Mexican-Themed Frida Kahlo Styled Shoot

Images by Anna Munro Photography

1. How did this styled shoot come about?

I (Anna) got really excited about floral crowns. As with most styled shoots I just started dreaming about my own ideal wedding and decided to pull together something fun and unique alongside some of my favourite vendors in Wellington. 

2. What/who inspired the choice for a Mexican Fiesta wedding theme for your shoot?

Frida Khalo was the inspiration for the colours and the theme – her vibrant and offbeat persona seemed like a great model for a unique wedding day!

3. Where did you source all of the décor for the styled table centrepieces?

Mindy (Twig & Arrow), as the stylist for the shoot, sourced all of the goodies from Iko Iko, Wundaire and her own collection. Bringing Jodie (Couture Candy Buffet Co) into the mix with her candy/drinks table styling expertise added another massive dimension to the shoot.

4. How long was the day, from set-up, to pack-down?

We were shooting from around 10am until 5pm when the light started to fail. It was a massive day for everyone on set, basically just like a wedding day!  

5. Can you tell us a little bit about each styled section of the shoot?

The ceramics used in the table decor were made by Wundaire.  I (Mindy) was looking for something that mirrored the stucco and hacienda Spanish buildings in Mexico.  Once I found that texture and warm cream colour, the flowers and greenery chosen were warm and exotic. The elements transport the guest to the tropics even if the weather outside is not playing nice. Terra Cotta pots with gold inside transformed a low-cost, ordinary garden item into a candle holder with warmth and depth.

the icons we collected from IKO IKO were hung around the room on the wooden walls to draw the eye upwards and add colour. We hid sconces with mini installations of Palm and Monstera leaves.  I decorated the dessert table in a festival-type, loose fashion to capture the fun, relaxed Mexican & Latino vibe of the cakes made by Stilleto Studio. 

Jodie of Couture Candy Buffett created a gorgeous sangria and margarita bar using textures of wood, ceramic blue and white, along with exotic fruits. I kept the flowers and plants minimal but bold for this table. When working with large items such as Jodie’s beautiful decanters and dispensers, I like to put the points of interest at eye level.

6. How did you find it working with children and animals? Any tips to share?

I (Anna) love shooting both children and animals; I really enjoy the element of spontaneity they bring. For example, when I asked our flower girl, Kenzie, to give Ranger (the dog) a big hug, I didn't expect them to tumble over together - but it made for the most adorable natural shots, even in a very staged environment. We had the slightest bumpy start with Kenzie being a bit shy with our beautiful bride and groom models, but Abby (bride) is great with kids and Kenzie soon warmed up. I've photographed Kenzie a number of times at my portrait studio and she loves the camera! Ranger was also a little star, he is a well-trained pup and we were able to get him to stop gnawing at his flower collar long enough for me to grab some gorgeous shots of him.

7. What was your favourite part of the styled shoot?

I especially loved working with Josiah from Firetale Films – he is so passionate and excited about his work and it’s really infectious. This was my first time shooting alongside him and he drove a lot of the creativity in the images.

8. Any décor tips for those among us wanting to plan a bright and colourful wedding?

TIP: When you want to use colour, try not to over load it. Your base linens or surfaces can be neutral and then the colours will shine and pop. Look at points of interest in a room and spread out your colour. Concentrating it to just your tables can cause a venue to look un-balanced. Just by bringing a little colour upwards (e.g. hanging flowers or décor items) can really make a lot of difference to a room.

9. What happened to the gorgeous cakes, cocktails, and desserts afterwards (a question we’re all asking)?

Sadly the cakes are polystyrene, much to the devastation of all on set! The local dog at Lacewood helped himself to a fair amount of the drink/candy table, and the rest of us took home our pick of the nibbles.