WE THE COLLECTIVE l THE INTERVIEW

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE YOUR BUSINESS?
Well long story short, I knew this was my passion and I wanted to make money from it. I honestly couldn’t work for somebody else anymore, I hate having a boss and answering to “the man” and building someone else’s dream so getting out of the employment game, moving to Southland and having my wife go into full time work as a teacher, really gave me the opportunity to have a fighting chance at making this work. After, what seemed like, a year of “No thank you’s” and rejection emails/messages, I stuck at it and worked bloody hard and everything is now falling into place and people are realising there is a need for my work here. That’s what I think inspires me the most - the NEED for my passion. And the fact I get to say in my head “I told you so” is also very satisfying ;)

TAKE US THROUGH A DAY IN YOUR BUSINESS…
Well here’s how my day went yesterday (6/11/2018) -
- 5:15am alarm….snooze it until 5:30am and then get up.
- Brew all the coffee - a very large and very tasty Chemex coffee. Black - how it should always be.
- Check and reply to all emails, Facebook & Instagram messages.
- Start working on whatever project I need to get finished.
- I change hats from We The Co to Stay at Home Dad and get my daughter ready for the day. Breakfast, shower, clothed, plait in the hair. Then I will drop her with Grandma for a few hours.
- Travel 45mins to another town for a real estate shoot @ 11am. Finish at 1pm.
- 2pm - Back into Invercargill to film drone footage.
- Lunch = half assed made Quarter Pounder Combo, Fanta no ice.
- Another real estate shoot at 3:15pm. Finish at 4:30pm.
- Pick my little girl up, home and get dinner made before Chloe get’s home. Nachos baby.
- Then from 6pm until 9:30/10pm, it’s family time. Non-negotiable.
- After that, I’m right back into editing projects and all footage & photos shot from the day.
- Shower, brush teeth and bed at 12:40am.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE BRIDAL TREND AT THE MOMENT?

I’m really loving the first look stuff that people do. I guess couples have been doing it for ages and maybe I’m just noticing it more now.. I dunno, but it always gives me the happy feels whenever I see a choked up Groom.. because that was also me haha!

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR A COUPLE PLANNING THEIR WEDDING (IN REGARDS TO YOUR AREA OF EXPERTISE)

Get the speeches recorded. Even if it’s not done by me or a hired videographer. Get Uncle Jimbo or Cousin Willy to put a camera/phone on a tripod and press record. Those are the moments that you want to keep. Unfortunately, as human beings - our memories aren’t as good as we think they are. You’re not going to remember the stories that Grandma Tilly told in her speech. So it’s a really nice way to look back on all the kind and funny things people have to say about you on your day.

BEST ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED?
I have many different pieces of advice but the one I live by the most is - “If you’re on time, you’re late” - always be 5-10 minutes early to any client meeting or interview or any important gathering of people. It shows that you’re professional, responsible, you manage your time well and that you have willingness to care. All very important traits for clients to see in you.
I personally STRONGLY dislike it when people are late, so if you’re meeting with me - be 10 minutes early!

I WISH I KNEW HOW TO…
Do a backflip! I’m not built for acrobatics so being able to pull a back flip out in any situation Is something I wish I knew how to do!

TV SHOW YOU WISHED WAS STILL ON AIR?
He-Man and the Masters of The Universe and The Office US. I have Lightbox and Youtube at my fingertips now so..
Do people even still watch On Air TV?
#bythepowerofgreyskull

NEXT TRAVEL DESTINATION
Hmm.. somewhere with a bit of heat and not too third-worldy?! Venice is definitely a place I would love to photograph and climb to Machu Picchu.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUR 18YR OLD SELF?
If I had the ability to travel through time to visit my 18 yr old self, I wouldn’t change a damn thing. I would watch from a distance and reminisce on all my teenage antics. Everything I have done, has lead me here and I wouldn’t trade or change what I have for the world. So my advice would be - nothing. Then I would also travel back to 1840 to witness the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and take a few sneaky snaps! That would be something I would have loved to have witnessed!

www.wethecollective.com

Real Wedding | Anneliese + Samuel

Home is where you are ... Anneleise told Sam during there lakeside vows and it was a sentiment that echoed their lives together. Both originating from Auckland and returning there soon after their big day, they were asked countless times during the planning of their wedding why they weren’t getting married up there, but Central Otago made perfect sense to the couple who had made Arrowtown their home together. Ever so slightly nomadic and adventure loving, Sam and Anneleise have moved 7 times already in their time together and are already planning their next adventure. As Anneleise puts it “Home is wherever we both are”

Relaxed and natural was the vision for the day and their idyllic lakeside wedding was just that and so much more. Anneleise explained “ We planned the entire day around our likes, we wanted it to be a celebration of us”

With the focus stripped right back to encompass what they really loved, planning was easy. Styling was inspired by Pinterest finds, simple made beautiful, and together with their friends and family, Anneleise and Sam transformed the blank canvas of Lake Hayes Pavillion with their carefully curated wishlist of showstopping details to create a glamourous yet relaxed affair which was framed by the beautiful lake and mountainscape behind. From the cascading florals of the wedding arch to the gold leaf champagne served from the gorgeous Love & Good co caravan, Annie + Sam didn’t miss a beat with their impeccable styling and vendor choices for their perfect day.

