Our love has always been easy and effortless.
Alex – A little over a year ago, we moved back to Auckland after nine years in Sydney, so we’re busy settling into our new life in New Zealand, buying a house and finding new jobs. I’m a digital and content manager at Bunnings, and Matt works in strategy at Air New Zealand. We love spending time with friends and family, entertaining at home, and planning our next overseas holiday.
Matt – I met Alex on a balmy 35 degree night at the Ivy nightclub in Sydney back in 2011. We were both there with our friends on a trip before the university semester started. We didn’t speak that evening, but a week later, back at a local bar in Auckland, Alex’s best friend introduced us, and we’ve been inseparable ever since.
Alex – I don’t know if there was ever an aha moment. Looking back, I don’t remember falling in love with Matt; we just always were. Our love has always been easy and effortless.
Matt – We were in Malta in August 2019. We woke up jetlagged at sunrise and were drinking coffee on our balcony overlooking the ocean. I didn’t want to carry the engagement ring around any more, so I popped the question then and there. We spent the morning crying and laughing before jumping on a private boat for the day to swim in the Blue Lagoon. It was perfect.
Alex – I always knew that I wanted to have a small, intimate wedding. I can be quite particular with what I like and I wanted it to feel different to other weddings. The venue made the wedding feel polished but also relaxed, like a backyard wedding. I wanted it to feel bright and colourful. Rachel from Côte NZ did an incredible job of bringing my Lebanese heritage into the menu, adapting her signature dishes with a Middle Eastern flair. She also created a recipe for negroni jellies for a digestif at the end of dinner.
The most important element to me was the photographer. I found Bek Smith on Instagram, and as soon as I saw her style, I knew we had to have her capture our day. I chose our wedding date based on her availability.
We had five months to plan a wedding. Working in fashion, I thought it would be impossible to choose a wedding dress. I fell in love with the simplicity of the Mirror Palais dress and knew that I would love it in years to come. I bought the dress online, and it fit perfectly. A week before the wedding, I decided I had to have a change of outfit and thought it would be special to make a dress for the reception. I found a beautiful ballet-pink silk and added ostrich feathers to give it a party feel.
PHOTOGRAPHER Bek Smith, @beksmithimages / CELEBRANT Una Ryan / FLORA Floral Stylist Co, @floralstylistco / BRIDE’S GOWN Mirror Palais, @mirrorpalais / GROOM’S SUIT Working Style, @workingstylenz / RINGS Opal Pacific (father’s jewellery business) / BRIDE’S SHOES Zara, @zara / BRIDE’S SLIPPERS UGG, @ugg / BRIDE’S NECKLACE Cult Gaia, @cultgaia / MAKEUP Rebecca Ann Makeup Artist, @rebeccaann_mua / BRIDE’S FRAGRANCE Maison Margiela, @maisonmargielafragrances / GROOM’S SHOES Asuwere, @asuwere.co / BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESSES Rachel Mills, @rachel__mills; Bec & Bridge, @becandbridge / LOCATION Private residence / STYLING, PLANNING & HIRE Flock Events, @flockevents / STATIONERY Bride / CATERING Côte, @cotenewzealand / CAKE Amy’s Secret Kitchen, @amyssecretkitchen / ENTERTAINMENT Neon City
