Kedric + Sonia by Ellie Kia - Together Journal

I envisioned a clean, modern style; minimalist white and neutral florals, soft greens, and subtle black accents for depth

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…

Kedric is a scientist, and I’m an engineer. Our minds are wired for curiosity, problem-solving, and the pursuit of precision. That’s probably why we connected so naturally. Personality-wise, we’re quite the opposite: he’s the talkative one, always ready with a story or a debate, while I tend to be more measured and observant. But maybe that contrast is exactly what draws us together. We also come from multicultural backgrounds that shape how we see the world. Kedric is Malaysian and has lived in Brisbane, studied in London, and now Auckland. I’m Korean, born in the UK and raised in New Zealand. Those layers of culture, language, and experience bring richness to our relationship, and we’re always learning from each other’s perspectives. It’s a constant exchange of stories, values, and little things we grew up with that make us who we are. We both come from powerlifting backgrounds, which laid the foundation for our shared discipline, focus, and love for pushing limits physically and mentally. Health and fitness are central to our lives, but they’re just the beginning. We share a deep appreciation for good food and love discovering hidden local gems whether we’re exploring our home base in Auckland or wandering through new streets in UK or Malaysia. Outside of that, we thrive in each other’s quiet company. We’re intentional about savouring the small things, having a good laugh and not taking life too seriously. That balance, between drive and stillness, is what keeps us grounded and growing.

How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?

We met around October 2020 at AUT Millennium, when I volunteered as a participant in a sports science study. Kedric, then a PhD student who had come to NZ for his studies, was assigned as my researcher. Over a period of eight weeks, probably upwards of 50 hours, we got to know each other well during the course of the study. It’s still an ongoing joke that he helped grow my biceps and is now collecting data on me for the rest of his life. My very first impression was that he wasn’t interested in me at all. Turns out he was just hungry; I’d only managed to make it in for a late first session at the lab. Once we started getting to know each other, I remember being struck not just by how knowledgeable and passionate he was about health and training, but also by the depth of his interests outside the lab. His curiosity about politics and philosophy immediately stood out, and our conversations often spiralled far beyond sets and reps. I also noticed the way he spoke about his family with pride, humour, and a real sense of being grounded and present. From early on, he felt familiar in the best wa

When did you first realise that this was someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with?

While getting to know each other, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that we were both raised in Christian families and shared the same core values. That alignment gave our connection a depth early on that I hadn’t expected. What stood out even more was discovering that we both held a similar view on the dynamics of marriage, something that’s rare in our generation. It mattered to me to find someone who saw value in the husband taking the lead in the household, not in a rigid or hierarchical way, but as someone who carries responsibility with humility and intention. Knowing that Kedric shared that mindset, while also valuing open dialogue and mutual decision-making, gave me a deep sense of peace about our future. This was someone I could trust to lead with wisdom, walk alongside with respect, and build a life with, rooted in shared purpose. I think the final piece was meeting his family. I feel so blessed to have in-laws that welcomed and accepted me with loving and open arms, treating me like their own daughter from the very beginning.

Tell us about the vision you had for the mood and style of your wedding. (theme, key styling elements, florals, colour palettes etc.).

For our NZ wedding, the obvious choice would’ve been an outdoor garden party vibe, but during the venue search, we shifted focus to something more central and accessible. That’s when we came across The Hotel Britomart. The Library Lounge felt instantly right: beautiful, intimate, and full of character with its exposed brick, warm brown tones, and that understated, homely charm. To complement the space, I envisioned a clean, modern style; minimalist white and neutral florals, soft greens, and subtle black accents for depth. It suited the city wedding aesthetic we ended up gravitating towards: refined but not rigid. To soften the structure and add some romance, we contrasted it all with draped fabrics, loose florals, and messy ribbons—nothing overly polished, just an organically undone look that felt effortless and personal. Despite the intimate setting of just 16 guests, I still wanted that classic cake-cutting moment. It’s not a wedding without a good cake! So, alongside Basque cheesecakes for dessert and cupcake favours, I made a tall dummy cake purely for display. The design was playful and personal, inspired by one of our favourite treats: soft serve ice cream. To elevate it, I added cascading black bows for a touch of understated luxury. It was a small detail, but it tied perfectly into the overall mood; elegant with a wink of fun.

