African Wedding Inspiration from Zoom Photography + Mary Kinney
Romeo and Juliette, Pocahontas and John Smith, this amazing, stunning, GORGEOUS California Wedding Inspiration Shoot. A couple destined to be enemies, miraculously fall in love. This is the story Lauri of Zoom Photography and Mary of Sister | Brother Style used as motivation for the shoot. It’s beyond outrageous. A Brit marrying a Zulu, and the fashion of the two cultures combined. To. Die. For. While you’re drooling all over your keyboard this morning, think about this – we have a buying guide coming your way this afternoon. Yep. And it’s FAB. So enjoy this awesome shoot, and don’t forget about the gallery for so much more.
I know you’re itching for more – so check out the film Damon Chamberlain sent our way!
Casper and Themba SMP shoot. from Damon Chamberlain on Vimeo.
When Mary Gonsalves Kinney, Stylist/Editor of Sister|Brother Style and Lauri Levenfeld, Owner/Photographer of Zoom Photography got together they were certain about one thing – bringing together two worlds on opposite sides of the cultural and political spectrum. Mary and Lauri wanted this shoot to be as culturally authentic as possible with high-fashion style and an edge that would inspire people to step outside of their box.
Mary and Lauri had discussed many possibilities, but none seemed more inspiring than the potential love story between an African woman born and raised by the Zulu tribe in the Province of Natal in South Africa and her British fiancée born in Cape town, South Africa. The story is rather contentious as there is a long and torrid history between the Zulu tribe and the British.
This incredibly controversial political relationship framed our Inspiration To Reality story. It is a story about a bride and a groom who work together to overcome the long history of political betrayal and bring two families and cultures together at their wedding. Born in the same country, the bride and groom grew up with totally different cultural traditions and expectations. Even so, they find love and break down those racial barriers that still consume so many South African people. Their story is one of fortitude, passion and color. Fortitude because they remain strong and together through their many trials as a multiracial couple. Passion because it is their love for one another that is so vibrant and so real that nothing can tear them apart. Color because though their own skin color is different and may pose problems between their two families, it only brings them closer together. They learn to appreciate all that defines them and make it imperative that each cultural piece of them properly represented in their wedding.
Authentic pieces were provided during the photo shoot by Sacramento’s Zanzibar Tribal Art store and the Big Bang Events. The set included everything from hand-woven baskets that take years to make and represent each bride’s worth to their tribe, to clay pots used traditionally for drinking beer at Zulu wedding celebrations. Pincushion protea, leucadendron, croton leaves, phalaenopsis orchids and red and orange roses were all exported from South Africa just for this shoot and made into lovely arrangements.
Wooden screens were leaned against barbed wire fences with acres of farmland set behind each vignette so as to show the beauty of the untouched land of Natal. Hanging above, traditional Western elements were displayed through crystal chandeliers and the British-inspired china and silver were carefully selected to coordinate with the colorful African flowers.
The styling wardrobe for this shoot was strongly based on Zulu tradition. The Zulu women of South Africa wear many colors, which are proudly represented in their multicolored beaded necklaces and bracelets. Headscarves, mud cloths and traditional wedding hats are also essential pieces to a Zulu wedding. Because the bride and groom come from different worlds, it was important to blend both African and Western colors and traditions through the custom made gowns, the suiting and the jewelry and accessories. Our bride’s African and Western dresses were custom made for this shoot by the talented, Caren Templet and all shoes and costume jewelry were borrowed from retailers in Northern California. Zulu wedding hats made of real human hair and dignitary straw hats lined with chicken feathers dyed a deep red were used in various shots where the bride was wearing a Western gown so as to show a cultural balance.
The bride’s jewelry was rich in texture and included fine jewelry pieces with diamonds and other gems to add a certain depth along side the beadwork and the copper and silver metals. Jewelry designers made original pieces that represented more traditional looking beaded jewelry just for this shoot. The bride wore a beautiful blue topaz ring as her wedding ring in lieu of a traditional diamond, as a Zulu woman would usually not wear a ring and would never choose to wear a diamond. Her headpieces were created using Zulu scarves and wedding hats and braiding was crucial in providing a more authentic look. The bride’s makeup was also an important piece and transitioned from subtle, Western colors to vibrant Zulu tribal paint.
The groom had traditional suiting for many shots with bow ties, which are British-influenced, but his bowties, pocket squares, shoes (and shoestrings) were bold in color to represent his fiancée’s culture in a subtle way.
Styling & Production: Mary Kinney, Co-Owner, Head Stylist of Sister | Brother Style & Kristi Braflaadt, Assistant / Photography: Lauri Levenfeld of Zoom Photography, second shooter Jessica Epstein / Makeup: Liz Bagatelos & Lea Buehler / Hair: Marci Landgraf of Muse Hair Boutique / Floral & Set Design: Chris Merrick of The Big Bang Event Design & Zanzibar Tribal Art / Stationery: Jen Saltzman of Press Engaged & Marisa Guiterrez of Arte y Mas / Videographer: Damon Chamberlain / Retail Vendors & Designers: Caren Templet, Julius Clothing, Gracie Mae Kids, Shaw Shoes, Hamilton Jewelers, KKPW Designs, 2ETN, Steve Benson, Koukla Kids, Madam Butterfly / Models: Jadin, JE Model Management & Star Model Management / Calligrapher: Robyn Wylde Calligraphy
47 Comments about “African Wedding Inspiration from Zoom Photography + Mary Kinney”
8 Links to “African Wedding Inspiration from Zoom Photography + Mary Kinney”
Leave a Reply
| « Hudson River Valley Wedding by Robert and Kathleen | Seal Beach Wedding by JAC Photography » |
 |
Visit us on Facebook |
 |
Follow us on Twitter |
 |
Subscribe to our RSS Feed |
- More Style Me Pretty...
