Year of the Dog

 

Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, is an annually celebrated holiday period that lasts for 15 days until the Spring or Lantern Festival.  If you are to take a poll of all the various Asian populations of the world and where they have immigrated, about 1/6th of the world’s entire population celebrates this special occasion.  Lunar New Year is celebrated by not only the Chinese population, but Vietnamese, Malaysian, and more.

 

This year, the Chinese Zodiac symbol for 2018 is the Dog.  Naturally, I knew we were going to incorporate dogs with an Asian pedigree in this shoot.  The dog breed Chow Chow originates from northern China.   They look like puffy lions; and their Chinese name reflects their look. (Pinyin: sōngshī quǎn 鬆獅犬).

 

Thinking about all those Lunar New Year family dinners over the years, personally, I was ultimately inspired by two specific things.  First, Pantone's colour of year for 2017; greenery.  This was the reason green was selected in the colour palette.  Secondly, the question was - would it be possible to have a Chinese inspired shoot without featuring traditional red.

<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/256149225?byline=0" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/256149225">Asian Fusion Weddings - Green</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user8969664">ImagesLifeMedia</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

The other design feature that our team encapsulated was the Yin and Yang concept.  One table featured a bold approach with the use of Bonsai trees.  It translated into a more sophisticated masculine feel.  The second table donated a more feminine touch with an abundance of flowers in shades of soft pinks and purples. 

 

Pink and green are complementary colours on the colour wheel.  Therefore pink was the obvious colour choice for the second table top design.  The other table top featured pinks, plums and purples, since Ultra Violet is the Pantone colour for 2018.  Generally pink is referenced as a “feminine” colour.  So again, this was the interplay of the two tables.  One was more masculine in terms of colour palette and the other more feminine; Yin and Yang.

<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/256149324?byline=0" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/256149324">Asian Fusion Weddings - Pink</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user8969664">ImagesLifeMedia</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

Style Team

Creative Director, Green theme Producer  and Wedding Planner - Asian Fusion Weddings

Instagram - @asianfusionweddings

FB - https://www.facebook.com/Asian-Fusion-Weddings-121203051319777/

Website - http://www.asianfusionweddings.com/

Creative Director, Pink theme Producer and Wedding Planner - Formosa Events

Instagram - @formosaevents

FB - https://www.facebook.com/Formosa-Events-185002998727645/

Website - http://formosaevents.com/

Creative Director (Both Shoots) and Photography - Pepper and Light

Instagram - @pepperandlight

Website - http://www.pepperandlight.com/

Cinematography - Images Life Media

Instagram - @imageslifemedia

FB - https://www.facebook.com/imageslifemedia/

Website - http://imageslifemedia.com/

Floral and Decor - Jackie O Floral Events Affair

Instagram @JackieO.design.floral.decor

Website - http://www.jackieo.ca/

Bonsai Trees - Tropical Expressions

Instagram @bonsaicanada

FB - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tropical-Expressions/316225111602

Website - http://www.tropex.ca/

Cake and Sweets Table - Nadia and Co.

Instagram - @nadiaandco

FB - https://www.facebook.com/Nadia-Co-326146537410209/

Website - http://www.nadiaandco.com/

Stationery Design and Flat Lay Stylist - Maison Maquette

Instagram - @maisonmaquette

FB - https://www.facebook.com/MaisonMaquette/?hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf

Website - http://www.maisonmaquette.com/

Backdrop and Table Vinyl - Designer Dance Floor | Exotik Wrapz

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/designerdancefloors/

FB - https://www.facebook.com/DesignerDanceFloors/

Website - http://www.designerdancefloors.ca/

Wedding Gowns - Dina Alonzi

Instagram - @dinaalonzibridal

FB - https://www.facebook.com/dinaalonzibridal

Website - http://www.dinaalonzibridal.com/

 

Asian Jewellery - H & F Jewellery

Instagram - @hnfjewellery

FB - https://www.facebook.com/hnfjewellery/

Website -http://hfjewellery.com/

Men's Bowtie and Male Model Stylist - TYTAN Ties

Instagram @tytan_ties

FB -https://www.facebook.com/TYTANTIES/?ref=br_rs

Website - http://www.tytanties.com/

Men’s Ties (Pink theme shoot) - Classica

Instagram: @shop_classica

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/classicaimports/

Website: http://www.classicaimports.com/

 

Men’s Shoes (Pink theme shoot) – JAY + DEE

Instagram: @jayanddeeshoes

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jayanddeeshoes/

Website: https://jayanddeeshoes.com/

 

Hair Stylist  - Medulla & Co.

Instagram - @sainasarafian

FB - https://www.facebook.com/medullacoyorkville/

Website -http://www.medullaco.com/

Make-up Artist - Vinny Artistry & Co.

Instagram @vinnyartistry

FB -https://www.facebook.com/vinnyartistry

Website - http://vinnyartistry.com/

Canine Couture - El Cachorrocouture

Instagram - @elcachorropets

FB - https://www.facebook.com/ElCachorroCouture/

Website - http://www.elcachorrocouture.com/

Lion Dancers - Wushu Project

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wushuproject/

FB - https://www.facebook.com/WushuProject/

Website - http://www.wushuproject.com/

Table top rentals - Chairman Mills

Instagram - @chairmanmills

FB - https://www.facebook.com/Chair-man-Mills-Corp-164815710212096/

Website - http://www.chairmanmills.com/

Table and Chair rentals - Detailz Couture

Instagram  - @detailzeventrental

FB - https://www.facebook.com/detailzcouture/

Website - http://www.detailzcouture.com/

Paper Lanterns - Toronto Paper Lanterns

Instagram - @topaperlanterns

FB - https://www.facebook.com/torontopaperlanterns/

Website - http://torontopaperlanterns.com/

Female and Male Models - Elite Model (Crystal and Gabriel)

Instagram - @EliteToronto

FB - https://www.facebook.com/torontoelite/

Website -  http://www.elitemodel.com/

Canine Models - Merlin's Hope Rescue

FB -https://www.facebook.com/MerlinsHopeRescue/

Website - http://merlinshope.com/en/

Venue - Aga Khan Museum

Instagram - @agakhanmuseum

FB - https://www.facebook.com/Estates-of-Sunnybrook-122179361154347/?fref=ts

Website - http://www.agakhanmuseum.org/

Venue – Shangri-La Hotel - Toronto

Instagram - @shangrilato

FB - https://www.facebook.com/ShangriLaTO/

Website -  http://www.shangri-la.com/toronto/shangrila/