Rustic Country Inspiration By Rissa Photography

This entire shoot with the cute little rustic cabin takes me back to my teenage years; of going on hiking trips, tramping in the rain ééò complaining all the way of course (I was a teenager!) ééò and staying in very simple pared back accommodation. But there was always something so welcoming and cosy about it all. If you’re going to have a winter wedding I can’t think of anything nicer than heading into the country, snuggling up by the fire and having all your nearest and dearest join you for the festivitiesééò perhaps not in a chilly cabin, but a lovely hunting lodge style place. I love that idea! Larissa from Rissa Photography together with Casey from The Heirloom created this shoot that is so ééòkiwi’ in the best wayééò it actually makes me quite nostalgic!

ééòWhen I approached Poronui Lodge to see if we could create a little bit wedding inspiration I knew it was going to be something pretty special. The landscape surrounding Poronui and the atmosphere within the walls of the Red Hut provided all the inspiration we needed to create a truly rustic and intimate styled shoot. Poronui is a luxury wilderness lodge nestled in the Taharua Valley located off the Napier Taupo Highway. The location offers so much inspiration and so many stunning locations for weddings of all sizes. The Red Hut is a gorgeous setting perfect for a small intimate wedding.

This little gem that is the Red Hut, with names and initials carved into its walls gives you the sense of memories and moments made. The warm timber interior within this isolated station hut works in perfect harmony with the rustic furniture and props ééò wild game, warm winter country cooking and food, vintage tableware, set off with golden candlelight, which provides the ambience on a moody day. Wildflower bouquets, tweed textures and old lace add to the romantic charm and intimacy. Amber glassware, vintage mason jars, bone handled cutlery, old tea tins, ladders, books and taxidermy pheasants all complete this rustic ééòof the earth’ feel.ééò

There is a warm sense of intimacy inside and a feeling of peacefulness outside. The worn exterior of corrugated iron, board and batten provide more textures and layers to the beautiful rustic styling and floras by The Heirloom. Green, yellow and brown tones of the rural landscape are brightened with the addition of pretty bunches of wildflowers with splashes of purple, pink, white, sunshine yellow and green.

The gorgeous Nona’s Homemade Cakes’ designed a beautiful two-tier naked cake, which was nestled on the table setting and in front of the old windowpane. The cake featured simple wild flowers and was finished with icing sugar. The rustic breads and olive butter complemented the homely cheeseboard and cozy pea soup from Yum Food Company.

Bailey, our beautiful bride wore Rue De Seine’s Hannah Dress from their latest ‘Young Love’ collection and was made up to perfection by Chocolate Blonde Hair and Beauty on Location while Elliot, her groom, was kitted out by the folks at Village Squire Menswear.

The light on the day enhanced the moody feel beautifully and provided us with gorgeous shadowing inside and soft even lighting outside. Part of the pull to Porouni is it’s isolation, the sounds of the stags in the Roar and the river flowing and the internal station roads all provide you with a feeling that we in a private piece of woodland paradise. The Hills of the ranges with their dark green colours and the clouds rolling through, the meandering river, the soft greens and greys that make up the eucalyptus trees ééò Poronui is visual dream.