I’ve always been drawn to a vintage, European feel.
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
I’m Leila, and together with my husband Frankie, we’re based in Auckland. I work in early childhood education, a role that has shaped how I see care, connection, and the importance of presence in everyday life. Alongside this, I’ve also had experience within the event planning industry and have had the opportunity to plan and coordinate several weddings over the years. That experience gave me a deep appreciation for thoughtful details, good communication, and how much emotion lives in the quiet moments of a wedding day.
Frankie works in finance and property, and he brings a calm, practical energy into everything we do. Where I tend to lead with feeling and intuition, he leads with structure and clarity, and together we balance each other beautifully.
What we love most are the simple things: sharing good food (often Cantonese and Sichuan at the same table), slow mornings at home, travelling together, and creating rituals that make everyday life feel intentional. For us, love has always lived in the small, consistent moments rather than grand gestures.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
We met through mutual friends, and our beginning was quiet and natural rather than dramatic. There wasn’t an instant “this is it” moment, but instead a gentle sense of ease that grew over time.
My first impression of Frankie was that he was calm, dependable, and quietly observant. He wasn’t loud or performative, but there was a steadiness about him that made me feel safe. As we spent more time together, his humour and thoughtfulness slowly revealed themselves. Frankie later told me that he thought I was warm, expressive, and full of energy — someone who brought colour and movement into his world.
Looking back, those first impressions were incredibly accurate. From the beginning, our relationship has been built on balance — one of us grounding the other, one of us encouraging the other to dream a little bigger. That dynamic has stayed with us ever since and continues to shape how we move through life together.
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).
I’ve always been drawn to a vintage, European feel, especially venues with character and a sense of history. Mantells Mt Eden was actually the very first venue I fell in love with back when I was working as a wedding planner. Compared to many venues in New Zealand, it feels truly different, tucked away in central Auckland, yet so beautiful and intimate.
What worked best for me was letting the venue speak for itself. Mantells doesn’t need heavy styling; even with minimal decoration, it already carries its own charm and atmosphere. I wanted to respect that natural beauty rather than overpower it.
For the colour palette, I intentionally separated the ceremony and the reception. The ceremony embraced a soft garden tone, gentle greens paired with blush and pink florals, creating a romantic, airy daytime feeling. As the day transitioned into evening, the reception shifted into a richer mood with burgundy and deep green.
This colour choice was very personal. Red holds a strong cultural meaning in Chinese traditions, symbolising joy, celebration, and happiness. That’s why I chose red anthurium as a key floral element for the evening. Its meaning, deep love, passion, admiration, and sensuality, felt like the perfect reflection of both our culture and our story, tying emotion, symbolism, and visual impact together in a way that felt timeless and true to us.
What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?
What I enjoyed most during the planning process was personally hand-sewing the wedding favours for our guests. Around 40% of our guests travelled from China and Australia, so it felt important to pour extra care and gratitude into something tangible they could take home. Those small handmade pieces weren’t just favours — they were a quiet thank-you for the effort, distance, and love that brought everyone together. Symbolically, they also represented our relationship: starting from a simple piece of fabric, stitched slowly and intentionally, one thread at a time, connecting love into something lasting.
Having a background in wedding planning helped me understand the importance of prioritisation. My biggest tip is to identify your non-negotiables early and allow flexibility everywhere else. Not everything needs to be perfect or expensive, but the things you truly care about deserve time, attention, and intention.
Another key piece of advice is to choose vendors you genuinely trust. When you feel supported, the planning process becomes lighter, calmer, and far more enjoyable. Wedding planning can be emotional, but when it truly reflects who you are as a couple, it becomes deeply meaningful rather than overwhelming.
Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?
We feel incredibly grateful for the team of vendors who supported us throughout the journey. Every supplier we worked with was thoughtful, professional, and genuinely invested in bringing our vision to life; it truly felt like a collaborative process rather than a transaction.
Our photographer Kokomofilm was a real standout. From the very beginning, she made us feel completely at ease, allowing moments to unfold naturally instead of feeling staged or performative. That sense of trust made a huge difference on the day, letting us be fully present and enjoy each moment as it happened. She also designed my veil, carefully crafting it panel by panel to suit my face shape and wedding dress. Having a veil custom-made just for me elevated the entire look and brought a beautiful vintage finish to the styling.
I also have to make a special mention of Isadia Floral, a florist I had admired for a long time. I felt completely confident giving them creative freedom. While some flowers weren’t available due to seasonal limitations, they always managed to turn challenges into something even more beautiful, delivering florals that exceeded expectations and brought so much emotion and depth to the day.
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?
I truly feel that every outfit I wore had its own story and beauty. For our Chinese tea ceremony, I chose a backless red dress from BEC + Bridge. The clean, minimal silhouette paired with the traditional red felt like a modern interpretation of Chinese celebration, simple, confident, and meaningful.
