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

What exactly is a 'styled shoot'?

You will hear us talking lots about styled shoots and sharing lots of photos and videos of the shoots we are apart of, but, what even is a styled shoot?

A styled shoot is a collective, group effort between a variety of vendors collaborating together to produce a BEAUTIFUL bridal setting that inspires couples to include similar aesthetics in their own wedding. These shoots are also a way for vendors to showcase their skills and services in a creative way, often thinking outside the square.

CAm from we The collective I photo with love photography

Similar to a fashion editorial, it should tell a story through photography. However the significant difference here is that a "styled shoot," as the wedding industry has dubbed it, involves a lot more than just fashion. All the little details are included and are vital to telling the story.

i DO CREW AND sACHA MEGAN mua I PHOTO WITH LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY

Photo Fern McAuley Photography

Sometimes a shoot will have a goal of being published in a magazine or on a blog and will require certain aspects/looks depending on which magazine it is to be submitted too.

We LOVE styled shoots, bringing amazing teams together and creating epic stories and inspiration, plus… its always a bonus when you get to eat the some pretty amazing treats. If you ever want to be apart of one of our shoots please contact sophie@southlandweddingcollective.co.nz

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 

How Jenna Met Bryn...More FM Surprise Proposal

How did you meet?

I first met Bryn for the first time at the Frog 'n' Firkin bar out with some friends when I was about 23 yrs old and the week before I was about to move to Christchurch, so a good 10 years ago. My friend knew him because he went to the gym she was working at. I remember thinking 'damn he seems a really nice guy pretty good lookin' too shame I had to meet him the week before I move away'.

I moved back to Invercargill three years later  and was out  with some friends at a bar and ran into him again. I thought 'OMG its him... and hes even more better looking than I remembered'. We hung out all night, exchanged numbers, he stayed with me that night and every night since!

What did you first think of your partner?
I remember thinking he was a really nice guy with a bit of a soft side when I first met him.. Haha I did remember thinking to myself when is this guy going to stay at his own place though at one part and one night he surprised me and said he wasn't coming over that night I thought thank god.. later did i discover that i missed his mug and we were inseparable from then lol.

Tell me three things you love about your partner.

I love that he is a kind-hearted, caring person, he is laid back and relaxed which is good for me because I'm highly strung so he keeps me real when I get crazy. The love he has for our 5 month old daughter is pretty special to see.

How did the proposal happen?

Bryn entered the More FM surprise proposal recently and won so it was definitely a special day. I will never  forget.

Name three memorable experiences you’ve been through together as a couple.
memorable experiences we've had together would be buying our first home together, getting engaged and the birth of our beautiful daughter.

What are things about your partner that drives you a little crazy — things that only you could love.
3 things that drive me crazy about Bryn would be when he lets me tell a story and then I realise he isn't even listening to any of it! Or when he drops crumbs on the floor straight after I have luxed and he always leaves his wet towel from the shower on the bed.

More Fm Surprise Proposal Shout Out

Organised- More FM

Ring - Skelts Jewellers 

Florals - Ambrosia Designer Florist

Styling + Props - Something Borrowed Ltd 

Photography - Dominic Cook Photography

Videography - We the Collective

Cake - The Urban Kitchen

Music - Sam Cullen Music

Supported - Southland Wedding Collective 

Love Stories - Cam from We the Collective

How did you meet?
We met through friends, then didn't see each other for a while and then happened to bump into each other one night at an event. The rest is history.

How did you start dating?
Well, we started with a semi long distance relationship. We live about 1hr and a half away from each other and I would make the commute to Wellington almost every weekend. My petrol money spending was out of control! Haha!

How did you know that your partner was the right one for you?
You can't explain when you know someone is "The One". It's a thing you have to experience for yourself. You just know.

Tell me three things you love about your partner.
Her drive and tenacity to get things done, her terribly dry jokes, and her undeniable skill to make the best home baking any human being has had the privilege of consuming.

What are some of your partner’s quirks? What are things about your partner that drives you a little crazy — things that only you could love.
Loose hair. Like.. every where. But I pick up anyway.

How did the proposal happen?
The day I proposed, Chloe had had a pretty stink day. Her phone got stolen that afternoon too so it made for a complete write off of a day.
I had finished a gig that I was DJing (Yes.. I was a DJ) shot to the Warehouse, bought her a new phone and raced over to Wellington to surprise her - all the while the ring was safely hidden in my bag. I get to her flat, go into her room where she had shut herself into. Chloe was fast asleep so in-abruptly woke her up and gave her the new phone to which she was mildly stoked about. I then rummage through my bag and say to her "Oh and here's the SIM card..." and then I whip out the ring and somehow find myself on my knee - like it was one fluid motion. I ask her if she'll marry me, she starts to cry and says Yes. Again, the rest is history.

How would you describe the dynamic of your relationship? 
Not sure how we would describe our dynamic but we are a pretty - get things done, take no prisoners - style of relationship. Someone once said we were a 'power couple' ?

What values are important to you as a couple?
We value family and showing up. Being new parents we realise how important it is to be present in people's lives. "Being there is 80% of the job done". Being kind, honest and genuine - no beating around the bush type stuff either. And we are big believers of treating people the way we would like to be treated.

If your love story became a movie which actor would play each of you ?
Oh easy. I would be 1980's Arnold Schwarznegger with an M-16 strapped to my back and Chloe would be.. maybe.. Sophie Vergara from Modern Family?

How did the proposal happen?
The day I proposed, Chloe had had a pretty stink day. Her phone got stolen that afternoon too so it made for a complete write off of a day.
I had finished a gig that I was DJing (Yes.. I was a DJ) shot to the Warehouse, bought her a new phone and raced over to Wellington to surprise her - all the while the ring was safely hidden in my bag. I get to her flat, go into her room where she had shut herself into. Chloe was fast asleep so in-abruptly woke her up and gave her the new phone to which she was mildly stoked about. I then rummage through my bag and say to her "Oh and here's the SIM card..." and then I whip out the ring and somehow find myself on my knee - like it was one fluid motion. I ask her if she'll marry me, she starts to cry and says Yes. Again, the rest is history.

How would you describe the dynamic of your relationship? 
Not sure how we would describe our dynamic but we are a pretty - get things done, take no prisoners - style of relationship. Someone once said we were a 'power couple' ?

What values are important to you as a couple?
We value family and showing up. Being new parents we realise how important it is to be present in people's lives. "Being there is 80% of the job done". Being kind, honest and genuine - no beating around the bush type stuff either. And we are big believers of treating people the way we would like to be treated.

If your love story became a movie which actor would play each of you ?
Oh easy. I would be 1980's Arnold Schwarznegger with an M-16 strapped to my back and Chloe would be.. maybe.. Sophie Vergara from Modern Family?

What values are important to you as a couple?
We value family and showing up. Being new parents we realise how important it is to be present in people's lives. "Being there is 80% of the job done". Being kind, honest and genuine - no beating around the bush type stuff either. And we are big believers of treating people the way we would like to be treated.

If your love story became a movie which actor would play each of you ?
Oh easy. I would be 1980's Arnold Schwarznegger with an M-16 strapped to my back and Chloe would be.. maybe.. Sophie Vergara from Modern Family?

Check out more about Cam here