As much as I tend to be a neutral-palette kind of girl, this bold, bright + undeniably beautiful Markovina Vineyard Estate wedding has me smiling from ear-to-ear! This sweet couple made family and tradition the running theme throughout their big day while adding in gorgeous florals + decor from Leaf & Honey. Kate Robinson captured the event so artfully, making sure each colorful detail was documented for the bride and groom for years to come. Click here for even more!
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From the Bride… Shirantha and I are both originally from Sri Lanka and have many extended family and close friends in our lives, so when it came to planning our special day, we knew it would be a big task with an even bigger guest list! Our goal was to incorporate our Sri Lankan culture and traditions with our own current style and tastes. We had always wanted an outdoor garden ceremony, and we found the perfect location that could accommodate our large numbers at Markovina Vineyard Estate in Kumeu, Auckland. The expansive, landscaped grounds were ideal for our traditional Sri Lankan wedding, called a Poruwa ceremony.
We decided to have our wedding photos taken in the morning, before the actual ceremony, so we could spend the most amount of time with our guests at the wedding. We were blessed to come across the amazing Kate Robinson, whose photographic eye captured every detail with intimacy and style. She arranged a “first look,” where Shirantha and I got to see each other for the first time. It was very important for us that we felt comfortable in front of our photographer, as we wanted this experience to be fun and natural. Kate was the absolute perfect choice!
The reception hall, with its leafy vines growing along the ceiling, continued my love of rustic beauty. This was also reflected in the beautiful flowers by Leaf and Honey, who perfectly captured the look I had wanted. Our table names were taken after Shirantha’s job as a geologist, each one a different mineral or gemstone. I fell in love with an elephant tealight candle-holder that I found online, which reminded me of Sri Lanka, and I knew we had to have them as our guest favours. After the passing of my father the year before, Shirantha and I wanted to pay special tribute to him in the form of a slideshow of old photos and video clips. This was followed by our first dance to “The Way You Look Tonight,” which was dedicated to my dad, a lover of Frank Sinatra. As is tradition, I later changed into a red sari that Shirantha’s family had gifted to me, symbolizing his promise to take care of, and provide for me from now on. I chose to wear the traditional Sri Lankan jewelry and headdress, which included my mother’s and grandmother’s necklaces.
“Live, Laugh, Love” was the motto of our wedding, and that is what we wanted to celebrate that day, the beauty of loving, laughing and living each day to the fullest with close friends and family alongside. We wanted to create a day of color and fun, where people could come together and celebrate, reminisce and enjoy. It was our way of thanking the people in our lives that have helped us the most, as we took the next steps on our new journey together as husband and wife.
Wedding Photography: Kate Robinson Photography / Wedding Venue: Markovina Vineyard Estate in Kumeu, Auckland, New Zealand / Floral + Event Design: Leaf & Honey / Officiant: Yolande Elias / Wedding Invitations: Graphic Affair Ltd. / Wedding Dress: Asiri Salgoda / Bride’s Shoes: Iris Gift / Hair: Jules Armishaw / Makeup: Amber Carroll / Rings: Angela Daniel
