Autumnal hues were woven through different styling aspects alongside a chic, contemporary palette of black and white.
Charlotte – I’m a design director at a creative studio in Christchurch. I also spent more than five years in the wedding industry as a wedding photographer.
Ben – During the week, I’m a foreman for an architectural building company, but currently, my weekends and evenings are spent building our home, which is a real labour of love
Charlotte – Ben and I are high school sweethearts. He was the year above me at school, and we were in the same graphics class. I remember writing in my diary, ‘I know this probably won’t happen because we are so young, but I’d like to marry this boy’.
Ben proposed on our 12-year anniversary by paying homage to our first date. We drove up to Lake Selfe, a beautiful spot in Canterbury where we had our first date, and walked the track to Lake Ida. Ben knelt down, asked if I’d like my anniversary gift, and pulled a ring out of his pocket. We wanted an autumn wedding in Central Otago.
We kept coming back to three keywords: emotive, fun and stylish. That meant combining my love of design and styling with really meaningful, personal touches.
Visually, I wanted to tie into the landscape, the venue and the season. Autumnal hues were woven through different styling aspects alongside a chic, contemporary palette of black and white.
We also wanted a great party, so great music, good food and drinks were a must.
As a former photographer, I felt passionate about having a beautiful documentation of such a special life moment. Since shooting weddings myself, I’ve also been obsessed with florals and their visual impact and versatility. You can have minimal styling, but if the flowers are on point, then you create a really impactful aesthetic.
I did, however, find the dress process challenging. I had exhausted a lot of the ready-to-wear options, finding it hard to land on a style that complimented my curves and that I felt confident and beautiful in. For that reason, I ended up going down the bespoke route. I saw a dress online and then found a bride on Instagram who had worn one similar. I messaged her to see if she’d consider selling the dress. She was so kind and shipped it all the way down to Christchurch for me to try. While it didn’t fit me, it gave me the confidence to go down a bespoke path with Vinka Design and create a similar style. Because my dress was so textured and intricate, I wanted the rest of the look to be relatively pared back and clean. I wore ivory pointed shoes with bow detailing, a sleek bun, and pearl clusters in my ears.
For the boys, we wanted a timeless and formal look, so Ben and his groomsmen wore black tuxedos.
PHOTOGRAPHER Danelle Bohane, @danellebohane / VIDEOGRAPHER Ana Galloway, @anagalloway / WEDDING DRESS & VEIL Bespoke Vinka Design, @vinkadesign / SUIT & SHOES Sergios, @sergios.menswear / SHIRT & BOWTIE Working Style, @workingstylenz / BRIDE’S SHOES Emmy London, @emmylondonofficial / EARRINGS Jasmin Sparrow, @jasminsparrowjewellery / FRAGRANCE Byredo La Tulipe, @officialbyredo / CAR Phil’s Rentals / CELEBRANT Ellita Marianne, @ellitamarianne / MAKEUP Kasia Stanicich, @kasiastanicichmakeup / HAIR Michele Anna, @michele.anna.hair / BRIDESMAID DRESSES Custom-made by Tory Aebli, @toryaeb / GROOMSMEN’S SUITS Sergios, @sergios.menswear / VENUE Dublin Bay, Wānaka, @dublinbayweddings / STYLING & ON THE DAY COORDINATION Alexandra Kate, @alexandrakatecreative / MARQUEE Truly Yours, @trulyyours_events / FLORA Little Botanica, @littlebotanica_ / CATERING & BEVERAGE Artisan Catering, @artisan_catering / CAKE Sophie Roseanna Cakes, @sophieroseannacakes / AUDIO GUEST BOOK The Photobooth NZ, @thephotobooth_nz / DJ Mountain Beats, @mountainbeatsdjco / MUSICIAN Tai Forrester, @taiforrestermusic / HIRE Truly Yours, @trulyyours_events; Major & Minor, @majorandminorhire; Wānaka Party Hire, @wanakamarqueepartyhire; Tble. Linen, @tble__linen__hire
