The stunning wedding of Lily + Dylan by Kristy Peta Stone as featured in Issue 19.
We met when I was six or seven. Dylan is my brother’s best mate. They played on the same football team and ended up at the same intermediate and high school. I was the younger sister who always had a crush on him.
Dylan now works for Rocket Lab as a lead composite technician in charge of building the rockets. I’m an interior designer, with my own business, Ewing & Co. Interior Design. Prior to this, I was a ballet dancer. I now coach young dancers preparing for full time training. It’s incredibly rewarding. We love the outdoors. Dylan is fond of surfing, golfing, skateboarding, and running. We have a three-year-old Italian greyhound, Margot. The queen of the household!
In 2014, Dylan was working with Emirates Team New Zealand and had returned from an exhausting loss at the America’s Cup in San Francisco. I was back in New Zealand, after dancing overseas with the Houston Ballet Company. We bumped into each other over summer and the rest is history. On June 10, 2018, we drove out to Piha beach in west Auckland, and walked up to the Te Waha Point lookout. We had Margot with us. She hates the cold, so wasn’t happy about being dragged up the hill. Then Dylan got down on one knee and proposed! I can’t recall much that was said, but we both had a cry, then some lovely tourists offered to take a photo for us. We both grew up out west and Piha is home to us. It was perfectly simple in every way.
We had recently attended a number of summer weddings, and they were all so beautiful, but hot! A solution was to plan a winter wedding. We wanted an intimate setting, the feeling of home comfort, with style. French Bay Yacht Club has a beautiful mid-50s interior with warm timber and clan lines. The stunning flowers assembled by Sue Cameron from Floral Stylist were the perfect addition to creating the autumnal feel — deep red hues, complemented by soft blush pink and white.
Dylan wore a sharp navy suit from Crane Brothers, lined in ivory with his initials embroidered in the jacket lining, with a brown leather shoe recommended by Murray himself. His tie was a gift from Louis Vuitton during his time with Emirates Team New Zealand. I wore a gown and Penny veil from Juliette Hogan Bridal. I wanted something simple but timeless. My lovely friend, jewellery designer Vikki George from Roccabella, designed the most beautiful gold drop earrings for me.
Walking down the aisle with my mum and dad was a very special moment, as was our first dance. With the help of our celebrant, my old dance teacher Keri Edley, we choreographed a dance to Canned Heat by Jamiroquai. I was shocked by how much Dylan enjoyed the lessons! This is something we plan to continue doing together.
Photography: Kirsty Peta Stone Photography | Bride’s dress: Juliette Hogan Bridal | Groom’s outfit & shoes: Crane Brothers | Hair: Hare and Hunter | Makeup: Masa Milnovic | Ring/s & other jewellery: Roccabella Jewellery | Venue: French Bay Yacht Club | Fragrance: Jo Malone | Flora: Sue Cameron at Floral Stylist | Celebrant: Keri Edley | Hire: Arkade Furniture, Two Foxes Styling and Royal Laboratorie | Bride’s shoes: La Tribe | Cake: The Caker | Stationery: Paperweight | Styling & planning: The bride| Catering & beverages: Amaranto Food Truck
