Hannah + Jason by Hope Patterson Photography

Burgundy became the visual language of our day

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

Between the two of us, life is full, creative, and deeply rooted in the things we love most.

Jason works in the sporting industry, and tennis is a big part of who he is. It is something you will see woven throughout our day.

I wear a few hats. I am the founder of Dear Brides NZ, New Zealand’s first wedding content creation service. Getting to be present on some of the most special days of people’s lives is something I never take for granted. I also run Dear Community, a nonprofit organisation designed to bring women together through connection and events.

My heart behind it is simple: I never want a woman to feel like she has to walk through life alone. Alongside that, I run Seven Content Studio, a creative agency offering lo-fi content creation and brand consultancy, and Dear, The Series, a collection of guided journals designed to help people understand a little more about what is going on in their own minds. And then there is my life as a full-time content creator across TikTok and Instagram, which is genuinely one of the great loves of my career.

As for what we love together: each other, honestly. We have just finished renovating our home together and have loved every moment of nesting in it. We love to travel, to ski, to snowboard, and above all, we love tennis. It is the sport at the very centre of our relationship, and the one that started everything.

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

Our story began at a tennis club, with a simple act of kindness.

I arrived far too early for a social night and found myself completely lost. He noticed immediately and came over to check if I was okay. Looking back now, it’s funny to think that such an ordinary moment would become the beginning of everything.

My first impression? I was absolutely intrigued. He immediately struck me as someone so different from anyone I had met before. I remember thinking, surely this man is married. Surely he cannot be single. He had this quiet quality about him that made me want to know everything about who he was.

We spent the next few months getting to know each other casually, hellos here and there, before we finally went on our first date.

And that first date was simple and perfect. We played tennis, walked along the beach, and somewhere between the conversation and the ocean air, I fell for him. Quite literally. I slipped on a rock and fell over. It has become one of our favourite jokes that I fell for him on our very first date in every sense of the phrase.

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).

Burgundy became the visual language of our day, and looking back, it was the detail that tied everything together most beautifully.

As I prepared to become a Hart, I found myself drawn to the symbolism of the colour. It appeared in my shoes, my nails, the florals, the fruit-laden tablescape, and countless details throughout the celebration. To me, it represented love, heart, and the life we were building together. What began as a colour palette became a quiet tribute to my new surname and the meaning behind it.

The long family dinner table was another element I will never forget. Both families were seated together as one, surrounded by fresh fruit layered amongst florals and candlelight, with colour swatches as place cards, each topped with seasonal fruit. Every detail felt intentional without feeling overly polished.

The black-and-white film projected softly throughout the evening was perhaps my favourite touch of all. It captured moments from our relationship and played like a moving journal of the life we had built together. Watching those memories unfold surrounded by the people who knew our story best felt so incredibly special.

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

I am very much a Type A personality, and honestly, I loved every part of the planning process because of it.

I came into it with a full Canva presentation, a detailed mood board, and an extremely detailed agenda for the day. Every single vendor knew exactly what was needed, every person had a role, and everything was mapped out from start to finish. Because I run events through Dear Community as part of my work, I know what it takes to make a day flow beautifully, and I leaned into that experience fully. Everything felt thought of, and because of that, everything ran incredibly smoothly.

My biggest tip for couples just starting out would be this: choose vendors who genuinely align with your vision, not just your budget. It can be so tempting to make decisions based on pricing alone, but I really encourage couples to look deeply at portfolios and ask themselves whether this person truly gets their look, taste, and feel. Sometimes spending a little more to find that alignment makes all the difference. The right vendors do not just execute your vision. They elevate it.

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

Every single vendor on our day was exceptional, and I genuinely could not have asked for a better team.

A Little Bit Floral was absolutely outstanding. I am incredibly fussy when it comes to florals, and she not only met the brief but pulled together an entire presentation portfolio to showcase the different flower options before the day. She nailed it completely.

La Lumiere NZ handled our drapery and transformed the space in a way I still cannot quite believe. Tablelook brought the tablescape to life so beautifully, and La Mesa, our food stylists, were just incredible. Every single detail in that room reflected the talent and heart that each vendor poured into our day.

La Mesa, our food styling, was run by my best friend, which made every detail on that table feel deeply personal. Because she knows me so well, she was able to weave elements of my life and our story into every single thing she created.

A detail so close to my heart was the baklava tower. Food has always been a way of honouring where you come from, and having a nod to my Greek heritage woven into our celebration felt so meaningful. Alongside it, shared plates and little details inspired by generations before us made the table feel full of history as well as love.

She also created the most beautiful olive display, with a champagne tower overflowing with dark olives, which I absolutely loved. And in the most thoughtful touch, she incorporated biltong to honour Jason’s South African heritage. Every single element of that table told a piece of our story, and I could not have loved it more.

Jessica Couture was an absolute standout. From the moment I reached out to her in late 2025, she wanted to be personally involved, and the level of care and service from her team was something I truly could not believe. We altered the dress quite significantly from its traditional look, and every part of that process felt amazing. I walked away from every appointment feeling so looked after.

Hope Patterson was our photographer, and she is so much more than that to me. Hope is extended family, and having someone who is so deeply part of my world present on one of the most significant days of my life was something really beautiful and special. She is also, quite simply, one of the most talented photographers I have ever encountered, and as the founder of Dear Brides NZ, that means everything.

And speaking of Dear Brides, I cannot recommend lo-fi wedding content creation highly enough. As the founder of New Zealand’s first dedicated wedding content creation service, I knew it was non-negotiable for my own day. I had two creators present, one on camcorder and one on iPhone, and together they were the most incredible team. Lo-fi content is something every single bride should have. It is raw, real, and beautiful, and there is nothing quite like being able to flip back and watch a one-minute highlight of the most special day of your life. I am so in love with everything they captured.

