Lakshmi + Nafis by Keryn Sweeney - Together Journal

The vision for our wedding was a relaxed event that felt like a party.

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

I’m Lakshmi, I work in digital marketing, and Nafis runs his own urban planning consultancy.

When we got engaged, we had already been together for 13 years, and while that might sound like a long time, it felt like the perfect moment for us. Before beginning our new chapter, we spent our time travelling, living overseas and going on food missions.

We’ve called Auckland’s city centre home for years. We love the vibe, and there’s always something happening just a short walk away.

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

We met all the way back in university and kept bumping into each other at gigs. At 19 and 21, we were just two kids who found a kindred spirit in each other. There was something that felt familiar and natural from the start.

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

I don’t think there was one big moment for us – it was all the little ones. We have had so many experiences growing up together, from the amazing to the mundane, which helped us to build a life with a solid foundation. Somewhere along the way, we just knew – this was it.

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

The vision for our wedding was a relaxed event that felt like a party. My brother-in-law Samir owns Gemmayze St on Karangahape Road, and we loved the idea of a celebration in the city. We wanted the day to be simple yet elevated and intentional.

I let the Gemmayze St interior lead the way and focused on adding natural and organic elements like flowers, candles, and marble. I created my own ikebana-style arrangements with wildflowers for the tables and used a screen of olive branches and Persian rugs to soften the space.

We decided to shape the day around what felt right for us. This included walking down the aisle together, opting out of a first dance, and both of us doing speeches.

The speeches ended up being one of the most special parts of the evening; there wasn’t a dry eye in the house from all the laughing and crying.

To keep the mood laid back and fun, we skipped the traditional sit-down dinner and instead had nine insane walk-and-fork dishes catered by one of our favourite restaurants, Satya Chai Lounge. That way, Samir could step out of the kitchen and join the celebration.

We also kept the good times rolling with an after party in a venue underneath the Arcade. We called it the rave cave, complete with lights, a smoke machine and a home video of memories projected on the wall.

With all our friends knowing each other so well, the whole day felt like a wedding in the middle of a house party — effortless, full of love, and exactly how we wanted to celebrate.

What styling and visual elements worked best for you?

Our venue set the vibe of the whole day. K’Road is our stomping ground, so it felt really special to have our wedding somewhere that’s so familiar to us. Gemmayze St sits inside the iconic St Kevin’s Arcade – a 100-year-old heritage building that’s full of character. The space is so beautiful we didn’t have to add too much by way of styling. The soaring windows, famous views of the Sky Tower, and rich interiors of Gemmayze St made for the perfect backdrop. The photo of us during our ceremony framed by handblown glass pendants is one of my favourites from the day.

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

I loved figuring out what would make the day feel most meaningful to us; it was like getting to know ourselves as a couple even more. Sharing our story with our celebrant, Manisha from Marrygold Weddings, was special. Our first meeting we ended up chatting for hours! It’s not often you get to sit down and talk through all the best parts of your relationship like that. Picking the food and doing the menu tasting was also so much fun.

Our main tip for couples starting their wedding journey is, rather than following a script, focus on the feeling you want from the day and let that guide you. Collect as much inspiration as possible. Read about other couples and make those Pinterest boards! You might surprise yourself with what you gravitate towards.

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

I knew I wanted henna to be the standout feature of my wedding look, so my dress needed to have a simple, classic feel. I landed on a backless silk piece by Natalie Rolt, which I then tailored to fit me perfectly.

I kept my jewellery minimal, pairing Gucci pearl earrings with sparkly Loeffler Randall bow slippers for some subtle Cinderella drama.

My bouquet of water lilies was something I considered as part of my outfit. The colour and sculptural shape added another layer to my look. It was really special for me to find them as the goddess Lakshmi is depicted sitting in a lotus flower.

When it came to Nafis’s outfit, the goal was chic yet comfortable. He opted out of a traditional suit and tie, instead going for a black-on-black blazer and t-shirt.

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?).

Besides the venue and food, photography was really important to me. I have been a fan of Keryn Sweeney’s work for a while so it was a dream to have her photograph our day. Keryn is the master of candid moments, and she beautifully captured the vibe. She was amazing at making sure we were comfortable and not doing anything that felt too over-produced.

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

I decided to do the floral arrangements myself and roped my sister and my mum into assembling them. It was stressful getting them all done in time and making sure they didn’t wilt – but I loved the process of going to the flower market with my sister and creating each arrangement. It was definitely a crazy decision. In hindsight, it was probably a good thing I had something to keep my hands busy the night before the wedding. I wouldn’t have known what to do with my nervous energy otherwise!