The natural landscape and the Scottish-style mansion at Hillbrook completely shaped the atmosphere of our wedding.
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
We are a blend of northern and southern China, with our hometowns nearly 2,000 kilometres apart. Our personalities are just as different — I’m naturally introverted, while Yifeng is effortlessly outgoing and can start a conversation with almost anyone. Even our careers are worlds apart: I’m a teacher, and Yifeng is a manager in construction.
But somehow, despite all those differences, we’ve always felt incredibly in sync. We balance each other in the best way, and we’ve been genuinely curious about each other’s worlds and interests. The song “Why” by Sabrina somehow captures our vibe perfectly.
We are huge food lovers and can happily plan entire trips around good restaurants. On our days off, we love discovering new places to eat, whether it’s somewhere nearby or in another city. Beyond that, we both enjoy movies, reality shows, sports, cute little things, and simply being silly together.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
We met in 2017, shortly after we had both come out of difficult relationships. I had already moved on from mine, but Yifeng was still struggling a little, so a mutual friend asked if I could meet him and give him some advice.
To be honest, I didn’t really want to go at first, but I couldn’t say no to my best friend. The three of us ended up having dinner at a casual Chinese restaurant in Auckland CBD, and somehow that one dinner quietly became the beginning of everything. Eight years later, we’re married.
I still vaguely remember what we ordered that night. Sadly, when we tried to revisit the restaurant years later for nostalgia’s sake, it had already closed down and turned into a Chemist Warehouse.
My first impression of Yifeng was that he seemed gentle and polite, appearance-wise, not quite the stereotypical “southern guy” I had imagined. According to Yifeng, I looked a little distant at first, but after we started talking, he realised I was actually warm and kind. Ironically, even though we met to talk about relationships, we barely touched the subject that night. We simply exchanged contact details and kept talking from there.
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).
The natural landscape and the Scottish-style mansion at Hillbrook completely shaped the atmosphere of our wedding. We loved the feeling of being surrounded by vast open nature while still having the timeless charm and character of the historic house.
Florals were also incredibly important to us. They became the bridge between our Chinese roots and the life we’ve built in New Zealand, tying everything together in a way that felt expressive yet harmonious.
For the ceremony, we chose a classic palette of white and green to reflect the clean, peaceful beauty we associate with New Zealand. For the reception, we introduced richer red tones inspired by traditional Chinese celebrations, where red symbolises love, happiness, and good fortune. We loved the contrast between the two settings — one soft and serene, the other warm, vibrant, and full of togetherness.
What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?
A wedding is such a romantic celebration, but behind the scenes, it’s also very much a project. One of the most satisfying parts for me was finding those “that’s the one” moments — whether it was a vendor, a piece of furniture, or a tiny detail that perfectly matched my vision while still staying somewhat within budget. Because I planned most of the wedding myself, I sourced many elements from both New Zealand and China to better reflect our culture and story. A lot of the pieces coming from China were custom-made, so I didn’t actually get to see or touch them until they arrived. Seeing everything finally come together — items sourced from different countries, created by different people, all somehow feeling cohesive — was incredibly rewarding and honestly a huge relief.
One thing I learnt is that planning early really matters, unless you’re naturally a very relaxed bride. Weddings involve so many little details and conversations with suppliers, and giving yourself enough time makes the whole process much more enjoyable. At the same time, I think it’s important not to overextend the planning for too long; otherwise, it can start to feel overwhelming.
Most importantly, trust your instincts. If something truly feels like “the one”, whether it’s a venue, a dress, or a supplier, you usually know immediately.
Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?
We honestly feel so grateful for all of our vendors. Every person involved brought something meaningful to the day and made the wedding feel effortless and personal.
Our photographer, Laura, was incredibly supportive and thoughtful from the very beginning. Before the wedding, she gave us guidance on the timeline for the day and really listened carefully to our vision. On the wedding day itself, she captured so many beautiful moments without us even noticing, and somehow made us feel completely relaxed in front of the camera. Looking through the gallery afterwards, I was genuinely surprised by how happy and beautiful she made us look. She also kindly helped me through the magazine submission process afterwards, which meant a lot to us.
