We wanted it to feel close to nature.
Hettie —— Hugo and I are both from Wellington. We lived in London for four and six years respectively, but returned to New Zealand last year to be closer to family (and to get married). We met in Wellington through mutual friends when I was in my final year of university and Hugo was in his first year of work. We met on the balcony at a student bar which was having a moment in the summer of 2015/16.
Hugo —— My first impression of Hettie was of a kind soul with a great sense of humour (and spectacular good looks!) Hettie —— When we met I was about to leave for London at the end of the year and thought to myself – what a shame this isn’t going to be the person I’ll end up with.
Little did I know. Hugo proposed to me in the Lake District in the UK after we hiked the tallest mountain in England, Scafell Pike. It poured with rain the entire time and we were both in soaking wet clothing and freezing cold, but in the most beautiful setting in front of a lake.
Hugo —— It was amazing, Hettie totally freaked out. We had to go find a cup of tea to calm down. I had the ring made by a jeweller in London without Hettie knowing so it was a big surprise when the proposal came. I’d wanted to propose at the top of Scafell Pike but it was pouring with rain, so it ended up being beside a lake at the foot of the mountain.
Hettie —— We held the wedding at my parent’s property just outside Martinborough. The wedding was spread over four areas on the property – the ceremony in the flower garden, canapés on the front lawn around the large tree, dinner in the tree-lined path and dancing in a marquee at the wool shades. We wanted it to feel close to nature.
We also knew we wanted to have one long table for dinner down a line of trees although this could only happen if we had good weather conditions. Fortunately there was no rain until suddenly it started to pour at 1.30am, bang on when the wedding was scheduled to finish and the buses were leaving. It was perfect. The tablecloths and napkins were all designed to match the family garden and guests had no idea that dinner was hidden behind the gate until it was opened and then were led in. The massive bar was custom-made to fit perfectly under the front garden tree.
My dress was JACQUEMUS, a French designer – it wasn’t sold as part of a bridal collection but I’d never seen anything like it and knew as soon as I saw it that it was the perfect dress. It was the only dress I tried on. Over the course of the night the train picked up grass and bits of forest but I loved it… it helped the wedding feel even closer to nature!
PHOTOGRAPHER Sapphire Studios, @sapphirestudios___ LOCATION Old Tablelands, Martinborough GROOM’S SUIT Crane Brothers, @cranebrothers GROOM’S SHOES Working Style, @workingstylenz BRIDE’S DRESS Jacquemus, @jacquemus BRIDE’S SHOES Jimmy Choo, @jimmychoo MAKEUP Kate Keogh HAIR Courtney Burn ENGAGEMENT RING Taylor & Hart, @taylorandhart BRIDE’S WEDDING RING Great-grandmother’s wedding band GROOM’S WEDDING RING Partridge Jewellers, @partridgejewellers JEWELLERY Van Cleef & Arpels, @vancleefarpels BRIDE’S PARTY OUTFIT & SHOES Custom Miu Miu, @miumiu GROOMSMEN’S SUITS Beggars Run, @beggarsrun VIDEOGRAPHER Bad Panda, @badpandaproductions VISUALS, PLANNING & STYLING Claire Donaldson Styling, @onelovelydaystyling FLORIST Michele Coomey Floral, @michelecoomeyfloral; Horrobin and Hodge Events, @horrobinandhodgeevents OFFICIANT Hugh Morrison (MC – Hettie’s brother) CELEBRANT Susie Dobson (Hugo’s sister) ENTERTAINMENT Sweet Mix Kids, @sweetmixkids HIRE Royal Laboratorie, @royallaboratorie; Flock Events, @flockevents MARQUEE Flagship CATERING The Great Catering Company, @greatcatering STATIONERY & SIGNAGE Kathryn Green, @kathryngreen_illustration LIGHTING Grouse Lighting Aotearoa, @grouselightingaotearoa CUSTOM BAR & GATE EMBLEM DESIGN Alex Morrison (Hettie’s sister)