What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).

The initial plan was to use a variety of white flowers, but I’m glad I committed to just calla lilies in the end. The venue already had rich textures of brick, wood, layered textiles so keeping the florals minimal helped refine the overall aesthetic. Using a single flower type throughout my bouquet and the décor brought a sense of calm cohesion and leaned into a more formal, sculptural look. To complement that simplicity, I chose clear glass for the candle holders and cake stand instead of silver. It kept the styling clean and understated, allowing the space itself to shine. The textured linen, scattered single-stem lilies, and tall dinner candles all came together exactly as I’d envisioned. Elegant, minimal, and quietly romantic. All in all, the Library Lounge had so much character that I didn’t want to add much. The ceremony space was left completely undecorated, it was perfect just as it was.

What did you enjoy most about the planning process and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?

I love planning events in general, so I genuinely enjoyed the entire wedding process. Naturally, I took on the planning and styling myself, with some help for setup and coordination on the day. Once all the vendors were confirmed, collaborating with them to bring my ideas to life was the most rewarding part. I shared mood boards to communicate the vision, and everyone contributed so thoughtfully. It was surreal watching it all come together. There were moments of doubt, especially with things I created myself like the cake and stationery design. But in the end, it all paid off, and I’m glad I trusted my instincts. The finished product felt entirely true to us. My main tip: don’t listen to everyone else. Take opinions lightly! This is your day, so do what feels right for you. If a live band or DJ doesn’t feel necessary, skip it. A curated playlist can do the job just fine. Focus on what matters to you. Also, Guests won’t remember every detail, but they will remember how they felt whether they were left waiting around with nothing to do between the ceremony and reception, or if they were stuck in the sun with no shaded areas. Pay close attention to the flow of the day and avoid long gaps in the schedule. A well-paced itinerary makes all the difference in creating a relaxed, enjoyable experience.

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, is there a story?

I went dress shopping as soon as we confirmed the venue. Once we knew where we were getting married, I could immediately picture the whole thing, outfits included. My preferences for fabric and the style of veil were already aligned with the overall mood, so the process was surprisingly straightforward. Natalie Rose Bridal was the first and only boutique I visited with Eva Lendel in mind. With their guidance, I found the dress on the fourth try. I felt incredibly lucky to find something that felt so right, so quickly, especially knowing I would’ve spiralled into indecision with too many options. Both the dress and veil were from sample sales, which I was so grateful for. The veil, in particular, was something I had a clear vision for, but it wasn’t a common style so stumbling across it felt like a small miracle. Kedric doesn’t usually splurge on himself, but we agreed that this was the perfect occasion for a custom look. He wore a soft beige three-piece suit with his name embroidered inside, understated yet elegant, which paired beautifully with the tone of the day. We added a touch of personality with a custom white check-textured jacquard shirt, finished with French cuffs and cufflinks. Subtle details that made the whole look feel refined but uniquely him.

What was one, or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).

We didn’t exactly hold back on spending for most aspects of the wedding, though we were mindful not to go overboard. Having a weekday wedding (a Wednesday, near the end of the season) worked massively in our favour. We were able to secure our first-choice vendors across the board without paying peak rates, which made the whole experience feel seamless and low-stress. That said, what meant the most to us wasn’t necessarily the most expensive part. I’m incredibly grateful we were able to have our church’s senior pastor officiate the ceremony. He didn’t charge us for his time, so we offered a night’s stay at the hotel for him and his wife as a small gesture of thanks. Having someone who’s journeyed with us in faith lead the ceremony made it deeply personal and spiritually significant, something money can’t really buy.

Did anything happen on your wedding day that you laugh about in hindsight (even if it was stressful at the time)?

The only hiccup on the day was the missing non-alcoholic bubbles I’d bought for pre-ceremony mimosas. We’d packed them carefully, brought them all the way to the hotel… and then completely forgot to unload them from the car. While we were off doing our couple shoot, I missed a string of calls from people trying to figure out where the drinks were. In the end, our amazing team managed to quietly sort it out without any fuss or disruption. It honestly wasn’t a big deal, but when I heard what happened, I felt terrible that people had to run around on our behalf. Looking back, it’s a small blip in an otherwise perfect day. Definitely not the worst thing that could happen so we were able to laugh it off pretty soon after.