We wanted our wedding day to feel formal, elegant and emotional, and the following day to feel playful and energetic.
Andy —— I’m from Havelock North. I work in marketing for a family company, and I DJ and promote music events. Hazel is an architectural photographer, working with architects, interior designers and brands across NZ.
Hazel —— In 2010, I got viral meningitis which led to encephalitis. It changed my life and challenged me for many years. I was granted a wish through the Make A Wish Foundation to meet fashion designer Karen Walker who helped me establish The Photo Shop, a printing and framing store I started in 2014. I met Andy through my two older brothers who were playing music with him at the Rhythm & Vines festival in 2016. At the time, Andy was living in Melbourne and I was living in Ashburton running The Photo Shop and building my photography brand. We did long distance for 1.5 years.
Andy —— My impression of Hazel was that she was someone incredibly special. Her kind and loving nature, her recovery story, and her determination and drive for personal and professional success was admirable. It took me four years to propose but it was always a case of when’ not ‘if’. I decided to propose at Waimarama where we have a family bach. It was a picturesque Friday evening and we went to the beach for a swim and BBQ. Little did Hazel know I’d secretly packed the ring and was going to ask her to marry me. That made it even more special.
Hazel —— We envisioned a small private wedding, followed by a celebration with additional guests the following day. We wanted our wedding day to feel formal, elegant and emotional, and the following day to feel playful and energetic. Our reception was at Craggy Range as we both love the location, food, wine and staff. We had speeches, cutting the cake and throwing the bouquet, and music played a major part. We were lucky to have a bunch of DJs playing.
I was introduced to dress designer Lucy through a friend. Lucy had just moved back from London where she worked for Emilia Wickstead. I skipped the usual process of trying on multiple wedding dress styles and chose my dresses from Lucy’s sketches and designs. Being a visual person, I could see and understand what Lucy’s vision was. There were many trips to Auckland and countless conversations on the phone. Lucy also inspired my whole mood board, including shoes, makeup and hair.
Andy —— It was black dinner suits and bow ties for the groom and groomsmen. The following day, I wore a Working Style grey suit which was a little more relaxed but still slick.
PHOTOGRAPHER Jesse and Jessie, @jesseandjessieweddings CEREMONY LOCATION Pelling (Andy’s family home) SUITS Working Style, @workingstylenz BRIDE’S DRESSES Lucy Macdonald, @lula_mac RINGS Richard James Jeweller, @richardjames.jeweller SHOES Manolo Blahnik, @manoloblahnik MAKEUP Olivia Tiel, @oliviatiel.makeupartist HAIR Taryn Elliott, @hairwithtaryn BRIDESMAIDS’ ATTIRE Lucy Macdonald, @lula_mac CELEBRANT Helen O’Connor Orton, @_______word_______ RECEPTION LOCATION Craggy Range, @craggyrange ENTERTAINMENT High Kings, @highkingsdj; Frank Booker, @frankbooker HIRE Flock Events, @flockevents MARQUEE Flagship, @flagship_events FLORA Susanna Todd Flowers, @susanna_todd_flowers CATERING & BEVERAGES Ortons, @ortonshawkesbay CAKE Finch Bakery, @_finchbakery_ CARS 1982 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow 2 (Owned by Andy’s dad); 1964 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia (owned by Hazel’s dad) DAY 2 CELEBRATION LOCATION Private home
