Our wish was to create the ambience of an Italian summer garden party, Tuscany style…
Dani: We’re both from Auckland’s North Shore and met when I was at uni. We couldn’t believe we’d never crossed paths before, as our schools were next door to each other, our family homes were in the same suburb and my best friend had known Corey since primary school. I work in marketing and Corey works in property development. I’ve also been doing makeup for weddings for 10 years so when it came to our wedding, I had a clear vision of what I wanted.
In 2020 we were supposed to go on our OE to Europe but when our travel plans were cancelled, we bought our first home and got our fur child, Billie, our flower girl and ring bearer. Our wedding was small with 70 guests and we got married on April Fool’s Day which suited us as Corey is the known dad joker in our friend circle. Our wish was to create the ambience of an Italian summer garden party, Tuscany style, and our venue emulated the exact feeling of an Italian summer home but overlooking Hot Water Beach. Being a makeup artist, hair and makeup was essential to me. I see the joy and confidence it brings and wanted my bridal party to experience this.
I had two makeup artists and a hairstylist who drove down from Auckland to Hot Water Beach. Even though I’m a professional makeup artist, I didn’t want to do my own makeup as I wanted to enjoy the morning and be present. We’re huge foodies and wanted to create a casual and comfortable dinner that was inclusive, intimate and fun, so we went for a family style where guests could serve themselves. I had two dresses – my wedding dress was from designer Eva Lendell, purchased from Natalie Rose Bridal in Parnell, and my party dress was from Fritz & Sarah also in Parnell.
I have an affinity with sleeves so not surprisingly, both dresses had detachable sleeves. One of my first wedding buys was these incredible Jimmy Choo Bow heels. I’d been obsessing over them for years after seeing Hailey Bieber wear them. I didn’t even have the venue locked in, but I couldn’t resist getting them. The tulle on the bows matched perfectly with the tulle sleeves on my second dress as if they were a set.
Corey wore a classic black tux from Crane Brothers and patent leather shoes from Hugo Boss. We were lucky to receive a magnum bottle of champagne as a gift which we saved for our wedding night. During the speeches, the cork popped and all 1.5L of champagne exploded, drenching me! Everyone paused to see if I would laugh or cry before the entire room ripped into laughter. I found it hilarious. I was very thankful for my makeup artist skills so that I could quickly touch up my makeup. It meant that my dress and hair change came much earlier than planned but it all worked out in the end.
CEREMONY Stone Terrace RECEPTION Hot Water Beach, Coromandel VIDEOGRAPHER NZ Wedding Films, @nzweddingfilms MAIN PHOTOGRAPHER Keryn Sweeney, @kerynsweeneyphotographer SECONDARY PHOTOGRAPHER Sapphire Studios, @sapphirestudios___ CELEBRANT Angela Sanders, @weddingswithangelasanders ENTERTAINMENT Corey’s uncle’s band called ‘Leonard’ HIRE: Love Hire Club, @loveclubhire MARQUEE Peninsula Party Hire, @peninsula_party_hire FLORA: Floral Centric, @floralcentric CATERING & BEVERAGE No Biggie Food, @nobiggie.food CAKE The Caker, @thecaker REGISTRY Honeymoon Fund STATIONERY Paper Darling, @paperdarlingnz LINENS & NAPKINS Tble Linen, @tble.linen.hire WEDDING DRESS Eva Lendel, @evalendel purchased from Natalie Rose Bridal, @natalierosebridal PARTY DRESS Fritz and Sarah, @fritzandsarah SUIT Crane Brothers, @cranebrothers GROOM’S SHOES Hugo Boss, @hugobossnz BRIDE’S SHOES Jimmy Choo, @jimmychoo RINGS The Diamond Shop, @thediamondshop BRIDE’S EARRINGS & FRAGRANCE Dior, @dior GROOM’S WATCH Rolex, @rolex DOG COLLAR AND RING HOLDER Etsy, @etsy MAKEUP Becca Stevens Makeup, @beccastevensmakeup HAIR Boutique Bride, @boutiquebride BRIDESMAID DRESSES Hansel and Gretel, @hansenandgretel GROOMSMEN SUITS Rembrandt, @rembrandt1946
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