WHICH SONGS WILL YOU RELIVE YOUR DAY TOO |

We played Six60 ‘ this is forever’ as our aisle song and Lauv ‘I like me better’ for our wedding dance as it had a loud beat to dance to. Can’t remember any other songs. Those were our two biggies.

WHERE DID YOU SAVE + SPLASH OUT |

We didn’t buy anything new, made all homemade presents and we didn’t eat out for 2 years! No lunches, no dinner, no drinks. (Imagine this: us at drinks sharing a diet coke... or at a lunch/brunch just sitting on a coffee for two hours. ) We saved and paid for in full our wedding AND honeymoon.

ANY ADVICE TO ENGAGED COUPLES |

Don’t compromise on the guest list- only invite them if they are important to the couple. Save up. Do you.

WHAT MADE YOUR DAY UNIQUE TO YOU |

I planned the whole thing to celebrate us and our likes. Our photos were up Cecil Peak. Sam was blindfolded on the helicopter trip as we did our first look up there!! he’s such a trooper. Oh and the food was a collection of our favourites. I had emergency gall bladder surgery a few months prior and had been dreaming of pizza and Denheath Custard Squares which I hadn’t been able to eat for a year... so we had them at the wedding!

Touches of gold subtly referenced the couples love for Arrowtown throughout the day. Rough alluvial flakes from the Arrow River were used for Anneleise’s engagement ring and Sam’s wedding band, and Anneleise’s wedding band was Shotover gold, all carefully crafted by Justin Eden from the Gold Shop in Arrowtown. The theme was carried through the day with custom Gold signwriting and champagne with edible gold leaf flakes served from Love & Good co’s gorgeous caravan.

PHOTOGRAPHY | JACK HENRY PHOTOGRAPHY VENUE | LAKE HAYES PAVILLION

EVENT STYLING + FLORALS | KYLA @ BESPOKE WEDDINGS + EVENTS BAND |CALCIO

CARAVAN BAR + PROP HIRE | LOVE & GOOD CO CELEBRANT | COURTENAY BOULD

VIDEOGRAPHY | HIGHLIGHT FILMS YOU FILM IT WE EDIT IT MAKEUP | EMILY PLUM

DRESS | BESPOKE DRESS MADE BY THE VERY TALENTED KRISTEN AT NEMO IN ARROWTOWN GROOMS ATTIRE | BARKERS HAIR | KIM AT ONSITE HAIR

CATERING | ANN MANN CAKE | MADE BY SAM! RINGS | JUSTIN EDEN @ THE GOLD SHOP

Love Me Do turns 2!

We had so much fun today celebrating Love Me Do's second year in business with an amazing high tea runway event at The Thomas Green in Gore.  Amie + Sacha pulled out all the stops to produce a birthday party to top all others complete with gorgeous real models who paraded the gowns through the crowd giving everyone a close up glimpse of the beautiful fabrics, cuts and detailing.  Sacha + Amies motto, "Love the skin you're in" was the perfect reflection for the day as the models in all their beautiful sizes showed off dresses especially chosen to accentuate their most amazing features, be it curves or signature tattoos.

We are so excited to have been invited to be a part of the celebrations, and joining with a host of other collective vendors, we were honoured to be showcased alongside Southland Celebrant Sharyn Payne, wedding photographer Fern McAulay, Framing Good photo booth's Rod + Sammi and the Love Me Do girls themselves.  We were able to share a little bit about who we are and our hopes and dreams for the collective, and whilst public speaking is definitely not a talent of mine, it was a great opportunity to connect with a lovely group of brides to be.  Sharyn entertained with a rundown of ceremony formalities and Fern gave some great tips on choosing a photographer who you really click with, as she pointed out, you spend more of your wedding day with your photographer than you do with anyone else so it really helps to like them! Amie + Sacha had some amazing giveaways and a bunch of lucky ladies went home with some epic prizes, including an engagement shoot from Fern and full bridal styling package from I Do Crew amongst many others!

Rod and Sammi captured snaps of the brides and guests with their fabulous Selfie Mirror photobooth, which added a great interactive element to the afternoon and would be a hit at any event. Fern and I got in on the action too and tested it out!

