Georgia: I guess you could say we’re each other’s number one fans. We’re an emergency nurse and geologist combo who enjoy sharing stories and meals with friends and family, and serving our community.
On the side, we’re dabblers in pottery, painting, singing and guitar playing. Our relationship emerged from friendship. We met at Gateway Church when I moved to Hamilton from Rotorua in 2013 and were just friends until the 2015-2016 New Year break, when we went on a hike with some friends in the Abel Tasman National Park. Our feelings began to bubble up and now here we are, married.
Ben: The proposal took place on a beautiful blue-sky day. Georgia had no idea what was coming, and even I was unsure whether or not it’d go ahead! Georgia had just finished a block of night shifts and can be somewhat unpredictable in the days that follow as she finds her groove in daylight hours again. However, she agreed to a weekend trip to Waihi Beach, where my folks have a bach. There’s a beautiful coastal walk there, so we grabbed some bakery goodies and ventured off. When we stopped for lunch, I took the opportunity to ask her to be my wife. We were so excited that, on the way back, we ran down to the beach, stripped down to our underwear and ran into the ocean!
Georgia: Our wedding day was the best day of our lives so far. We had a short engagement just shy of six months. Any longer would have been too much for us and any shorter would have been too stressful. We didn’t have a specific theme for our wedding. We just wanted it to reflect us and be somewhat timeless and whimsical. We were able to embellish so many aspects of it in unique ways, thanks to our friends and family’s contributions. Each small detail added to the day’s story and character.
I was sure Ben was going to be the crying groom and I’d be the composed one, but just before we walked down the aisle, my dad said, “You look beautiful” and started crying, and from then on, I was gone, crying and laughing all at once as I walked towards Ben. It was one of the best moments!
Other favourite moments for us both included partaking in communion and taking a moment to reflect on the ‘what and why’, and walking back down the aisle as Mr and Mrs Smith, as our friends and family cheered us on. It was the greatest day. We both felt like our best selves and the intimate hangs with our guests made us feel full to the brim.
To others planning a wedding, we’d say plan as much as you can, but accept that what will be will be and that the purpose of the day is to devote yourselves to one another. As much as you will have expectations, you just need to breathe, let it play out, and enjoy each and every moment.
Photography: Kirsty Peta Stone | Bride’s gown: Juliette Hogan Bridal | Bride’s earrings: Meadowlark | Groom’s attire, shoes & groomsmen’s attire: Barkers | Flora: Carmen Mills at Pretty Wild Floral | Ceremony venue: Capernwray Adventure Lodge | Reception venue: Cambridge Town Hall | Rings: Naveya & Sloane & Neil Thomas Showcase Jewellers | Bride’s shoes: Chaos & Harmony | Hair: Sophie Esselbrugge at Little Hair Co | Makeup: Gabriella Houghton | Bridesmaids’ dresses: Widdess | Bride’s veil: Borrowed from a friend | Glassware & cutlery hire: Phoenix Decoration Hire | Table hire: Carlton Party Hire | Dessert: Duck Island Ice Cream