My makeup artist, Yuyu, was another huge part of the day. Beyond her amazing work itself, she made me feel so cared for throughout the entire wedding. She adjusted my veil and dress, carried my shoes around when needed, and by the end of the day, she felt less like a vendor and more like a close friend.
Our celebrant, Anne, was also incredibly thoughtful and warm. During her time in Auckland, she met with us twice and carefully adjusted the ceremony flow to reflect what felt most personal to us. One of the sweetest things she did was spontaneously practising a few wishes in Mandarin for the ceremony. It meant so much to our families, especially for those who didn’t speak English, and seeing their reactions on the day was incredibly touching. It made the ceremony feel even more intimate, personal, and inclusive.
Our florist, Ainsley, also brought our vision to life so beautifully. Even though some of our original flowers weren’t available due to the season, she thoughtfully adapted everything in a way that ended up suiting the venue and overall atmosphere even better than what I had imagined. The reception florals especially captured the fusion of Chinese and New Zealand influences we wanted.
Our videographer helped us organise the day in much more detail, and our furniture suppliers were incredibly patient and supportive despite the relatively small scale of our hire order.
I also want to make a special mention of our best friend Joey, who became both our wedding coordinator and reception host for the day. He helped oversee every detail of the setup and made sure everything came together exactly as I had envisioned. Knowing someone we trusted so deeply was there managing everything behind the scenes gave us so much peace of mind, and we truly couldn’t have done it without him.
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?
For as long as I can remember, I had always associated Pronovias with elegant mermaid gowns, and I knew very early on that I wanted to wear one on my wedding day. To me, that silhouette feels timeless, feminine, and quietly confident.
At first, I worried that finding my dream gown in New Zealand might be difficult, but luckily, I found “Rusty”, and it immediately stayed in my mind. It was actually the very first dress I tried on out of nearly twenty dresses across three different boutiques.
What I loved most about it was how effortless it felt. It didn’t rely on dramatic volume, heavy embellishment, or intricate lace details. Instead, it felt sophisticated, clean, and completely like me. Although I originally thought I wanted satin, I ended up falling in love with the quality and structure of this crepe fabric, especially how beautifully it reflected sunlight outdoors.
I also customised my veil with a subtle floral pattern that complemented the gown perfectly without overpowering it. Looking back now, I still feel it reflected exactly how I wanted to feel on the day — elegant, confident, and completely myself.
Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.
We found our wedding bands quite unexpectedly, but they immediately felt right for us. Since we’ll wear them for the rest of our lives, we wanted something timeless and beautifully made, but also something that genuinely reflected us as a couple rather than simply following trends.
After trying on many different styles, nothing really felt quite right. Then one day, social media randomly showed me Bulgari’s “Marry Me” bands. There wasn’t much information about them online, but we decided to visit the boutique and try them on. The moment we did, we both knew.
We loved the bold yet refined design, the architectural lines, and the proportions in our hands. When the sales advisor explained that the collection was inspired by the enduring beauty and structure of Rome, we loved it even more. Italy — especially Rome — has always been one of our dream destinations, largely because of our shared love for history and architecture, so the rings felt strangely personal to us from the beginning.
For my engagement ring, Yifeng had a very classic vision in mind. To him, a round solitaire diamond is the ultimate engagement ring — timeless and elegant. Although I briefly considered other styles, I ultimately agreed that there’s something undeniably beautiful about the simplicity of a solitaire, and it felt right for Yifeng to make the final decision.
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?).
If we had to choose one thing, it would definitely be the venue. It shaped the entire atmosphere of the wedding and reflected almost everything we love about New Zealand.
From the beginning, we knew we wanted an intimate celebration with our closest family and friends, somewhere private and peaceful that felt more like a meaningful getaway than a formal event. I had also always dreamed of having an endless ocean backdrop for our ceremony.
Hillbrook felt perfect the moment we saw it. Years earlier, during a trip to Kaikōura, I had fallen in love with the wild toe-toe grass along the coastline and remember saying that one day I wanted wedding photos surrounded by it. At Hillbrook, walking down to the private white beach and seeing the toe-to-toe moving in the wind felt strangely full circle. We also loved the timeless character of the Scottish-style stone manor, and the fact that it was still a working farm made it feel even more special. The ocean, the open landscape, the cows, the peacefulness — it captured everything we love about New Zealand in such an understated and elegant way.
