As Matariki rises in our winter skies, it invites us to pause, reflect and celebrate new beginnings.

Inspired by these values, husband-and-wife photographers Hemi and Michelle of Patina Photo and a collective of like-minded creatives have reimagined what a contemporary Matariki wedding could look like — one that honours te ao Māori not as something of the past, but as a living, personal part of modern Aotearoa.

Matariki lends itself beautifully to winter weddings — a time for whānau gatherings, reflection, gratitude, and celebration. A team of talented creatives came together to craft a feature rich with winter palettes, harvest-inspired styling, natural textures, and contemporary Māori influences.

We hope this shoot inspires future couples to embrace Aotearoa’s unique culture as part of their wedding day.

Woven with rich winter colours, seasonal abundance, and thoughtful cultural symbolism, this editorial celebrates our connection to the land and each other. The design pairs a harvest-inspired tablescape with striking bridal fashion — featuring couture gowns inspired by Māori motifs and native flora alongside contemporary silhouettes.

Set against dramatic Hawke's Bay landscapes, every detail reflects the spirit of Matariki: a time to gather, give thanks, and look forward. More than a styled shoot, it’s an invitation for couples to create an authentic Aotearoa wedding proudly rooted in place.

**Photography + concept styling**: @patina.photo.nz
@fujifilmxseriesnz / @ivonn_bridalcouture / @sabahdesign.studio / @stgeorgesrestaurantnz / @botanical.lane / @tble__linen__hire / @nationalcandles / @teamowatson_‍ / @jessie_jcarlson / @josie_brenstrum_mua‍ / ‍@christypetrabridalhair

The Concept: Standing Proud

by Hemi at Patina Photo

Growing up disconnected from my reo and whakapapa, I often wondered if I was even "allowed" to be Māori. Realising no one else was going to give me permission, I decided to stand proud and start a lifelong journey of reconnection.

Māori culture grew from this whenua (land); its stories live in our rivers, stars, and seasons. When Matariki became a public holiday, it felt like all of Aotearoa was invited to reconnect. This project asks: what happens when a contemporary New Zealand wedding is shaped by the same desire to reconnect with Māori identity; not as something historical, but as something living, personal, and true to who we are?

We chose Hawke’s Bay as our location — the plains, limestone hills, and Te Mata Peak are the landscapes that shape and ground me.

We wanted to create something that inspires couples to bring more of our unique Aotearoa culture into their wedding planning in a way that feels fresh and beautiful.

Behind the Lens

by Michelle at Patina Photo

Inspired by conversations around te ao Māori, we wanted to create something meaningful, not just beautiful. Drawing from the deep tones of the bridal gowns, we wove rich red and burgundy winter hues throughout the florals and locally grown seasonal produce.

We’re thankful to the team of collaborators who embraced the kaupapa and each brought their perspective to the story we were trying to tell.

A personal highlight was model Te Amokura wearing stunning heirloom earrings borrowed from her mum — a perfect nod to the "something borrowed" wedding tradition that beautifully complemented the statement gowns.

***To capture everything, Fujifilm lent us the GFX 100RF, a medium format camera with incredible quality.***

Gowns with Mana

by Ivonn at Ivonn Bridal Couture

Rooted in Aotearoa, our luxury couture label creates pieces for the wāhine who want their wedding gown to carry culture, mana and story. Each design is inspired by the kaupapa of Matariki, honouring identity, whakapapa and connection.

The Huia Gown: Named for the sacred huia bird, this gown celebrates beauty, rarity and the deep connection between people and the natural world. Adorned with taonga and Māori symbolism, it honours Taiao — our environment and our culture.

The Poutama: A contemporary design featuring a tukutuku-inspired crop top paired with a timeless mikado underdress. Named after the traditional staircase pattern, it symbolises growth, aspiration and the pursuit of knowledge, honouring both where we come from and where we are going.

Matariki is a time to remember, give thanks and look to the future. These gowns were created in that same spirit — for the bride who carries her culture with pride and steps into the next chapter of her journey with grace.

Strength & Beauty

by Josie Brenstrum Makeup

My Danish grandfather spoke fluent te reo and taught it at night school; he instilled a deep love for the language and people of Aotearoa in all of us. For this shoot, I designed a neutral but strong palette for our two models to showcase their natural strength. Because the shoot was grounded in nature, I chose clean, organic tones that wouldn't compete with the environment.

Winter Flora

by Trista at Botanical Lane

While we originally planned a large plaited flax installation overhead, a change in plans led us to use Rārahu (native fern) to create a soft, organic, floating cloud cluster.

Winter is easily my favourite floral season. Everything smells incredible, and we were able to showcase the absolute best of Cymbidium orchids, tulips, ranunculus, mānuka, magnolia, jonquils, and hellebores.

Thoughtful Styling

by Nat at Sabah Design

Warm, earthy, and welcoming, this tablescape celebrates natural materials and homegrown produce. Most core elements were sourced directly from the venue to keep the look authentic, proving that themed styling can use thoughtful references over obvious stereotypes.

A suspended installation of native flora forms a cloud above the table, drawing the eye upward to the "sky." Pops of deep burgundy Cymbidium orchids offer a subtle nod to the stars of Matariki. Down the center, a sculptural fabric braid represents the weaving together of two lives. Nestled within its folds are nine slender taper candles referencing the nine stars of Matariki, while double-twist pounamu adds a subtle nod to love.

Garden-to-Plate Catering

by Kat & Francky at St George Restaurant

St Georges restaurant embodies mahinga kai. Food is grown on site and gathered directly from our garden. Food carries where you are from. Our garden-led, story-led philosophy perfectly matched the ethos of this shoot. Winter set the palette, with beetroot and rhubarb leading the plate to tie into the styling design.

Capturing the Feeling

by Jessie at Patina Photo — Content Creator & Model

Ko Jessica Carlson tōku ingoa. Ko Ngāti Kahungunu te iwi. Ko Rakaipaaka te hapū.

With deep connections to Hawke’s Bay and Ngāti Kahungunu, this project was deeply meaningful to me. As the content creator, my focus was capturing the warmth, connection, and whakaaro (thought) woven through every moment. Stepping behind and in front of the camera allowed me to help tell a story that honoured Matariki in an authentic, heartfelt way.