Sonam + Rishi by The HP Collective

We wanted royal Bollywood elegance infused with the raw natural beauty of New Zealand

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…

We’re Sonam and Rishi, two people from opposite sides of the world who somehow found home in each other. Rishi was born and raised in the UK, while Sonam grew up in New Zealand, so our relationship has naturally become this blend of cultures, traditions, accents, and perspectives.

Rishi works in marketing, and Sonam works in healthcare, so our day-to-day lives look quite different on the surface. Even though the work itself is very different, it gives us completely different perspectives to bring home at the end of the day, and it keeps life interesting.

Family is everything to us. We love spending time within our cultural circle at family gatherings where tables are overflowing with authentic Indian food; we genuinely love being surrounded by that warmth, noise, and sense of community. Even with Rishi’s family being in the UK, they remain such an important part of our everyday lives too.

Outside of that, we love staying fit, travelling the world, trying new restaurants, being social and balancing it all with cosy nights in watching a gripping series. More than anything, we love making each other laugh and being completely silly together, which is probably the thing that defines us best.

How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?

We originally met through Bumble, and very quickly, what started as a casual match turned into something neither of us could stop thinking about. We organised a meeting at a Starbucks, and what should have been a simple first coffee ended up feeling like the start of something very different for both of us.

Rishi’s first impression of Sonam came even before they properly met. She called him just as he was pulling up, mid-crisis, about a Starbucks situation where her table had been given to someone else. He remembers thinking, “right… She’s definitely something different.”

Sonam’s first impression was spotting Rishi in a blue denim jacket, sunglasses, and a very well-groomed beard, immediately noticing how well put together. The second he started talking, his British accent sealed the deal.

Their actual first meeting also came with unexpected chaos when Rishi’s car decided to break down in the middle of the city. In classic Rishi style, he stayed surprisingly calm, reassured Sonam everything was fine, and then offered to sort an Uber for her while he dealt with the situation. For Sonam, that moment stood out underneath it all, and someone was kind and thoughtful.

What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee, etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).

We wanted royal Bollywood elegance infused with the raw natural beauty of New Zealand, creating a celebration that felt cinematic, cultural, and deeply personal to us.

The venue honestly spoke for itself. For Sonam, Kawakawa Bay felt like the epitome of her childhood; the beautiful coastal waters, sandy beaches, and endless bays in the distance were everything she grew up around and loved about New Zealand. It felt incredibly special to showcase the beauty of Aotearoa to all of our overseas guests, particularly Rishi’s family visiting from the UK. In many ways, the setting felt like an ode to the country that raised Sonam, woven together with the Indian culture and traditions under which both Sonam and Rishi were raised. What made this location even better was the fact that Waiheke Island was quietly visible in the distance, the location where we got engaged.

Every visual element was designed around Sonam’s burnt orange Sabyasachi Bridal Lehenga (traditional Indian dress) without ever overpowering it. The warm tones of orange, terracotta, peach, ivory, and soft greens carried through the florals, styling, and overall atmosphere of the day.

The mandap (Indian altar) florals became one of the standout elements. We wanted it to feel like a wild romantic garden suspended by the ocean, abundant, organic, and effortlessly luxurious. Cascading greenery, soft ivory florals, burnt orange blooms, and natural textures created movement and softness against the coastal backdrop.

What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?

One of the biggest things we learnt during the planning process was that weddings, especially Indian weddings, are never really just about the couple. They’re about families, community, culture, and bringing generations together. With around five events across the wedding celebrations, there were definitely moments where planning felt overwhelming. There was, therefore, a lot of balancing between what we envisioned for the wedding and what our families hoped for as well.

That meant a huge amount of communication, compromise, patience, and finding happy mediums that still felt authentic to everyone involved. At times, it was challenging navigating different opinions and expectations, but looking back now, it was also one of the most meaningful parts of the experience. Seeing the joy and emotion on our families’ faces throughout the celebrations, especially during certain cultural traditions and rituals, made every stressful moment feel completely worth it.

One thing we would encourage other couples to do is to intentionally involve their families in ways that feel meaningful, even through small gestures. Whether it’s including certain traditions, giving family members special roles, or simply making them feel seen and valued during the process, it creates a level of emotional connection that’s really hard to describe. Once the wedding is over, those shared memories and moments become some of the most special parts of the entire experience.

Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?

We truly feel so lucky with the team of vendors we had for our wedding. Every single person brought so much care, talent, and energy to the day, and we couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to bring everything to life.

We especially want to mention our wedding planner, Daria from Soul Bound, who worked tirelessly for over a year on this wedding, becoming such a huge support system for Sonam throughout the entire process. Through all the ups, downs, and everything in between, she was constantly there, always available, incredibly reassuring, and willing to go above and beyond in every possible way. From coordinating vendors and managing logistics to helping navigate stressful moments, she made the whole experience feel so much calmer and more enjoyable. Despite it being her first large Indian wedding, she embraced every tradition and detail so thoughtfully, and by the end of it all, she genuinely felt more like a friend than just our planner.

