Kirsty & Ben by Newfound

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love, what is unique about you and your relationship…

We met when we were 20, before the days of dating apps in a very sweaty nightclub. We have been inseparable ever since.

Eight years to the day after we officially started dating, we tied to the knot. We currently live in Singapore, Ben is in Finance and Kirsty is a Marketing Manager & Pilates teacher. We are a pretty laid back couple and spend whatever time we can at the beach. We love to travel, surf (Ben more than Kirsty) as well as hang out with friends and family. We have grown up together and navigated through different stages of our lives like university, careers and moving away from home. We travelled a lot when we were young, both together and apart and have had an amazing time along the way. Ben is a super relaxed, patient, people person; while Kirsty is an organised, sometimes OCD, extrovert so it balances out well (we think). We are both pretty loud, love a Friday beer and enjoy looking for the next adventure. 

Tell us about your special day, was there a specific theme or style? Tell us a little about the setting, the styling and some of your favourite details…

Someone told us you should decide on three things that are most important to you for your wedding day and then focus on those; which was great advice. For us the three things were: Making sure it was a relaxed vibe, having amazing food/drinks and great music. We got married in one of our favourite places, Matarangi in the Coromandel. Kirsty’s family has been living or visiting the coromandel for generations, Ben proposed on a nearby island and it is a place we have spent a lot of our time together, so it was a no brainer. Our style was to use the amazing setting as the hero and build a space the best we could around it. Our ceremony was on the beach and our guests either walked or were golf carted down to the sand. We got married in bare feet, in the hot afternoon sun with the ocean crashing in the background – it was pretty perfect. For the reception – Kirsty’s dad had to cut down half the garden so we could fit a marquee on the front lawn. After cocktails, we all sat under a clear marquee, took in the view, reminisced on our relationship so far and had a pretty good party. 

Tell us about your main outfits:

I (Kirsty) wore an amazing dress by Jane Hill bridal which I got from Sphere collective in Australia. It was an amazing, hand beaded, low back dress and fit me so well. The detail was stunning! As a bride, I found it frustrating to visit individual designers as I wanted to see dresses side by side to help make a decision. Once I tried it on, it was pretty obvious it was the one. Funnily enough, I later realised it happened to be the first dress I had saved on Instagram. Ben wore a sand coloured, linen suit and boat shoes – very fitting. Going with the beachy theme, we both wore hats from Lack of Colour (those pictures are our favourites!). 

What were some of the most memorable/unique moments from the day?

Kirsty: So many things it is hard to decide but my dad walking me down the aisle – we are both pretty awkward but you could tell how happy he was. Saying our vows and lastly, the moment during our first dance when everyone joined the dance floor jumping and screaming was amazing! We did not leave the dance floor until the very end of the night so I guess that’s saying something. Ben: Obviously seeing Kirsty for the first time on the day was my highlight. We had decided to skip a first look and go straight to the ceremony. It makes for a pretty nervous moment but seeing her walking out from the trees and over the sand is something I’ll remember for a long time. 

Any advice for other couples planning to spend the rest of their lives together?

Wedding wise: 1. Pick those three key things that matter to you and try not to sweat the others. 2. Whatever you think you will spend – double it, budget for it, and remember it is worth it. 3. If your budget allows get a good photographer and videographer, it is crazy how quickly you forget little things that happened on your special day and you will have those memories forever!

Relationship wise: 1. Communicate 2. Spend some time apart but even more together 3. Make sure you have fun – life is short! 

Photography: Newfound | Videography: Bad Panda Productions | Ceremony location: Matarangi Beach | Reception location: Brides family holiday home | Celebrant: Carey Frost | Bride’s gown: Jane Hill | Groom’s outfit: Barkers | Bride’s ring: Naveya and Sloane Jewellery | Groom’s ring: Michael Hill | Bride’s shoes: One Day Bridal and Alias Mae | Groom’s shoes: R.M.Williams | Earrings: One Day Bridal | Bride and Groom’s hats: Lack of Colour | Hair: Hare & Hunter | Makeup: Serenity Makeup | Fragrance: Flowerbomb by Viktor and Rolf| Bridesmaid’s outfits: Bec + Bridge | Groomsmen’s outfits: Barkers | Entertainment: Sweet Mix Kids | Styling, Hire and Flora: Two Foxes | Marquee: LL Hire | Catering and Beverages: Hereford Kitchen | Cake: Clare’s Cake Design | Signage: Georgia Simpson