- February 23, 2012
- February 22, 2012
- February 21, 2012
- February 20, 2012
- February 18, 2012
- February 17, 2012
- February 16, 2012
- All Archives
About
Press
Advertise
Submit A Wedding
Contact
Terms Of Use
Absolutely beautiful. Loved the art work on the menu!
I am obsessed with the place cards and all of the stationary, Press Engaged did a fabulous job. Also, this photo shoot set-up is to die for!
Thanks so much for the comment on the place cards and letterpress stationery! I am so lucky to be involved with this shoot. It is absolutely stunning.
The stationary is goregous! So sunny and ornate.
I love it! The colors, the culture and great pictures
The "bride" is stunning and I love all of her colorful jewelry!
The colors here are amazing. The chandeliers hanging in the trees, the bride's jewelry, and the blue shoes: rad, rad, rad. I love how the stationery pulls it altogether, too. That red envelope is killer. Def. one of my favorite shoots you've done!
What a gorgeous shoot! I am in love with the colors of the clothes and on the beautiful letterpress stationery. Great job!
We agree with everyone - the colors, the details, the stationery - it's all amazing!
absolutely beautiful!!! love the story!
Thank you, all! We are so excited to have this work up to show you all. :)
Wow, I am so, so inspired by this wedding! I love all her accessories!
Gorgeous shoot! I love how the place cards tie in to the stationary. That repeated design pattern is beautiful!
love the dress and the makeup would love to shoot a wedding like this
Amazing!!! The pictures are beautiful!
great work everyone!! what a stunning, detailed, inspired shoot! The models look gorgeous!
Wow this is exactly what I've been searching for! I am getting married to a Liberian and have been looking for ways to mesh his African style with my love for things rustic but chic. Love it!!! Can't wait for the buying guide :)
@Tiffani, This shoot is perfect for you! Congratulations, by the way :)
Stunning! More like this please.
This is so exciting for us!! This project has been a true labor of love for sure. And we are thrilled to be getting such great response. Truly appreciated.
And Tiffani, if you need a photog and stylist for your big day...we are more than enthused about this type of wedding, bringing two cultures & styles together. The more, the merrier! xx
I relate to some degree, although my look is entirely different than hers: I'm West Indian by birth and American by citizenship; he's European by heritage and American by birth. Fun!
Hi Butterfly - we love that you can relate! Congratulations girl :)
Excellent photo shoot design and execution - colors, fabrics, and materials all come together to support the theme beautifully. Love the texture added by the letter press stationary. Gorgeous!
Ahhh This is BEAUTIFUL! Love those head scarves, blue shoes and the table setting. The stationary is perfect!
Oh my gosh! Absolutely gorgeous everything! My eyes have been taken hostage by the fabulous use of color, texture, and the intriguing blend of tribal and "proper English" cultures. Charming story with a great social message, too! Mary Kinney is a unique talent. Her styling is daring, original, and with just the right amount of playful dissonance delight the senses and leave an indelible impression. Well done!
Thank you so much for inviting Damon with Frontside Films to be a part of this project!! Everything is so beautiful!! We are grateful for the awesome vendors he met and how wonderful it all turned out!! Thanks to all those involved for all your hard work and efforts!!
@ Mallory: Thanks! :)
AMAZING!!! Simply Amazing. Love it all. The flower hat. The killer blue shoes (please share who made those) And everyone involved with the shoot (and the video done by Frontside Films) did a great job! Thanks for sharing this post. Makes me smile. :)
The blue shoes are Yves Saint Laurent booties. You can special order online or call/email Mary Kinney at info@sisterbrotherstyle.com for more information on wardrobe :)
Love all the colors! The place card is perfect!
Thank you for all the wonderful compliments on the stationery by www.arteymas.com i love seeing this amazing shoot come together with the art!! Lauri & Mary do amazing work! So proud to be a part of the collaboration!
Please, please, please continue to show weddings and inspirational shoots with ethnically diverse brides + couples!!
Frontside films videoed our wedding. It was THE BEST purchase we made for our wedding HANDS DOWN! It's the only way we can be back on our wedding day and feel all the love, see loved ones and be married again and again. This is a gift that never stops giving. Not only that it's worth 500 trips to a marriage counselor ; we watch this and are closer and love each other more and more and can over come any argument. Frontside Films are truly works of art. THANK YOU LOTS OF LOVE! Coley and Dave :)
the Pressengaged invitations are wonderful! What quality in the design and letterpress
Every piece of this wedding design is outstanding. I watched the video by Frontside Films and it is awesome. Very creative and well done.
the sparkle and colors are overwhelming! everything pops! so great to see such vibrance and joy executed in the style of the celebration!
beautiful work lauri! xoxo
I just loved the color of these images; especially how romantic the scene is...gorgeous light. As an artist I am particularly sensitive to that.
These photos are beautiful, the colors are amazing. Love the invitations. www.pressengaged.com as always did a fabulous job.
Absolutely stunning, amazing, gorgeous!! Now THIS is what I'm talking about!! More please!