Aimee + Clay by Keryn Sweeney

My vision for our wedding was very old school/vintage because our love feels vintage and from another time.

Aimee —— Clay is an architectural designer and I’m a graphic designer. We went to pre-school and primary school together — we actually dated for a week in primary school. Clay lived down the road from me, he works for my stepfather and my brother married his sister! Even with so many connections, after school our paths didn’t cross until I moved into the same flat as him. We quickly became great friends but because of the flat/work/family dynamics, we didn’t do anything until we were 100% confident that we wanted to be with each other long-term.

Clay —— It didn’t take me long to realise that our relationship was a forever thing. For some reason on New Year’s Day, I woke up thinking, I want to marry Aimee. I started looking at rings and proposed two months later.

Aimee —— Clay proposed just before we travelled overseas. He’d organised a ‘goodbye’ weekend at the lake with both of our families. He suspiciously blindfolded me and started walking me up a hill. At the top, he took off the blindfold where a perfect picnic was set up. Clay got down on one knee and proposed.

My vision for our wedding was very old school/vintage because our love feels vintage and from another time — we listen to old songs, go on cute dates and write each other letters. We decided to have the wedding at home and our goal was to have a unique and timeless wedding.

I’m super creative and had a clear idea of the style I wanted, so I designed all the mood boards for each vendor. I’m a graphic designer so I designed all the signage and stationery, including having the major signage printed on linen, which we hung from trees with lots of ribbon.

I wanted a very traditional/vintage-style dress for the ceremony (with a modern flair of the veil, which was hand-embroidered with our initials). The bespoke Savannah Miller dress was designed with a detachable skirt which revealed a silky bias-cut number that we styled back with bespoke tulle and silk gloves. The bespoke gloves had a rose added from my mother’s wedding dress. We went through a thorough process of drawings, mood boards and FaceTimes to come up with the dress of my dreams.

I literally never tried on another wedding dress. I was so confident that they would create the perfect dress that I was measured by a friend in Bali, where Clay and I were travelling, and the measurements were sent to London. We added in a few visits to London in between our European travels for fittings at the Four Seasons Hotel. I wanted my second look to look vintage but have a super fun/sexy flair so I could dance a lot. I actually chose my wedding shoes, pearl Jimmy Choo heels, before anything else. The dress and accessories had to work with the shoes.

PHOTOGRAPHER Keryn Sweeney, @kerynsweeneyphotographer VIDEOGRAPHER Ben Journee, @ben.journee LOCATION Family home CELEBRANT Jade Gibson, @jadegibson64 BRIDE’S CEREMONY GOWN Savannah Miller, @savannahmiller BRIDE’S SHOES Jimmy Choo, @jimmychoo GROOM’S TUXEDO & SHOES Working Style, @workingstylenz GROOM’S ACCESSORIES Guys Gold, @guys.gold WEDDING COORDINATOR Wild and Whim, @wildandwhim FLORIST Ruth Fiona, @ruthfionafloral MAKEUP Liz Hyun, @liz_hyun; Josie Wignall, @josie_wignall_makeupartist HAIR Messy Bun, @messybun_nz BRIDE’S FRAGRANCE Giorgio Armani, @giorgioarmani GROOM’S FRAGRANCE Giorgio Armani, @giorgioarmani RINGS Guys Gold, @guys.gold; Natasha Schweitzer, @natashaschweitzer EARRINGS Natasha Schweitzer, @natashaschweitzer NECKLACE La Grotta Collective, @lagrotta.collective BRIDESMAIDS’ ATTIRE Hansen and Gretel, @hansenandgretel GROOMSMEN’S ATTIRE Barkers, @barkersclothing ENTERTAINMENT The Big Ticket 10-piece band HIRE Lucy’s, @lucyseventhire; Royal Laboratorie, @royallaboratorie MARQUEE Twelve Tables, @twelve_tables CATERING Clarke Road Kitchen, @clarkeroadkitchen CAKE Butter Butter, @butterbutternz STATIONERY & SIGNAGE Sunny Design Studio, @sunnydesignstudio_