We realised this was it on our third date – after a day at the beach we hiked to the lighthouse at sunset and knew this was something very special.
Courtney: We’ve lived in New York for five years now but I’m from outside Christchurch in New Zealand and Jonathan is from Gladstone in Australia and we love to travel back to both countries each year. I’m in the pharmaceutical industry and Jonathan works in sustainability strategy. We love eating, drinking, adventuring and filling life with fun. We met on a dating app while living not far from each other in Sydney. We realised this was it on our third date – after a day at the beach we hiked to the lighthouse at sunset and knew this was something very special. That was confirmed on our seventh date which happened to be a week in Hawaii while Jonathan was working nights on US east coast hours.
Hawaii was the halfway point after Jonathan got sent away on a temporary assignment to New York for almost six months. We moved in together after about 6 months, then moved across the world together. After a year we came back to NZ for a friend’s wedding. Jonathan made up a story of why we should go back to Sydney for NYE for less than 24 hours on our way home to New York, even though neither of us is big on celebrating NYE. He then drove us to the beach where we first fell in love where he proposed.
Jonathan: We both grew up in small towns and have both always been surrounded by the beauty of the natural environment. We fell in love with Waiheke Island’s stunning scenery, especially Waikopou. We wanted our wedding to reflect our love of nature, food, music, friends and sustainability. All of the florals & tablescapes were foraged. My sister gave us one piece of advice when we were planning the wedding, to make sure we get an amazing photographer. We were so lucky to find Danelle.
Courtney: Our wedding day went without a hitch, but the night at 10 pm, we were sitting on the couch across from each other still, writing our vows! We cracked open a special bottle of Barolo, Jonathan’s favourite wine, which was the same vintage as he, 1987, But it turned out to be vinegar – he has aged better than the wine at least!
Six months before the wedding, we were on holiday in Barcelona, lying by the hotel pool, cocktail in hand, browsing for dresses on my phone. I found the Oscar de la Renta dress, and there was only one left in what I hoped was my size – I showed Jonathan, and before we had finished our cocktails, the wedding dress shopping was done, and not a single other dress was even considered. Jonathan has always loved the Australian tailor P Johnson but had never splurged on getting a full suit made from them (even though he had others made for me). We went and saw Tyler in the NY showroom and had an amazing time choosing every aspect of the outfit.
PHOTOGRAPHER Danelle Bohane, @danellebohane LOCATION Waikopou Estate ENTERTAINMENT Sam Jones, @goldmansax_; Taylor Roche and Manoah Pickering, @taylorrochemusic PLANNING & STYLING Michelle Gras at Waiheke Island Weddings and Events, @waihekeislandweddings FLORA Roz Sainsbury @magnoliaroz CATERING & BEVERAGES Anthony McNamara from Luxe Waiheke GIFTING Charity donations through Zola, @zola STATIONERY Paper Darling, @paperdarlingnz DRESS Oscar de la Renta, @oscardelarenta SUIT P Johnson, @pjohnsontailors WEDDING BANDS Cartier, @cartier ENGAGEMENT RING Sarah and Sebastian, @sarahandsebastian COURTNEY’S SHOES Saint Laurent, @ysl JONATHAN’S SHOES Church’s, @churchs HANDMADE BUTTERFLY EARRINGS James Banks Design, @jamesbanksdesign HANDMADE CUSTOM BRACELET Filigree, @filigreefinejewels MAKEUP & HAIR Peach Club, @thepeach_club
