Chloe + Dayton by Patterson Image - Together Journal

We just wanted a day that felt unmistakably us, something fun, heartfelt, and filled with special creative touches.

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love..

Dayton studied marketing and I’m currently studying Psychology. We’re both very creative people, I’ve previously worked in photography, graphic design and content creation and Dayton worked in fashion for 4years. We both grew up in Auckland, so nothing beats a coffee date at Chur Bae or a spontaneous roadie out to Piha for the day. Life’s been looking a little different lately. We moved across the ditch to the Gold Coast just a few days after our wedding. We’ve been soaking up the sun, making the most of the warmer weather here.

How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?

Dayton and I met through some mutual friends. I was actually the one who walked up and started the conversation, but only because my friend Toni told me he thought I was pretty! So, there’s still a bit of friendly debate about who really made the first move. What stood out right away was our shared sense of humour. We could laugh about literally anything. We’d spend hours on the phone just giggling like little kids, and honestly, at 18 and 19, we kind of were. Dayton started taking me out for lunch and dropping off little gifts at work. We were hanging out multiple times a week “just as friends,” but I vividly remember driving to one of our hangouts and thinking, I can’t just be friends with this guy. In classic Dayton fashion, he went all out. I got my nails done, then dinner, bowling and ice cream. We sat in the car chatting until the early hours, and I finally blurted out that I liked him. It’s been us ever since.

When did you first realise that this was someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with?

Honestly, on our second date. Dayton was already talking about our future together, and he’d always said that as soon as we started dating, he knew I would be his wife. Even though we were young, there was never any doubt in my mind that he was the one. Life with him feels easy; everything is brighter and more fun, and he brings out the best in me. A few years in, Dayton texted me to meet him to watch the sunset after a rough day. I remember thinking how lucky I was to have him and how grateful I felt to be doing life together. Later that night, we went on a cheeky Macca’s run, and mid-drive-through, I just looked at him and said, “I’m ready to get married.” Dayton couldn’t believe I’d dropped that in a McDonald’s. Things got a bit more glamorous when, in December 2023, he proposed at the top of the Empire State Building!

Tell us about the vision you had for the mood and style of your wedding. (theme, key styling elements, florals, colour palettes etc.).

Like little kids, Dayton and I had always dreamed about our wedding day. But at the core of it all, we just wanted a day that felt unmistakably us, something fun, heartfelt, and filled with special creative touches. We dreamed of an Italian, vintage-inspired Lake Como wedding, and while the actual Lake Como wasn’t on the cards, we set our sights on lakes in New Zealand. Once we landed on Queenstown, everything else flowed from there. We wanted the day to feel warm and personal, surrounded by our favourite people. Since we were moving overseas shortly after, it also doubled as our unofficial going-away party, so making it intimate, fun, and full of love was super important to us. Styling-wise, I leaned into vintage and timeless elements. I thrifted many details myself. It made the whole process feel even more meaningful. Dayton and I made regular stops at flea markets and op shops with the bridesmaids in tow. It became part of the fun in the lead-up. For florals, I was obsessed with calla lilies, hydrangeas, roses, and orchids, and we managed to work all of those in! I was drawn to grounded arrangements with a slightly unconventional feel while keeping things classic. Our colour palette was a dreamy mix of soft green, creamy white, and pops of yellow, with yellow bridesmaids’ dresses and green accents throughout our stationery.

What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).

There were so many personal touches woven throughout our day that made it feel like us. I hand-wrote and drew the details on our signage, invitations, name tags, menus, seating chart, and run sheet. Instead of traditional table numbers, I illustrated signs inspired by places special to us, like New York, our favourite local cafe and restaurant, Queenstown (our first trip together), and the Gold Coast, our new home. Dayton is Samoan and Māori, so it was important to us to incorporate te reo into our design. One of our best decisions was choosing Stoneridge in Queenstown as our venue. The setting was unbelievably romantic, and we both felt so overwhelmed with gratitude that we were able to get married in such a beautiful place. The natural scenery meant we didn’t need to do too much extra. It really spoke for itself. Our florals were white and soft with a slightly whimsical feel. I loved my bouquet, and our florist pulled flowers from it for each bridesmaid’s bouquet. We repurposed the ceremony florals for our tables, which worked so well and was helpful for the budget! All the vintage details we thrifted, from candlestick holders to lace and satin tablecloths, brought this lovely layered texture to the space. We also had draping, a floral chandelier, and fairy lights throughout the reception, softening the venue and making it feel warm and magical. Our venue also helped bring it all together; they provided the furniture, cutlery, and linens and helped organize the lighting and floral installations. Having such a clear vision from the start made it easy to bring every element together in a way that felt cohesive, romantic, and, most importantly, like us.

