We moved from Chicago to Dallas and it was our first time living together. After only a few months, the country went into total lockdown. It was a little scary at first, but it ended up being so great for our relationship. We grew even closer and learned so much about one another. With so many unknowns in the world at that time, it really put it into perspective how much we wanted to do life together.
Being able to fit our guests on one long outdoor table under a fairy light setting was incredibly special and allowed us to spend meaningful moments with every single person there. Ultimately our wedding was perfect for the circumstances and a truly magical, dream day.
Our wedding is best described as beautiful chaos. We had no rules, no themes, and nothing matchy-matchy. It was anything goes garden party.
Ben was keen to keep it clean and classic. I love a bit of glam and thanks to our love of soul train and all things mid-century modern we both wanted a retro twist. Think tuxedos and jimmy choos, gold disco balls, white cat eye sunglasses and a maraschino cherry 2-tier wedding cake.
My mum took me to Vinka Design and after I made the decision to have my dress made by Anita and the team, mum told me that her wedding gown was designed by Vinka herself. My family home burnt down in the year 2000, and she lost her dress, so it was a very special connection and a magical journey for my mum and I to experience together from start to finish.
Kristen teases me because I said “I Love You” after like a week of talking again. But I genuinely knew she was the one I’d like to spend the rest of my life with after just a few weeks or months. That beautiful girl I knew in high school grew up to be the most amazing woman I’ve ever known. I couldn’t ask for anything more.
Looking back I remember realising Jake would be the first person I would want to speak to in the morning or when something happened. I missed him when I wasn’t with him. I remember my mum saying to me, you are always on the phone talking, you must really like this person as you will never talk to anyone on the phone. It well and truly dawned on me then.
As this was not just a celebration for Eli and I, we added other special touches with wearing my Grandfather’s war medals on my dress, or finding photos of every guest with Eli and I to take home as a thanks, to wanting the bridesmaids to find dresses that was their personality style and different to each other. We wanted everyone there to know how important they are to our lives and our relationship journey so we hoped everyone felt represented by our wedding vision.
Our vision was to have a wedding that didn’t require a huge amount of work to set up or decorate, we wanted a venue that had a stunning setting and would give our kiwi / overseas guests a true taste of the incredible Tuscan dream.
I think we knew from the beginning that we were each other’s ‘people’. But after living abroad for several years, travelling Europe and building our first home, we realised that it was all meant to be.
I have always wanted to wear a classical, timeless wedding dress. When I first put on my dress at Hera Couture, I knew it was the one. It felt like something I would love for the rest of my life.
I knew he was the one when he took me out dancing – there’s no arguing with those hips of his, he’s got the moves and I couldn’t keep away after that!