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?

We travelled to Delhi, India, to choose our wedding outfits, and it ended up being one of the most meaningful parts of the entire wedding experience. For us, the outfits were never just about fashion; they were about culture, storytelling, and creating looks that felt timeless and deeply personal.

For Sonam, wearing Sabyasachi had always been a dream. There’s something so special about the way Sabyasachi designs bridal wear; every piece feels rich in heritage, craftsmanship, and emotion. From the beginning, Sonam knew she didn’t want a completely traditional bridal look. While traditional red lehengas hold deep significance in Indian culture, she was drawn to something different that still honoured tradition while reflecting her individuality. She chose a burnt orange Sabyasachi lehenga woven with antique zardozi and floral detailing in molten gold tones. The colour felt warm, radiant, regal, especially against the ocean backdrop where it glowed. Paired with layered polki jewellery and an ethereal dupatta, the entire look felt timeless, elegant, and entirely her own.

Sonam chose her outfit first, and from there Rishi had very strict instructions on the colour palette, so he complemented the richness and warmth of Sonam’s lehenga. He opted for an ivory and champagne-toned sherwani (traditional male Indian outfit) with subtle embroidery and layered detailing. Paired with a traditional turban and malas, the look carried a quiet elegance.

Together, the outfits felt deeply rooted in tradition while still feeling modern, cinematic, and completely us.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

When it came to the rings, we both knew we wanted something timeless and personal rather than overly trend-driven. Sonam always knew she didn’t want a traditional round or oval solitaire. Her vision actually started with a princess-cut diamond, but over time evolved into a cushion-cut, which felt like the perfect balance of classic but still distinctive. From the beginning, she also knew she wanted a simple, plain gold band so the diamond itself could really stand out without distraction. Once Sonam had narrowed down what she loved, Rishi went to work designing the ring and bringing the vision to life.

For Rishi, the vision was much more understated. He always wanted a plain wedding band, but was very adamant that it wouldn’t be gold. He preferred the cooler platinum look and wanted something minimal, timeless, and effortless that he could wear forever.

What made both rings even more meaningful was that our wedding bands were custom-made in India by family jewellers. Having that connection to family and craftsmanship added another layer of sentimentality to something we’ll wear every single day.

What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).

This is such a hard question for us because we genuinely placed so much importance on every part of the wedding. From the outfits to the food, photography, florals, and entertainment, every detail felt meaningful and intentional. But if we had to choose one thing we were happiest to splurge on, it would definitely be our venue.

The McCallum Residence completely set the scene for our wedding and gave us everything we were looking for. One of the biggest priorities for us was creating an experience where all 180 of our guests could truly feel immersed in both our cultures and the beauty of New Zealand. The venue allowed us to do exactly that. With the stunning coastal backdrop, open spaces, and accommodation on site, it felt private, intimate, and completely tailored to the vision we had imagined.

Being able to stay onsite for two nights with both of our families made the entire experience feel even more special. The butlers and staff looked after absolutely everything, which meant our families could genuinely relax, soak in the celebrations, and enjoy time together without worrying about logistics. One of our favourite memories was having a beautiful dinner with both families the night before the wedding, all together in one place before the celebrations began.

Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?

One of the moments we’ll treasure forever was sitting together under the mandap during our Indian ceremony. There was something incredibly grounding and emotional about being surrounded by traditions and rituals that have existed for centuries, knowing generations before us had experienced these same customs. In the middle of such a modern world, it felt really special to pause and take part in something so deeply rooted in culture, family, and meaning.

What made the ceremony so memorable for us was that every action had a purpose. One of the most special moments was the Jai Mala, where we exchanged flower garlands to symbolise accepting one another and the beginning of our journey together as husband and wife. It felt like such a beautiful and meaningful way to begin the rituals that followed. From there, every tradition and symbolic gesture represented commitment, partnership, loyalty, family, and building a life together. Rather than feeling performative, it felt deeply intimate and emotional, especially hearing the meanings behind each custom as we experienced them together.

It was also incredibly special to look around and see both of our families together in one place, having travelled from different parts of the world to celebrate with us.

What does being married mean to you, and are there any special rituals you have that you would like to share?

To us, being married means choosing each other every single day, not just through the exciting and beautiful moments, but through the difficult, messy, and challenging ones too. It means being a team no matter what life throws at us, standing by each other’s side, learning how to adapt to one another, and constantly finding compromise without losing who we are individually. We’ve realised marriage isn’t about always agreeing or always getting things perfect, but about continuing to show up for each other with patience, loyalty, humour, and love.

Some of our favourite rituals are actually the simplest ones: going for long walks together, catching up properly about each other’s day, or making time every week to intentionally spend quality time together, whether that’s going out for dinner, grabbing a coffee, or heading off on a little roadie somewhere. In a world where life can feel very busy and fast-paced, those small moments of connection have become really important to us. They help us stay grounded, stay close, and continue learning about each other as we grow together.