Derek + Kimmy by Emotions & Math

Our styling combined vibrant florals with fruits and vegetables.

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

We’re Derek and Kimmy, a couple living in Auckland, New Zealand. Derek works as a geotechnical engineer, and Kimmy is a barista. We love food, travel, and photography. What we enjoy most is simply experiencing the world together — discovering new places or sharing a coffee by the beach.

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

We first met as classmates in a boarding middle school in Foshan, China. Derek was the cheerful, outgoing boy who loved bringing people together, while Kimmy was the quiet girl who preferred to stay away from all the parties. We had completely different personalities, yet somehow still noticed each other from afar.

After graduation, we went our separate ways — Derek moved to New Zealand, and Kimmy stayed in China. Eight years later, we met again at a class reunion during the pandemic. It was meant to be a casual gathering, but that night changed everything. Our group went to play a haunted escape room — it was dark, we were blindfolded, and somehow our hands found each other’s. In that moment, the spark was instant, and we became each other’s light.

A month later, we started dating. Two years on, we found ourselves standing in front of the black church in Iceland, where we both proposed to each other with wedding bands we had each secretly prepared. Looking back, it feels like life had always been leading us to that moment — two parallel paths finally crossing at the perfect time.

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 spent a long time discussing ideas with our wedding team before deciding on red as the main colour theme. In Chinese culture, red represents happiness, love, and good fortune, so it felt both meaningful and festive — a perfect blend of tradition and celebration. Our styling combined vibrant florals with fruits and vegetables, creating a setting that felt lush, joyful, and full of life.

One of our favourite design elements was the indoor setup featuring two television screens. One displayed a live broadcast of the wedding, allowing guests to see themselves on screen and have fun taking photos. The other played a slideshow of our memories — pictures of us with friends and family taken over the years. Since everyone at the wedding was someone dear to us, we wanted each guest to feel seen and appreciated, even though we didn’t have a chance to properly catch up on the day. Being surrounded by so many familiar faces and shared memories made the entire celebration feel warm, personal, and full of love.

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

What we enjoyed most about the planning process was seeing every little idea come to life. From the first brainstorming sessions to choosing details together, it was such a fun and creative journey. Watching our vision slowly turn into something real felt so rewarding.

Our biggest tip is to enjoy the process rather than chase perfection. It’s easy to get stressed or caught up in the tiny details, but remember you’ve already found the most important part of the wedding: your better half. Enjoy every step of the journey and simply celebrate the love you’ve built together on your wedding day.

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

The most important person who made our wedding possible was our planner. She had an incredible sense of style and outstanding execution. Every idea we had, she turned into reality. She was patient and always respected our opinions. More than just a planner, she became a friend who guided us through every stage of the process, making the entire journey stress-free and enjoyable. We feel so lucky to have had her by our side.

We would also like to extend special thanks to our photographer and videographer. Finding the right team took us a considerable amount of time and energy, as we had quite a high standard. We knew our wedding day would be filled with joy, and we wanted every emotion to be captured beautifully so we could relive those moments in the future. In the end, we found an amazing photographer from Australia and a talented videographer from China. Both were incredibly professional and creative; each worked like a full team on their own. Their work was exactly what we wanted, and we feel so lucky to have had them document our day as well.

We also wanted to thank all the other vendors.

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

When it came to the wedding dress, I didn’t struggle with the decision for long. During our trip to Paris in November 2024, I tried on a Vivienne Westwood gown — and the moment I put it on, I just knew it was the one. It felt like it had been made for me, as if my name was already written on it. Still, I wanted to be sure, so after returning home, I tried on a few other dresses from different brands. But none of them felt the same. I couldn’t stop thinking about that gown in Paris. Eventually, I ordered it and had it shipped all the way from France to New Zealand.

Derek’s suit was simple but timeless. From the very beginning, he knew he wanted a made-to-measure suit from Crane Brothers. The service was exceptional — special thanks to Chris, who made the entire process smooth and enjoyable. Derek even had custom-made shoes to complete his look, and his dad had his suit tailored from the same place as well.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

Wedding bands from Van Cleef & Arpels
• Félicité wedding band, 2.1 mm
• Tendrement wedding band, 3 mm

Engagement rings from Chaumet
• BEE DE CHAUMET 1-CARAT SOLITAIRE
• LES ÉTERNELLES DE CHAUMET RUBANS WEDDING BAND

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?).

For us, the two elements we were most willing to invest in were the florals and photography. They were the key to expressing the beauty and emotion of the day. A beautiful floral design has the power to transform a space — it sets the tone, enhances the atmosphere, and allows both the couple and their guests to truly immerse themselves in the celebration.

Photography was equally important. We wanted every moment, every detail, and every emotion to be captured in its most genuine form.

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

We loved every moment of our wedding — each one was filled with joy and love, and even now, we can still feel the happiness of that day.

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

Being married feels like growing up — it’s the moment we truly become our own family, and soon, we’ll be a family of three or even four. It’s a new chapter, and we are looking forward to it.

Although we had a Western-style wedding, we kept one of the most meaningful Chinese traditions — the tea ceremony. Kimmy wore a traditional qún guà in red and gold, symbolising happiness and prosperity. During the ceremony, our families gifted us wedding gifts, most of them in gold. We served tea to our parents as a gesture of gratitude, and it was also a moment of “changing titles” — Derek would formally call Kimmy’s mother “Mum” for the first time.