Johnny + Erin by Keryn Sweeney

Johnny let me sleep in and when I came downstairs, still half-asleep, I saw a garbage truck outside, picked up our son Mika and took him outside to watch. It wasn’t until the truck had passed that I looked down and noticed he was wearing a T-shirt saying “Mummy will you marry Daddy?”

Erin — We met through friends of friends. We kissed, and Johnny messaged a month or two later, but I wasn’t interested. A few months passed, he tried his luck again and I thought what do I have to lose? We went on one date and that turned into us spending every night together for a week. I can vividly remember smiling so hard it hurt. I had low expectations, but he surpassed any expectations I could have imagined.

That first year, when he wasn’t at work and I wasn’t at uni (studying fashion), we were inseparable. These days, Johnny and I spend most of our time socialising with friends and entertaining our two kids. This year, we’re spending five months in Florida while Johnny (who’s in the air force) works.

The proposal was the day after my 30th birthday. I was pregnant and we had a two-year-old. Johnny let me sleep in and when I came downstairs, still half-asleep, I saw a garbage truck outside, picked up our son Mika and took him outside to watch. It wasn’t until the truck had passed that I looked down and noticed he was wearing a T-shirt saying “Mummy will you marry Daddy?”

After getting engaged in 2020, the first year of Covid, my vision for the wedding was a FEEL GOOD SUMMER SOIREE! Buttery yellow was my main colour — I wanted to make everyone smile and feel good. Unfortunately, wet windy weather put paid to some of my outdoor visions and the yellow table cloths I ordered didn’t make it. Thankfully, Johnny had forced me to have a marquee as a wet weather option. And, while the table cloths ended up being white, flowers and fruits brought the yellow theme.

Planning a wedding was easy for me, but being the centre of attention isn’t something I’m used to. I prefer to be in the background. The week before the wedding, my anxiety kicked in and on the morning of the big day, I felt like I needed more control. Some extra time with my bridesmaids felt like the right thing, so I pulled the pin on my plan to have a first look at the venue with Johnny. It was the best decision! My bridesmaids and I had a glass of wine and lots of laughs, making me more relaxed.

Johnny got to see me for the first time as I walked down the aisle which made it even more special. My dress is a custom Kenny & Harlow. I’m a minimalist at heart and was drawn to the chic effortless style. Also, as someone who wears white daily, I was determined to have a champagne-colored wedding dress. Johnny wore a Ie Faitaga (formal Lava Lava) for the ceremony. It was important to us that he got married recognising his Samoan heritage and his father’s family who were unable to make it due to Covid. After dinner, I changed into a dreamy pink Paris Georgia outfit, which was perfect for dancing the night away.

PHOTOGRAPHER: Keryn Sweeney, @kerynsweeneyweddinngs / PRE-WEDDING PHOTO LOCATION: The Convent Hotel, @theconvent_hotel / GROOM’S AND GROOMSMEN’S SUITS: Oxford (Australian), @oxfordshop / GROOM’S SHIRT: Hugo Boss, @boss / BRIDE’SDRESS & VEIL: Kenny & Harlow / BRIDE’S EARRINGS: Minleralier, borrowed from a friend, @_museboutique / RINGS: Naveya & Sloane, @naveyaandsloanejewellery / SHOES: Maggie Marilyn, @maggiemarilyn / MAKEUP: Blair Gamblin, @beautybyblairgamblin / HAIR: Brooke Mann from Hare & Hunter, @hareandhunter / FRAGRANCE: YSL, @ysl / WEDDING LOCATION: Parent’s family property / BRIDE’S BAG: Isla Risa, @isla.risa / FLORA: Floral Stylist, @floralstylist / GROOM’S AND GROOMSMEN’S SHOES: The Iconic, @theiconicau / BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESSES: Maggie Marilyn, @maggiemarilyn; Paris Georgia, @paris__georgia; Layplan,@layplan / GROOMSMEN’S SHIRTS: Rembrandt, @rembrandt1946 / CELEBRANT: Jesse Liddicoat, a close friend / STYLING & HIRE: Flock Events, @flockevents / MARQUEE: Twelve Tables, @twelve_tables / CATERING: No Biggie Catering, @nobiggie.food / CAKE: Amy’s Secret Kitchen, @amyssecretkitchen / BRIDE’S RECEPTION OUTFIT: Paris Georgia, @paris__georgia / DJ: Mix it DJ, @mixitdj.co.nz