Shu + Matt by Splendour Visuals

We wanted the day to feel intimate, relaxed and immersed in nature.

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

Matt and Shu both work in the architecture industry, sharing a passion for thoughtful design, beautiful spaces, and well-curated interiors. Outside of work, they love a good road trip adventure, exploring new places together and discovering great food and wine in exciting destinations. They also enjoy spending quiet evenings at home in their cozy loft apartment in Sydney, lounging around with their beloved ragdoll cat.

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

Matt and Shu met at an architecture exhibition hosted by mutual friends, not knowing that just a few months later they would become inseparable. Shu was immediately drawn to Matt’s free spirit and sense of curiosity, which complemented Shu’s sense of adventure and spontaneity. Matt, on the other hand, had never met anyone until Shu, who matched him both intellectually and comedically. He fell in love with Shu’s bubbly energy and valued the kindness she showed towards both his family and friends.

What brought them even closer together was their tight circle of friends, with whom they shared countless adventures, travelling/partying across Australia and around the world together. These friendships have played a significant role in their relationship, making it even more special to be joined with them in New Zealand for the biggest adventure of Matt and Shu’s lives – their wedding day.

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).

Our wedding was styled and planned entirely by us, which made every detail feel deeply personal. We wanted the day to feel intimate, relaxed and immersed in nature, with stunning lakes, mountains, and forest as the backdrop. We ended our search for our dream destination when we saw Lake Hāwea View, a luxury accommodation set halfway up a mountainside and overlooking Lake Hāwea.

The ceremony featured native grasses and florals scattered between the chairs, making guests feel as though they were seated within a garden. For the table settings, we chose sculptural, ikebana-inspired florals, layered with chocolate-brown linen and candles to echo the earthy tones of the forest.

We were blessed by perfect weather (all sunshine and no wind) on the day, and as the sun set across the landscape, guests dined alfresco beneath festoon lights before the evening carried into dancing and live saxophone as the sun set over the mountains.

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

We decided to do all the planning ourselves and genuinely loved the process because it was an opportunity to curate everything that reflected what we love as a couple. From the beginning, we naturally divided responsibilities based on our individual strengths, and we constantly bounced ideas off one another and approached every decision as a team.

Matt took the lead on the music, drinks, food, and lighting, while Shu focused on the overall vision and styling. Shu worked closely with our photographer, florist, and equipment suppliers to ensure every detail aligned with the aesthetic she had envisioned. Shu also designed and DIYed many of the personal touches, from the stationery to the signage, which made the day feel even more personalised.

For us, wedding planning felt like a creative collaboration, and it reinforced how well we work together as partners. Our biggest tip for couples starting their wedding planning journey is to focus on what matters most to you as a couple and lean into each other’s strengths.

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

We made a conscious effort to work with local small-business vendors who could join us on our planning journey and embrace our vision for a small, intimate wedding. Each of them played a huge role in bringing the day to life and deserves a special mention.

Campbell from You Gather Events was incredibly organised, dependable, and an exceptional problem-solver, ensuring everything was set up to run seamlessly. Our florist, Asta, was a creative genius who elevated our brief beyond anything we could have imagined. Chris and Leo, our musical duo, created the perfect atmosphere, from cocktail hour and dinner to an unforgettable extra hour of live music on the dance floor.

Kim from Moreish Kitchen guided us through the menu planning process and shared our value of fresh local produce. The food exceeded all expectations, with the fresh oysters being a particular highlight. Our drinks were served by the amazing team at Maggie’s Mobile Bar, who brought fun and vibrance to our alfresco set-up.

The most important vendor of all was our photographer, Kate. Not only did she beautifully capture the hard work and creativity of every vendor involved, but her attention to detail and artistic eye also documented all the special memories and interactions on the day beautifully. We chose to have most of our photos shot on 35mm film, and the final images feel timeless, romantic, and dreamlike. Kate also worked alongside her long-time friend and collaborator, Nat, who captured the day digitally, with the images carefully edited to perfection.

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

Long before she fell in love with Matt, Shu had fallen for the work of Australian designer Karla Špetić. Drawn to Karla’s ethereal aesthetic, where delicate fabrics meet soft yet sculptural silhouettes with intricate detailing, Shu always knew she would turn to Karla to create her wedding look.

The vision and brief were to design an ensemble that felt timeless, versatile, and designed to live on after the wedding day. Beyond that, the process was one of complete trust and creative collaboration. During a visit to Karla’s Melbourne studio with Shu’s Maid of Honour, Amy, ideas flowed effortlessly, and together they conceived the four-piece bridal ensemble as well as Amy’s bridesmaid look.

The final look comprised a sheer organza blazer layered over a backless satin top with a detachable sleeve, worn with a mini skirt paired with a floor-length bias-cut skirt in delicate sheer fabric. Unifying each element were Karla’s signature ties, which draped elegantly throughout the ensemble, creating movement and cohesion. Each piece was designed to be worn together or styled separately, and Shu has already planned lots of ways to re-wear the pieces since the wedding.

Matt and Shu’s black-tie vision set an elegant tone for the day, with guests embracing the brief in sophisticated style. The well-tailored tuxedos worn by the gents complemented the flowing gowns worn by the ladies. Matt also changed into a velvet dinner jacket following the ceremony for an even more refined look.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

Two years into our relationship, we visited Australian designer Hamish Munro’s studio in Melbourne to look at rings together. We were both drawn to Hamish’s minimal but precise details and thought his design approach was very architectural, which suited both our tastes.

When it came to the engagement ring, Shu did not want to ‘wear a big rock’ and opted for a more creative way to embed the diamonds. Shu was very direct with Matt about which ring she wanted as soon as she saw the Bridge ring. Despite knowing the ring she wanted, Shu was still extremely surprised when Matt managed to sneak it out of his camera bag on one of their adventures driving through the Swiss Alps.

When we were ready for our wedding bands, we sat down with Hamish and his partner, Lizzie, and got a deeper glimpse into the design inspiration and process for the ring designs. We picked the Facade and Parmentier wedding bands because we loved the idea that the profiles of the rings were based on the profiles and proportions of classical architecture columns.

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?).

We were honestly just so happy to support independent designers, local creative talent and small businesses through our wedding. This sense of collaboration was very important for us and made every cent worth it.

Something that was priceless and beyond our expectations was truly the view from our wedding venue at Lake Hāwea View. Every sunrise, every sunset and all the atmospheric changes over the lake and mountains during our stay blew our minds and made it an out-of-this-world experience.

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

Our unrehearsed and spontaneous first dance was when Chris (on saxophone) and Leo (on keys) started playing one of Matt’s favourite artists, Chaos in the CBD, which immediately got him up and grooving, with his bride following suit. Our mothers also surprised us with a special duet singing ‘Moon River’ live with the band, and there was not a dry eye in sight.

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

Marriage aside, it has always been important for us to maintain the honeymoon feeling in our relationship and always find joy in the small things with a sense of playfulness and adventure in everyday life. We love starting our day with a morning coffee run together and ending the day watching our favourite TV shows on the couch.