My wedding gown was from Hera Couture, the Adrian dress. The base was a sleek, modern slim gown, which I styled with a dramatic long-sleeve bubble jacket. That contrast gave strong 1980s vintage bridal energy, perfectly aligning with my love for timeless European silhouettes. For the evening reception, I removed the jacket and added a long silk scarf, transforming the look into something softer, more fluid, and very current.
For our first dance, I changed into the purple Pandorea Layered Maxi Dress from Aje. As Frankie and I danced, the layers floated around me; it genuinely felt like being a little fairy in motion.
Frankie kept things classic with a black tuxedo and glossy black patent shoes, timeless, elegant, and effortlessly sharp.
Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.
Our engagement and wedding rings are simple, classic and timeless. We were drawn to designs that felt classic and wearable, pieces that could become part of our everyday lives rather than something reserved for special occasions.
To us, the rings symbolise continuity rather than perfection. They’re quiet reminders of commitment, trust, and choosing each other day after day. We loved the idea that they would age with us, collecting meaning over time rather than being defined by a single moment.
Their simplicity feels very reflective of our relationship, understated, intentional, and grounded in real life.
What were 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?).
Photography and the venue were our top priorities. We knew that long after the day had passed, photographs would be how we revisited those memories. Investing in a photographer we trusted allowed us to relax and be fully present, knowing our story was being captured with care.
The venue was equally important, as it set the tone for the entire celebration. We wanted a space that felt intimate, welcoming, and timeless without needing excessive styling. Choosing a venue that already embodied those qualities meant we could focus on atmosphere rather than decoration.
Spending more on these elements gave us peace of mind and allowed us to truly enjoy the day.
Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?
One of my most treasured moments actually happened after the wedding had ended. Frankie and I returned to our now-empty house, sat on the floor, and shared a takeaway together. Surrounded by boxes and quiet, it felt like a gentle farewell to one chapter of our lives and the calm beginning of another. There was something deeply grounding about that stillness after such a full, emotional day.
During the wedding itself, hearing each other’s vows is the moment that stands out the most. There was laughter, tears, and an overwhelming sense of presence. Everything else seemed to fade away: the guests, the setting, the schedule, and it was just the two of us, standing there and choosing each other with intention.
A small but unforgettable surprise came right after Frankie finished his vows, when he handed me a lotto ticket during the ceremony. It was unexpected, playful, and so him, a lighthearted gesture that instantly broke the emotion and filled the moment with laughter.
Looking back, it’s those quiet, unplanned moments, both big and small, that I know I’ll carry with me forever.
What does being married mean to you, and are there any special rituals you have that you would like to share?
Being married means choosing each other in the everyday moments, not just during milestones. It’s about patience, humour, and growing together while allowing space for individuality.
We don’t have grand rituals, but we cherish simple ones, sharing meals, checking in with each other at the end of the day, and making time to talk, even when life feels busy. Those small, consistent habits have become the foundation of our relationship.
To me, marriage isn’t about perfection or performance. It’s about building a life that feels safe, warm, and deeply reassuring, a partnership rooted in respect, trust, and quiet love.
LOCATION Mantells, Mt Eden, @mantells_ BRIDE Leila, @lzq_leila GROOM Frankie, @frankiesoup PHOTOGRAPHER KokomoFilm, @kokomofilm VIDEOGRAPHER Filmed by two of our guests — our friend Anco and groomsman, Lang CONTENT CREATOR, STYLIST & PLANNER By the bride FLORIST Isadia, @isadiafloral CELEBRANT Jon Pickford, @jon_pickford_celebrant HIRE Chairs & props – The Pretty Prop Shop, @theprettypropshop; Tablecloth & napkins – Insphire, @insphirenz CAKE Bluebells Cakery, @bluebellscakery STATIONERY & SIGNAGE By the bride RINGS Custom Made in China BRIDE’S DRESSES Chinese Tea Ceremony – Bec + Bridge, @becandbridge; Ceremony & Reception – Hera Couture, @heracouture; First Dance – Aje, @_aje_ BRIDE’S SHOES Jimmy Choo, @jimmychoo BRIDE’S ACCESSORIES Ted Baker, @tedbaker; NAJO, @najojewellery, HAIR & MAKEUP Clayton 2 Makeup, @clayton2makeup BRIDE’S FRAGRANCE Gabrielle – Chanel, @chanelofficial GROOM’S SUIT AND SHOES Crane Brothers, @cranebrothers GROOM’S ACCESSORIES Hugo Boss, @boss HAIR & MAKEUP Clayton 2 Makeup, @clayton2makeup GROOM’S FRAGRANCE Dior Sauvage, @dior BRIDAL PARTY OUTFIT Runaway The Label, @runawaythelabel WEDDING FAVOURS Made by the bride
