibah Downs Private Estate

Cowbell Creek Weddings

Kooroomba Vineyards & Lavender Farm

Rosewood Estate

Sarabah Estate Vineyard

The Overflow Estate 1895

White Chapel Kalbar

Elsewhere

Abbey Boutique Hotel

All Saints Chapel

Elysian Retreat

Gabbinbar Homestead

Pacific Cove Resort

Royston House

Spicers Retreats

The Bower Estate

Villa Botanica

Worendo Cottages

New South Wales

Angus Hill Byron Bay

Bellingen Valley Lodge

Bendooley Estate

Deux Belettes

Glenmore Country Estate

Hinterland House

Hunter Valley Gardens

Lochelen Farm

Milton Park Country House

Osteria Casuarina

Summergrove Estate

Summerhills Retreat

The Convent

The Earth House

The Fig Tree

The Grounds of Alexandria

Victoria’s Byron Bay

Villa Rustica

Victoria

Amarti

Inglewood Estate

St Andrews Conservatory

The Langham

The Riverstone Estate

Tasmania

Museum of Old & New Art

South Australia

Kingsford Homestead

Western Australia

Caversham House

Northern Territory

Double Tree Alice Springs

Bahamas

Four Seasons Ocean Club

Finland

Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort

France

Chateau Challain

Chateau Estoublon

Chateau Martinay

Chateau de Bouthonvilliers

Chateau de Carsix

Chateau de Varennes

Chateau de Villette

Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc

French Polynesia

Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora

Hawaii

Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina

Iceland

Black Church

Hotel Budir

Ireland

Ballyfin

Ballynahinch Castle

Killruddery

Italy

Borgo Bastia Creti

Castle Mago

Conti di San Bonifacio

Frassanelle

Hotel Villa Cimbrone

Il Borro

Monastero Santa Rosa

Paghera Green Events

Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco

San Clemente Palace Kempinski

Villa Balbiano

Villa Cetinale

Villa LeMura

Villa Mangicane

Villa Subtila

Villa Trullo

Morocco

Royal Mansour

Mexico

One & Only Palmilla

New Zealand

Switzerland

Badrutt's Palace Hotel

Beau-Rivage Palace

Carlton Hotel St Moritz

Congress Hotel Seepark

Gstaad Palace

Grand Hotel du Lac

Grand Hotel Kronenhof

Historisches Alpinhotel Grimsel Hospiz

Hotel Bellevue Palace

Hotel Chateu d’Ouchy

Berghotel Schatzalp

Hotel Central

Hotel Schweizerhof Bern

Kulm Hotel St Moritz

Lavsanne Palace

Lenkerhof Gourmet Spa Resort

Park Gstaad

Schloss Wartegg

The Chedi Andermatt

Turkey

Sait Halim Pasa Mansion

United Kingdom

Frederick Loewe Estate

Historic Royal Palaces

United States of America

Blackberry Farm

Casa Feliz

Dunton Hot Springs

Faena Hotel

Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club

Gruene Estate

Kestrel Park

Montage Palmetto Bluff

Sands Point Preserve

The Chandelier of Gruene

The Hummingbird Nest

Villa Terrace Museum

Vanuatu