Beauty in the Hedges

Classic, feminine, romantic and sweet – all words to describe this lovely styled shoot from Sweet Events Photography and Oh! Such Style in Auckland! From Oh! Such Style: “In New Zealand, we have a great Kiwi attitude of ‘DIY,’ and the outcome of this tends to be a very eclectic, relaxed and mismatched look, due to sourcing items from a variety of different suppliers. There’s been a real trend for weddings with this kind of style, and although we love it, we wanted to take a departure from that and place the focus on a sleek, classic and pretty garden wedding. Our aim was to appeal to the many brides out there who may wish to take inspiration outside of the rustic wedding trend!”

A romantic styled shoot in Auckland, New Zealand

For this shoot, we wanted to put together a very soft and feminine, timeless feel, incorporating shades of pink without steering towards a “blush” theme. To achieve this, we used a lot of pretty, soft and feminine pink and white roses, and incorporated deeper shades of mauve and berry blooms to add some depth and keep a natural, organic feel. Using a variety of different flowers and greenery is a great way to maximise your florals but also achieve a freshly picked look.

For the table settings, we used our gorgeous rose as a base for the linens, and incorporated plenty of greenery for a fresh, natural and slightly undone feel. Clean white acted as an accent with the plates and the table runner. The soft drapes in the fabric really makes a difference and gives so much texture both in real life and in the photography.

The bridal party look was classic to achieve a high-end white wedding feel, yet combining the informality and relaxation of a garden party. The black tux, crisp white shirt and dapper bow tie set off our groom, whilst a beautiful, elegant white dress paired with relaxed hair on the bride was a showstopper. The lilac bridesmaids dress tied in with the feminine vibe without being sugary sweet, and ensured the look stayed feminine yet adult and not too “girly.”

We placed a lot of emphasis on achieving great floral arrangements, because as you can see in the photos, the bouquets and centrepieces serve to set the scene. From accenting the bride’s outfit and really letting the white of the dress “pop” to adding dimension and interest to an otherwise plain white fireplace and very simple table settings, the florals tell a story and provide a thread to pull the entire event together. What would otherwise be a somewhat austere setting is given a whole character with these fabulous and intriguing arrangements. We got a little adventurous, adding grapes to the table, which gave it an almost old world feel. Utilising the florals can be a straightforward way to create cohesiveness and an effortless glamour without a theme or colour scheme that has the potential to date in the future.

Other accessories like classic candlesticks with long tapers and lightly weathered furniture aren’t exactly “on trend” – yet they’re not terribly out of fashion either, just classic, classy and elegant, giving the perfect foil for the colours of the flowers and the bridal party to contrast against. It’s easy to get carried away with the settings and décor and forget that the reception can look beautiful when the room is empty – and absolutely overloaded when the room has all the bridal party and guests present. We strove for a perfect balance of simplicity without being plain.
See also
Wedding Styles
Vintage Wooded Wedding Inspiration

Overall, the shoot illustrates to brides who are interested in a classic, polished and pretty wedding how easy it is to achieve with some well-selected elements, and offer a little alternative to the rustic country feel which is on trend at present. We love fashion – but style is timeless!