After a fun-filled eight months together, when Merusha left for London, she wrote me a letter expressing her hopes for the future together.
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
From the bride: I was born in South Africa and moved to Auckland as a child. Jared is from Hawke’s Bay. When we first met, I was a few years into my career as a Pharmacist and looking for a change of scene. Jared had just moved to Auckland and was starting his first job as an Account Manager in the Health Tech sector. Funnily enough, 6 years later, I now work in the Health Tech realm, too – it must have rubbed off!
We have a shared love for travel, all things food and the chaos brought by our one-year-old labradoodle, Bruno.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
Our first date was hot chocolate and dessert at Elisabeth in Kingsland.
From the groom: I thought Merusha was probably way too cool for a dork like me. I thought she was beautiful, witty and charming while we were getting to know each other. It turned out she was a bit of a dork, too.
When did you first realise that this was someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with?
From the bride: I first realised Jared was a keeper when he indulged my urge for a change of scene and joined me when I decided to move across the world after Jared had only just moved to Auckland! It showed commitment and an eagerness for adventure, which I continue to admire about him.
From the groom: After a fun-filled eight months together, when Merusha left for London, she wrote me a letter expressing her hopes for the future together. I knew wondering ‘what if’ for the rest of my life if I didn’t get myself on a plane wasn’t an option, so I got to work making sure that wasn’t the case!
Was there a proposal? Tell us a little about it…
We went on holiday to Matamanoa Island, Fiji, for Jared’s 30th Birthday. On one of the nights, Jared had organised a sunset beach proposal with the resort staff. After much motivation needed to get Merusha ready and moving and a couple of phone calls from reception to say that the tide was about to wash everything away, Jared proposed, and Merusha accepted, just before the coconuts and hibiscus arrangements floated off into the Pacific.
Tell us about the vision you had for the mood or style of your wedding.
We envisioned a blend of simplicity and modern elegance, complemented by the breathtaking setting of the Glasshouse venue. With its inherent beauty, minimal embellishment was needed – it effortlessly embodied our desired aesthetic. Lighting, greenery and florals played pivotal roles in setting a romantic ambience. A standout feature for us was the addition of chandeliers, seamlessly merging the outdoor and indoor feel. We wanted the overall mood to exude a sense of timeless romance with a modern twist, creating an atmosphere that lingered long after the celebration ended.
What was one element you were happy to splurge on?
We were happy to splurge on photography, food and drinks, recognising their significance in crafting lasting memories of our special day. Photography was a priority, ensuring we could cherish the moments for years to come. We invested in a great photographer, anticipating it to be a one-time indulgence.
Equally, food and drinks were paramount, as we wanted to ensure our loved ones were well ‘fed and watered’, ready to hit the dance floor!
Did anything happen on your wedding day that you laugh about in hindsight (even if it was stressful at the time)?
Merusha is the more organised of the two of us, considerably so, so it should have hardly been a surprise when Jared got caught up in the moment during cocktail hour and missed his cue to join Merusha and the photographers for the white dress reveal photoshoot before dinner – oops. While it did add a little pressure on everyone involved to pump out those Kodak moments, the stunning results gave nothing away! Jared always believed his best essays at uni were started the night before and submitted with seconds remaining the – rule endures. Merusha graciously accepts the right to laud the incident over Jared for all their days ahead.
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, is there a story?
From the bride: In celebrating my Indian heritage, I sought out an outfit that felt authentic yet still me! Breaking from tradition, I skipped the conventional red attire, opting instead for a forest green lehenga. Jared decided to branch out from the usual black or blue options for a perfectly matched green three-piece suit.
Post-ceremony, I changed into my dream white dress, blending the best of both worlds. To replace the traditional veil, I chose a bow hair clip instead. After an exhaustive search, I finally found the perfect bow complete with extra long tails, just as I had envisioned. A small detail that tied the whole outfit together.
CEREMONY & RECEPTION Glasshouse Morningside, Auckland, New Zealand, @glasshouse.nz FLORIST Ruth Fiona, @ruthfionafloral PHOTOGRAPHER Harshpreet Kaur at The HP Collective, @thehpcollective OFFICIANT Jérrard September at Married by Jerrard MAKEUP Sarika Patel, @ssarika HAIR Sherrie at Messy Bun, @messybun_nz BRIDAL DRESS Stella York, @missstellayork BRIDAL SHOP Bridal Brilliance INDIAN BRIDAL DRESS Sourced Locally TUX Tailor Made Suits GROOM’S ACCESSORIES The Tie Bar, @thetiebar BRIDE’S ACCESSORIES Bow: LinaKaroBridal on Etsy ENGAGEMENT RING The Sapphire Merchant, @thesapphiremerchant.co.nz WEDDING BANDS Stewart Dawson CAKE Bluebells Cakery, @bluebellscakery ENTERTAINMENT Flipside Collective via Find a Band
