Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love, what is unique about you and your relationship:
Marty and I met through friends when we were living and working in London.
We had a bit of a whirlwind summer together – trips to Europe, festivals, dates, and then were faced with some time apart when our visas didn’t align and I returned back to NZ. But the relationship survived this test, and after more than a year apart, we picked things straight back up where we left them when Marty moved home. We were engaged within a year! To us, communication has been and always will be key to our relationship. There’s nothing quite like long distance and endless Facetime calls to hone your communication as a couple! We’re both quite ambitious; we have our own personal goals and joint goals, we motivate each other and celebrate the successes together.
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:
We were incredibly lucky to be able to have our wedding in the garden at Marty’s parent’s place in Turitea, just out of Palmerston North. Louise and Martin Badenhorst have developed their garden (named ‘Hlomo Hlomo’) over the last 16 years which was recently awarded a 5 star rating by the New Zealand Gardens Trust. We love nature and native ferns, so we stuck with this as our theme, including beautiful fern bouquets and hanging ferns in the marquee. Where we held the reception was a tiered lawn, but we were able to position an open stretch marquee that felt so majestic and opened up to the native garden backdrop.
Tell us about your main outfits:
It took a bit of a hunt and lots of try-ons for me to find the right dress! I fell in love with this dress for the beautiful lace, with its fern pattern, coupled with the plain white crepe. The low back and style on the front were a winner! Marty and his groomsmen wore light tan suits which was perfect for the summery, garden wedding.
What were some of the most memorable/unique moments from the day: It made it so special to be able to have the wedding at Marty’s family residence and celebrate the garden. From getting ready to having the photos, ceremony and reception there, every moment felt like home.
Any advice for other couples planning to spend the rest of their lives together: I think it’s really important to understand what you want for your future – individually, as a couple and as a family. We had a lot of people who recommended doing the ‘Languages of Love’, ‘Questions to ask before getting Married’ or pre-marital counseling for example. Having these conversations before you tie the knot make sure you’re on the same page and you’re working towards the same goals, plus gives you the communication skills and understanding of each other to get over any bumps along the way.
Ceremony: Private residence in Palmerston North | Photographer: The Wolfpack | Entertainment: DJ 4 You | Hire: Party Up | Marquee: Stretch Tents | Flora: Floral Collaborative | Catering + Beverages: Boatshed Catering | Cake: Dins with Dins | Bride’s Dress: Lovers Society | Groom & Groomsmen Suits: Barkers | Ring/s: Meadowlark | Bride’s Shoes: Mi Piaci | Bride’s Earrings: Zoe & Morgan | Makeup and Hair: Sarah Beer | Fragrance: Dolce & Gabbana | Bridesmaid Dresses: Blak
