by Johanna Osborne.

One big day, many breath-taking looks … we take you back in time
one last time…

We just love fashion and creating different looks. So when it came time for our photo shoot for Mr & Mrs issue 2, we simply had a ball!

As a lot of people have commented on the amazing outcome, we thought we’d take you behind the scenes once again, and tell you little more about the gorgeous outfits, swift wardrobe changes, stylish looks and stunning designs that made our shoot such a success. We will also bring you some “never before seen” images and out-takes of the day… especially for you, our loyal readers. And don’t forget to pick up your copy of Mr & Mrs #2 for the actual photo-shoot images. (Please email us on [email protected] if you would like a copy but do not yet have one)

The theme for the shoot, ‘The Last Dance’, was conceived one brisk Wellington evening, as our talented designer Craig Christensen was riding his bicycle home from work. Nothing like a bit of fresh air and Wellington wind to lend some creative inspiration. And how fitting this ingenious idea turned out to be… for Erskine, Wellington’s much loved function venue, closed its doors on April 15 2012, deemed an earthquake risk. We farewelled this genteel old lady by taking our stunning models Ben and Elizabeth on a final dance tour through the corridors and halls, which are forever steeped in history, and will remain ingrained in our memories.

The first look of the day was by Helen Forster, and saw Elizabeth donning a stunning tulle number and Ben a Frank Casey suit. Our talented Hairstylist Carl Manderson from Salute Hair and Day Spa managed to create Elizabeth’s beautiful up-do with pretty pink ribbon, faster than Superman can save the day! The hot pink matching bouquet was the fine work of Katie Bevege, florist extraordinaire. The pretty make-up was taken care of by both Carl and his clever assistant Joni.

Westfield Queensgate graciously allowed us to capture some very pretty images of our models wearing some items from the mall’s stores. Forever New, Barkers, Dotti, Portmans, Overland and YD all came to the party with fantastic style options. Off-the-rack, chain store chic, which truly popped and made Ben and Elizabeth look like a dapper 50s prom couple. Proof that you can be stylish on your wedding day whilst sticking to any budget!

Next up: The grand ballroom shot of Ben and Elizabeth epitomised the glamour of yesteryear and captured the elegance of Elizabeth’s Grace Kelly gown from Voon Bridal Boutique perfectly. Ben looked matchingly handsome in his black and white Frank Casey outfit. Once again Carl crafted a wonderful hairstyle for Elizabeth using some bits and pieces lying around, and within minutes we had a 50s princess standing in front of us!

The vintage Ziggurat outfits were just amazing, and resulted in some of our favourite photos of the day. The voluminous skirt in Elizabeth’s gown was perfect for dancing, and the fluid movement transcended beautifully into film. Navy, lemon and ivory together made for a striking colour combination. We love! The second Ziggurat outfits were shot outside Erskine’s main entrance, with the pair being showered with rose petals. The rhinestone detail on Elizabeth’s dress is slightly visible, as is the ultra-cool cravat Ben was wearing. It’s all in the detail. And there was tons of it.
 

Deryn Schmidt provided us with a striking purple gown – the colour so regal and the fabric so fluid. The fit and texture was divine and Elizabeth looked ravishing in it. An amazing option for a bride looking for something different yet very chic.

The show-stopper of the day was the one-off gown by Alison Blain, photographed in the chapel upstairs. Alison custom-makes all her dresses to the specifications of her brides, and specialises in making their dreams come to life. We were very lucky to use this very precious dress for our shoot- one of Alison’s brides had graciously agreed to lend it to us. The colour of the dress was a pale peach with an apricot hue, and the bodice sparkled with incredible detail. Elizabeth’s colouring and hair was a match made in heaven and she literally glowed. Ben’s bow tie and suit were once again equally elegant.
 

We were so thrilled with how it all turned out! And as many of you will have seen firsthand when looking through the magazine, the talented team at Fineline Photography did a stellar job capturing each of the looks in a unique, creative and stylish way.

A lot of thought and attention goes into each frame – so much detail to think about and consider, and the great success of this shoot was very much the result of everyone’s input and efforts. And we truly loved every minute of it! We are now busy planning the next shoot and we will do our best to bring you something new, fresh and different once again. After all, it’s all about bringing the best fashion in the coolest little capital in the world to those that deserve it most – you, our important and much cherished brides and grooms!