Interestingly, Hillbrook was the very first and only venue we visited. On the drive home, we already knew it was the one.
Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?
One of our favourite moments was actually the morning after the wedding. We woke up feeling completely peaceful, curled up together watching the sunrise as a married couple. After such a full and emotional day, that quiet moment felt incredibly special.
For Yifeng, his most unforgettable moment was seeing me for the first time walking towards him in my wedding gown during the ceremony. We had intentionally saved our first look for that moment, and he said he immediately started tearing up.
For me, the moments I treasure most are actually the smaller ones throughout the day. Sitting on Yifeng’s lap, I squeezed into the front seat on the way down to the beach. Holding hands and slowly walking back after our sunset photos. And during our family photos, my usually inexpressive father quietly asked my mum to swap places with him so he could stand beside me.
None of those moments was grand or dramatic, but they were full of love in the most natural way.
What does being married mean to you, and are there any special rituals you have that you would like to share?
To us, marriage means having someone who will always be waiting for you at home — someone to share both happiness and difficult moments with. It brings a sense of stability and quiet reassurance, not only for us but also for our families.
It also feels like our individual dreams have gradually become shared ones. Knowing you always have someone beside you makes it easier to be brave about the future and more excited about building a life together.
One little tradition we’ve kept throughout our relationship started on our very first official day together, when Yifeng gave me a small soft toy as a gift. Since then, we’ve collected at least one from the same brand every year for our anniversary.
In general, we love celebrating small moments together. Birthdays, anniversaries, Chinese and Western Valentine’s Days, New Year’s Eve, work achievements — we always try to turn them into little memories, whether that means trying a new restaurant, taking a short trip, or doing something creative together like visiting a ceramics studio.
Those small rituals make everyday life feel more meaningful, reminding us to slow down, appreciate each other’s company, and grow together along the way.
LOCATION Hillbrook Farm & Estate, Whangamata, New Zealand, @hillbrook_estate BRIDE Pinxuan GROOM Yifeng PHOTOGRAPHER Valo, @valophotocinema VIDEOGRAPHER Lilinghao, @lilinghao CONTENT CREATOR, STYLIST & PLANNER By the bride ON-THE-DAY SET-UP Coromandel Weddings, @coromandelweddings FLORIST Floralcentric, @floralcentric CELEBRANT Anne Slight HIRE Furniture – Twelve Tables, @twelve_tables; Chairs – Lucy’s Events, @lucyseventhire CATERING Private chef – Lance Walker CAKE Olive Jay Cakes, @olivejaycakes STATIONERY & SIGNAGE Bride ordered from China BRIDE’S ENGAGEMENT RING Round brilliant solitaire diamond in a refined four-claw setting – Michael Hill, @michaelhillj WEDDING BANDS Marry Me – Bulgari, @bvlgari BRIDE’S CEREMONY DRESS Pronovias, @pronovias BRIDE’S CEREMONY SHOES Jimmy Choo, @jimmychoo BRIDE’S CEREMONY ACCESSORIES Veil – Modes, @modesnewmarket; Oval-cut sapphire and diamond halo earrings – Bride’s mother BRIDE’S RECEPTION & PARTY OUTFIT Designer brand from China – Mind12 BRIDE’S RECEPTION & PARTY SHOES Tony Bianco, @tonybianco BRIDE’S RECEPTION & PARTY ACCESSORIES Nanhong Agate Necklace – ALP Jewelry, @alpjewelry; Nanhong Agate Earrings – Chinese brand BRIDE’S HAIR & MAKEUP YUYU JIN LI, @yuyujinli_makeup GROOM’S CEREMONY & RECEPTION OUTFIT SKARO, @skaroofficial GROOM’S SHOES Thom Wills, @thomwillsofficial GROOM’S ACCESSORIES Watch – Michael Hill, @michaelhillj Two sets of bow tie & pocket square from China GROOM’S HAIR & MAKEUP YUYU JIN LI, @yuyujinli_makeup GROOM’S FRAGRANCE Mont Blanc, @montblanc BRIDESMAID’S DRESS Shopped from China