Penton & Co did my hair and makeup, and they were absolutely outstanding. What I love most about this is that I did not even do a trial. I had experienced their work firsthand as a bridesmaid at both my best friend’s and my sister’s weddings, and I remember thinking at the time, I just want to replicate exactly this. When it came to my own day, I did not hesitate for a second. They delivered everything I had hoped for and more.

One thing that made our vendor team so incredibly special was that I had a personal relationship with every single one of them. From my best friend styling the food, to Hope, who is extended family, to the rest of the vendors I had built genuine relationships with through my years in the industry. Every single person on that day truly felt like family.

And because of that, they also understood the weight of what we were trusting them with. This day was completely private, and every single vendor respected that without question. They worked so hard to make sure our secret stayed completely under wraps, and I am so deeply grateful for that. It meant everything to us.

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

From a very young age, I had always dreamed of a strapless wedding dress. It was the one thing I had held onto for as long as I could remember.

Funny enough, as the wedding got closer, I actually talked myself out of it entirely. I decided I would go for a simple slip dress, something off the shelf, nothing fussy. I told myself I did not need anything more than that.

And then I tried on the Jana dress from Jessica Couture, and everything changed.

The moment I put it on, I just knew. The strapless neckline, the drop waist, the straight clean lines. It was everything I had ever imagined and more. We altered it quite a bit from its traditional look to make it feel mine completely, and every part of that process with Jessica was an absolute joy. I could not have been happier with how it turned out.

The neck scarf was the finishing touch that I absolutely loved. It added something so elegant and unique to the overall look, and felt like a really personal detail that set it apart.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

Our rings are from Fifth Avenue Diamond Experts, and I cannot recommend them enough. They are just absolutely outstanding.

I designed my ring myself, which made the whole experience so incredibly special. I went for a natural marquise diamond, and I am just so in love with it. There is something about the shape that feels so uniquely me. It is not a uniform standard band with a single solitaire. It has this beautiful, distinctive cut that I have never stopped loving since the moment I first saw it.

The design was also inspired by my grandmother’s ring. Its organic shape features soft curves and gentle movement, making it feel entirely unique while still carrying a piece of family history within it. And my wedding band slots perfectly underneath the engagement ring, which I love so much. The two just sit together beautifully.

The proposal story is one of my favourites to tell. My ring wasn’t quite ready when Jason proposed, but he simply could not wait any longer. So he proposed with a 3D printed version of my actual ring. I thought that was the most thoughtful and romantic thing. He knew exactly what I wanted, and he made the moment happen anyway. Close to the wedding, my real ring was finally ready, and it was everything I had hoped for and more.

Fifth Avenue Diamond Experts made the entire experience so personal and so special. I would send every bride their way without hesitation.

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?).

Photography, without question, is the number one thing I would always encourage couples to invest in. Your photographer is the most important vendor on your day. The images they capture are what you will hold onto forever, and the difference between someone who truly gets your vision and someone who doesn’t is everything. Look at portfolios deeply, find someone whose work makes you feel something, and do not let price be the deciding factor.

Closely alongside that, I would say content creation. And I say this not just as a bride, but as the founder of Dear Brides NZ. There are a lot of content creators out there, and not all of them understand the world of weddings. Etiquette matters. Knowing when to step in and when to step back matters. Knowing how to move through a wedding day professionally and capture it authentically matters. My creators are trained specifically for this, and the difference that makes is enormous. A one-minute highlight reel that you can flip back on and relive your day instantly is something every single bride deserves. Quality content creation and quality photography are, in my opinion, the two things most worth investing in.

Florals would be my third. A Little Bit Floral brought our vision to life in a way that took my breath away, and I truly believe that beautiful florals transform a space entirely.

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

There were so many, but a few stand out in my heart above everything else.

The first look was one of my absolute favourites, and it is something I now recommend to every couple I work with through Dear Brides. The moment you see your person for the first time that day, the nerves just completely disappear. Suddenly it is just the two of you, and everything else falls away. We got to spend that time together, do our photos, and by the time I walked down the aisle, it felt less like nerves and more like joy. I was walking towards my best friend, and I had already held his hand. It made everything so much more fun and so much more relaxed.

Another moment I will never forget is how we moved between locations on the day. Jason drove us around in a Porsche 911 from location to location himself. We did not want a chauffeur. We just wanted it to be the two of us, windows down, laughing between shots. It was such a simple thing, but honestly one of the best decisions we made all day.

And then there was the long table. Sitting there surrounded by our immediate family and closest friends, just drinking in that moment and thinking, these are the people who mean everything to us. There is nothing quite like it.

The black and white camcorder footage playing throughout the evening on the drapery was something so incredibly special too. It documented our entire relationship, and watching those memories unfold on our wedding night, surrounded by every person who had been part of our story, was just breathtaking.

The entire day was perfection. I would not change a single thing.

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

Marriage, to us, is ultimately about partnership. It is choosing one another every single day and building a life side by side.

While our relationship may have moved quickly by some standards, we spent every day together from the very beginning. There was never a moment that felt rushed. Instead, there was a quiet certainty that we had found home in one another.

In a relationship that had always been private but never secret, becoming husband and wife felt like the most natural and perfect next step.

A few more details from our day

The place settings were something I was really proud of too. Instead of traditional place cards, we used colour swatches, each one topped with fresh seasonal fruit. It was a small detail but one that felt so considered and so us. Simple, beautiful, and a little unexpected.

And then there were the tennis court portraits. Because tennis is such a huge part of both of our lives, and the very place where our story began, it felt only right that it found its way into our wedding day. The portraits were inspired by vintage editorial fashion photography, and I love the way they turned out. A quiet tribute to the sport and the moment that started everything.