Georgia + Mark by Sapphire Studios

The vision was timeless romance but with a touch of sophistication.

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

We have been together for around 9 years, after we were first in the same friend group at university until it sparked into something more. Mark works as a videographer and Director of Photography, while I am an Architect. A lot of our last 9 years together have been spent travelling the world, living in Canada, Portugal and Denmark, and more recently Melbourne and Mount Maunganui. We both grew up in regional towns and absolutely love the outdoors, skiing, the beach, bustling cities and culture around the world, good food and, of course, a spicy marg. Both being creatives, we have a drive and passion that match each other, while our A-type/B-type opposites provide the perfect balance.

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

We met through mutual friends down in Wellington at university. What began as only a friendship took one night out for it to blossom into something more! He stayed that night and didn’t leave for the entire week following; I didn’t want him to go! I always thought of Mark as such a kind, down-to-earth (extremely sexy) gentleman. It was so effortless to be around each other, and he gave me the calm I needed in my thesis years of architecture school. I think the first time he saw me ski made him think, “damn, I am going to marry her one day”. After we graduated, we moved to Canada together for a year, which gave us our love for travel and Mark’s passion for film.

Tell us about the vision you had for the mood and style of your wedding. (theme, key styling elements, florals, colour palettes etc.).

Being an architect and a passion for design, we knew we wanted something a little different and unique to us. I always had this love for the colour combo blue and red together, which formed the basis of our colour palette: blue, burgundy, silver and butter yellow.

The vision was timeless romance but with a touch of sophistication. I wanted this sense of old, but a modern/contemporary feel which reflected us. I sourced all the silverware through op shops and my grandmother’s collection, plus my aunties’ stash we borrowed. I envisaged the ceremony to feel quite modern, with sculptural florals and silver plinths and a structured dress, then moving into this more cosy vintage reception space wearing my grandmother’s pearls and a Love James corset, immersed in the gorgeous architecture at Tantalus, layered with blue velvet tablecloths, burgundy candlesticks sitting in silver candelabras. Being after daylight saving time, the darker evening helped set the tone of how we wanted the different stages of the wedding to feel.

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).

I always knew I wanted to get married somewhere architecturally striking, paired with the good food and good wine; we knew Tantalus was perfect. The garden for the ceremony was this gorgeous, intimate garden, then transitioning into the pavilion with its steel pivots and stone walls. Our florist, Ainsley from Floral Centric, just nailed our brief. I gave her creative freedom (which I know is the dream as an architect), and she came up with this perfect essence of sculptural elegance which juxtaposed the soft romantic gardens surrounding Tantalus. I was also just obsessed with my husband’s suit from Porter James. He looked so effortlessly cool.

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

Creating the initial vision, moodboard and concept was so exciting. It felt a little daunting at first, but seeing it all come to life was incredibly rewarding. I’m quite meticulous and detail-oriented, so once an idea takes hold, I can get a little carried away—but that was also the fun of it. I loved thinking through every detail, right down to the oil burner at the bar to create a full sensory experience.

The time between our engagement and wedding was only nine months, which was actually a blessing. Decision fatigue is definitely a thing, so we recommend setting deadlines for yourselves and not overthinking it. More often than not, your first instinct is the right one.

It also helps to have a clear plan from the beginning. Work out your priorities, budget and ideal date early on, and decide what needs to influence what. We found it tricky knowing whether to check venue availability first and set the date from there, or lock in vendors like the photographer and work around them. We went in circles during those first few weeks, and it felt awful having to go back to vendors when dates and budgets kept shifting. Having a clear order of priorities would have made that part of the process much smoother.

Also helps having a fiancé saying yes to my every request.

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

Apart from those already mentioned, Michelle, our planner and on-day coordinator, was an actual godsend! I felt so calm and relaxed the entire day, knowing that everything was taken care of at the venue and liaising with all our awesome vendors meant that we could both be so present during the day, and for that we are so grateful.

Zac, our videographer from Flatroc Films, brought the best energy to the day and instantly eased our nerves on and off the camera with his lovable personality. Mark, being a videographer himself, made it important to capture the day on film, showing the emotion, and he was the perfect guy for this- a real storyteller.

Also a special mention to the incredible Nathan Haines. Still pinching myself that he performed at our wedding, and it’s a core memory for both of us!

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

I wanted something quite structured and architectural, with a touch of drama. I didn’t overthink the dress too much, and actually chose it on the second dress appointment. I knew it wasn’t the dress that was the important feature for me, but all the small details that make up the entire experience of the day.

Trying on multiple wedding suits and tuxedos, nothing felt quite right until we went to Porter James and Mark instantly looked and felt more like himself. We knew that was the one straight away! Because the suit was a bit more casual, Mark hunted for something shiny to elevate the fit and add texture, and he found the perfect Paraboot patent shoe.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

Mark proposed to me with a gorgeous Naveya & Sloane bezel-set emerald diamond. I was so spoilt and incredibly fortunate to complete my set with Naveya & Sloane, pairing the engagement ring with the Asscher Diamond Dancer band, described as balancing vintage glamour with a sleek, modern profile; this ring encompassed me and our wedding day.

Mark’s wedding ring is so uniquely him. He wanted something handcrafted, with imperfections, and Krool Jewels had exactly that. A blue cushion-cut lapis lazuli, set in a gold signet, is an organic take on the shape of my emerald-cut diamond, and they just complement each other so well.

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 always said there are 3 things that make up an epic party to remember. Good food, good booze and good music. We prioritised these elements, and they are the things everyone keeps talking about to this day!

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

The wedding day was a little overcast, but the rain was holding off – until the aisle song began. Out of nowhere, it started drizzling just as my bridesmaids began walking out, and I remember turning to my dad and asking, “Do we just pause for a while?” But we kept going, and as soon as Dad and I stepped out of the pavilion, the rain stopped, and the sun came out for us. It felt completely surreal, almost like a movie. That moment with the sun rays, my dad by my side, and my husband waiting for me at the end of the aisle is something I will never forget.

Being a dancer (and Mark a self-proclaimed dancer), another one of our highlights was the first dance. I had my teacher Kirsty Dalton teach us a little number, and safe to say Mark absolutely nailed it on the night. We popped down for a quick practice just beforehand, which was such a nice moment, showing him my second look first with just us two, and then having that time to decompress and process being just married.

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

Being married to us means commitment and unconditional love for one another despite life’s ups and downs. It means a lifetime of happiness together, and that makes us so excited for what’s to come. We don’t really have any rituals, but waking up with my husband and having a coffee together each morning feels like the most special one.