What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?

As someone who’s dreamed about their wedding day for as long as I can remember, I truly loved every part of the planning process. I initially thought Dayton might not have much to say, but he was so involved. It was so fun creating something so beautiful together. What we enjoyed most was the creativity and collaboration, pouring love into the little things and doing it together. Some of my favourite parts were designing, handwriting and printing our invitations (with the help of my beautiful friend Zoe), painting our signage, and sourcing items at the thrift store. It was such a fun way to bring our personalities into the day. The wedding planning process can be overwhelming, so focus on what you genuinely love because there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to weddings. Let your day reflect who you are as a couple. There are so many different ways you can do things, embrace that! My creative brain was spinning with ideas, and Dayton was such a grounding force, he helped me focus and make decisions we both felt excited about. Remember, it’s meant to be the absolute best day of your life, so anything that’s causing you or might cause stress on the day doesn’t belong. Hand off as much responsibility as possible so that all you need to focus on is enjoying the moment and spending time with your partner, family, and friends. Some of the most special moments were working together to bring everything to life. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There were definitely times I tried to do everything myself, but having Dayton, my beautiful bridesmaids, and our loved ones close by made all the difference.

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, is there a story?

Although my mum and I visited what felt like every bridal boutique in Auckland. I didn’t find a dress I loved. My mum’s wedding dress, made from beautiful dupion silk, inspired me. I adored how effortlessly vintage it looked and felt. It definitely influenced what I was drawn to. Eventually, I reached out to Brooke Tyson, who had always been my dream wedding dress designer. Thankfully, she was able to create something absolutely beautiful within budget. I loved the whole process of building the dress together and making tweaks along the way. Brooke is honestly the best. (We even accidentally went to a Travis Scott concert together, which still makes me laugh!) I looked forward to every fitting, and I’m genuinely sad I won’t be popping in for more. Midway through the year, we decided to add a silk scarf to the look. I loved the idea of having a second outfit for the reception, but I was so in love with my dress that I couldn’t imagine changing out of it, so the scarf became the perfect addition. Dayton is Samoan and Māori, and to honour his culture, which is such a massive part of his life, I performed a traditional Samoan Siva instead of a first dance. His mum had brought special accessories for us to wear, which we put on beforehand, and it was such a beautiful moment. Being able to perform for our friends and family and seeing how proud our whānau were, especially Dayton’s dad, was the highlight of the day. Hope captured some stunning photos of us before the Siva; they’re some of my absolute favourites. Dayton went suit shopping with all his groomsmen, which ended up being such a special moment for him. He tried on quite a few classic suits at first but didn’t feel like they reflected his style. Eventually, he found the perfect balance: a modern, cream-coloured blazer from Rembrandt. The look felt polished but still him: stylish and something a little different.

What was one, or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?)

The most important things to us were having all of our favourite people there, capturing the day beautifully, and our outfits! Choosing to have a wedding away from home can be tough. But in the end, it made everything feel like one big holiday with our closest people. We went swimming at Bob’s Cove with the bridal party a few days before, caught up with different groups each night, and even ended up having an impromptu rehearsal dinner the night before at our accommodation. Prioritizing that time with our family and friends was more meaningful to us than anything else, and I’m so glad we made space for it. When it came to photography, we knew we wanted someone who could capture the day beautifully. Hope Patterson went above and beyond, capturing the day on 8mm, digital, film, and behind-the-scenes phone footage. Hope felt like one of my besties and made Dayton and I feel so at ease! It meant we could chat and spend quality time together while taking photos. Zoe and my brother also filmed the day on camcorder, so now we have such special footage to look back on and show the kids one day.

Did anything happen on your wedding day that you laugh about in hindsight (even if it was stressful at the time)?

We did have a little last-minute hiccup a few days before. We weren’t allowed to get candle wax on the tablecloths, so we made a spontaneous run to Kmart and picked up some lace doilies to protect them. It was a happy accident because they added the cutest vintage touch that tied everything together. Thankfully, nothing major went wrong on the day, but there was a little miscommunication between the venue and the DJ. He ended up setting up in the wrong corner. Luckily, he was so lovely about it. With the help of our incredible guests, we managed to get everything sorted quickly. Even though it was a little stressful in the moment, it reminded us just how lucky we are to be surrounded by such amazing people. Everyone jumped in to help, and it just added to the magic of the day.