Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love, what is unique about you and your relationship:
Brad and I had known each other for years before we actually got together. We went to the same schools and both grew up riding horses.
It wasn’t until some years later that we met again through our love for fitness and the gym. I am a fulltime hairstylist and Brad is an officer in the New Zealand Police. Brad works long hours and does shift work so when we have time off together we really value it. I think what makes us special is that we really are each other’s best friend and couldn’t imagine life without one another.
Having adventures and making new memories is our favourite, whether it be a glamping getaway, a hike somewhere in the outdoors or trying a new café. Our adventures are even better when its somewhere that our two dogs Jake and Ella can also come with us.
Tell us about your special day, was there a specific theme or style? Tell us a little about the setting, the styling and some of your favourite details:
Our special day was even more than we could have hoped for. We didn’t really start out with a specific theme in mind. Our venue Kauri Bay Boomrock was so beautiful already that we decided to keep it simple and timeless. What we wanted most was just a really beautiful day where our family and friends had fun celebrating us. Being the middle of summer – and it was a very dry summer – it made for gorgeous photos with the warm brown landscape. We got a very unique look on the day as opposed to the greenery that is normally spread across that area in Clevedon. We also absolutely loved our flowers which tied in with that same background look with the dusty sage greenery accompanied by the stand-out of our beautiful white flowers.
Tell us about your main outfits:
My dress was definitely one of my favourite details of the day. The simple yet beautiful style kept with the look of timelessness that I was really hoping for. The lovely shape of the low back fit right into the warm summer’s day we had. Again with Brad, we kept it very simple and also really comfortable which he was all about. So he decided to go for chinos instead of dress pants which was a big yes for him. I also loved the colour of his jacket. Having the jacket for the ceremony and photos kept him dressy and stood out slightly from his Groomsman that only wore shirts with their bow ties.
What were some of the most memorable/unique moments from the day?
We definitely had a few special and unique moments from the day. One of our favourites would be our first dance. Brads sister Amy is a dancer who choreographed us the most amazing routine to our chosen song – “Love Me Like You Do” by Ellie Goulding. We had so much fun learning and practising the dance together and were so stoked and proud of each other when we pulled it off on the night. Another moment that was a big surprise to us was the opening of our MC’s speech. Our MC was a long-time friend of ours who wanted to go beyond just the usual MC role. So knowing Brad is a long time sporting fan she enlisted the help of sporting stars Sonny Bill Williams, Christian Cullen, Reuben Wiki and Steve Hansen to say a few words on video for us. They definitely provided us with some laughs! Lastly which would have to be the best memory and how we will remember our wedding was the dance floor nearing the end of the night. Our band Mixtape Brothers were amazing and really had the best vibe going. Looking around us we had every single guest dancing, smiling and really enjoying themselves which was the best feeling that we could have asked for.
Any advice for other couples planning to spend the rest of their lives together?
Always remember to have fun! Don’t get caught up in the same routines of daily life. Always plan and make time for the things you enjoy doing together. Have trips or adventures to look forward too. Going on adventures and exploring new places is our favourite thing to do whether it’s overseas or just finding that little spot in your own backyard you haven’t been to.
Ceremony + Reception location: Kauri Bay Boomrock | Photographer: David Le Photographer | Celebrant: Martin Mackenzie (family friend) | Entertainment: Mixtape Brothers & Matt Samuels | Flora: Lila Rose Floral | Catering + Beverages: Mister Gelato | Cake: Rachel Wilcox (family friend) | Bride’s Gown: Made with Love Bridal | Groom’s Suit: Rodd & Gunn (Jacket) / Hallenstein Brothers (chinos) | Rings: Paul Taylor Jewellers | Bride’s shoes:- Novo Shoes Groom’s shoes: Merchant 1948 | Other jewellery: Daniel Wellington (bracelet), Made with Love Bridal (earrings) | Makeup: Shannon Mitchell | Hair: Ashlee | Fragrance: Tiffany & Co. (hers) Sauvage (his) | Bridesmaids: The Stock Room | Groomsmen: Hallenstein Brothers