Wowed by the makeup and hair stylist talent we found today we have some exciting new additions to the Collective we will share soon!  The Thomas Green set the scene beautifully for what was an amazing afternoon and we loved every minute.

Beautiful women in gorgeous dresses with a lovely crowd to top it all off, Happy Birthday Love Me Do! Well done Sacha + Amie and your crew of amazing helpers! Looking forward to next year!

What goes in to a surprise proposal ... when its for Radio

One of the things that excites us the most about building this directory of fabulous wedding vendors is the potential for amazing collaborations.  All our vendors are talented beyond all get out, but when you start bringing everyone together we can create magic! 
Jenna + Bryns engagement, a.k.a The MoreFM Surprise Proposal, was our first opportunity to organise such a collaboration, and this amazing crew pulled together an epic proposal setup with 3 days notice.  
Ashley and the team from Skeltz Jewellers had dreamed up the idea of a surprise proposal, and created the most stunning engagement ring for one lucky guy to surprise his girl with.  The biggest surprise was that More FM would get to pull all the strings, choosing the mystery man, getting the girl there unawares, and playing out the whole affair live on air for all of Southland to hear.  We were all hoping she would say yes!
We were so excited for Southland Wedding Collective to get onboard and help out, and all in the name of making the morning a truly memorable one, we gathered a dream team of vendors together to take care of styling, photographing and filming Jenna + Bryns special moment, as well as gifting them some special treats to complete the whole experience.
MoreFM's love gurus, Steve and Jack, scouted out locations, settling on a secluded spot in Queens Park that could be transformed into a magical setting by the talented team at Something Borrowed.  

This gorgeous duo, Kara and Tim, pulled together a collection of their amazing props that they have for hire, and with a brand new baby at home, they created the entire setup in their backyard, photographed it, and then Tim braved it alone to recreate it perfectly in our Queens Park setting in the early hours of the morning.  With an arbor and macrame hanging creating a perfect backdrop, a Turkish rug piled with cushions and a pair of the most perfect butterfly chairs was the scene for the down-on-one knee perfect proposal.  Lanterns with candles flickering added to the romantic bohemian vibe and the finishing touches included a gorgeous wild bouquet of flowers lovingly put together by Shani from Ambrosia Designer Florist, and the sweetest cake from Dani at The Urban Kitchen... because shouldn't every proposal include cake?

The only snippet of information we had been given about Jenna was that she loved white lillies... Shani built her bouquet around these perfect flowers and the inspiration gleaned from the vision of Something Borrowed, and Dani was inspired to create her perfect white chocolate drip cake to match.
The lovely Dominique of Dominique Cook Photography was there not only capturing all the little details, but chipping in to help with the setup aswell, arranging cushions and throws like a pro!  
Missing in amongst all this action was Cam from We The Collective who found himself at the last minute hanging out with the girls as part of MoreFMs elaborate ruse.  This played out a little something like this ... Jenna's bestie Corrina got sent an email saying that she had won a competition on The Edge and the prize was a mums day out with her best friend, starting with breakfast out and then yoga in the park.  They were told to dress up a bit as they would be being filmed for publicity - thanks Cam! - and so Bryn had to take the morning off work to look after their sweet baby Poppy.  As soon as Jenna was gone, Bryn donned his suit from McKnight and Brown, dressed Poppy up, and headed to the park with his speech and that amazing RING!  Nothing quite like rocking up to the park in a suit at 7.30 am and being greeted by a team of strangers to calm any nerves!
Musician Sam Cullen was at the ready with his guitar to accompany Jenna through the park... 
Jenna: Hey look! A guy playing a guitar in the park! ... OH! I love this song! ... umm.. he's following us ... is that a bit weird? 
Not quite the leisurely stroll anyone had been expecting, Sam had to chase them at pace trying to get through the chorus of Elton Johns "Isn't it funny" before they got to the spot where Bryn was waiting.
Charged with emotion, Bryn said some lovely heartfelt words before getting down on his knee and asking Jenna to marry him.  Still slightly confused about whether yoga in the park was actually going to happen or not, Jenna said yes and then slowly took in the clapping cheering strangers around her and the news that they were live on air.  Gretchen and Steve had been commentating the whole proposal from the bushes, Cam caught the whole thing on film which you can see here, and Dominique expertly captured the whole story in photographs to preserve this moment in time for this cute couple. It was a crazy whirlwind of preparation, emotion and congratulations and then it was over... Jenna + Bryn taking home Poppy to enjoy their cake and flowers with a little less publicity! Everyone has their love story ... Jenna + Bryns has just been shared a little more than most and is a testament to what can be achieved with a little planning, a great team and a whole lot of love!

Love Steph + Soph xx