I think we knew from the beginning that we were each other’s ‘people’. But after living abroad for several years, travelling Europe and building our first home, we realised that it was all meant to be.
Liv —— I’m an interior designer at Mooi Design and Sam is an accountant. In other words, I’m the creative free spirit and Sam is the logical one who keeps me grounded. My favourite thing is to host. When my home is filled with friends, my heart is full. I think I get that from my mum. Sam is a sports fanatic. He tried to convince me to walk down the aisle to The Crusaders theme song, ‘Conquest of Paradise’.
Liv —— We met almost 11 years ago when I was working with Sam’s sister in a shoe shop during uni holidays. Sam looked like the 2011 Harry Styles with his long hair. I’m fairly happy that he ditched that haircut for the short back and sides he rocks today.
Sam —— Walking into that shoe shop, I immediately spotted Liv and thought who’s that spicy little blonde behind the counter? I think I offered some pretty average chat — I must’ve been a bit nervous.
Liv —— I think we knew from the beginning that we were each other’s ‘people’. But after living abroad for several years, travelling Europe and building our first home, we realised that it was all meant to be. We have such similar values and aspirations, and our differences really balance each other out.
My vision for the wedding was very much chic, sleek, unique and minimalist. I wanted a winter wedding because I love a winter aesthetic and a city scene. We lived in London for four years and wanted our wedding to have a London feel to it. We also wanted it to feel different to other weddings we’d been to. Getting married in an art gallery excited us!
I went to a bridal shop to try on dresses and there was just nothing that stood out, so I searched online and found my dress on The Iconic, for less than half the price of others I’d considered. I wanted a dress with a sleeve, or long gloves. That was my one requirement—it was winter, after all. I was lucky enough to borrow that gorgeous Stephen Jones veil from a very kind friend of a friend. When I put the veil on with my dress, I felt a wave of emotion. It was exactly my vision. I have never felt so ‘me’. I also knew I wanted the bridesmaids and groomsmen in black. It really fitted the chic aesthetic I was trying to achieve and they all looked SO sharp.
There was this incredible contrast between the minimalist contemporary art gallery where the ceremony was held, and the historic Christchurch building with beautiful stained glass windows in The Arts Centre that we moved on to. It was a perfect day and we feel lucky that everything went to plan (except that I missed a good friend off the seating plan—oops!) I think we can thank our amazing event coordinator, Kate of Studio Soirée, for making it all so seamless.
PHOTOGRAPHER + VIDEOGRAPHER: George & Jane, @georgeandjane__ / BRIDE’S DRESS: Rebecca Vallance Bridal, @rebeccavallancebride / BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESSES: Juliette Hogan, @juliettehogan / CEREMONY LOCATION: Centre of Contemporary Art | Toi Moroki, @cocatoimoroki / WEDDING BANDS: Filigree Fine Jewels, @filigreefinejewels / ENGAGEMENT RING: Coco Florence, @cocoflorencenz / BRIDE’S SHOES: Tony Bianco, @tonybianco / BRIDESMAID’S SHOES: Novo, @novoshoes / GROOM’S SHOES: 3 Wise Men, @_3wisemen / GROOM’S FRAGRANCE: Leatherby Tom Ford, @tomford / BRIDE’S FRAGRANCE: Amyris Femmeby Maison Francis Kurkdjian, @maisonfranciskurkdjian / BRIDE’S EARRINGS: Gucci, @gucci / BRIDE’S VEIL: Stephen Jones Millinery, @stephenjonesmillinery / FLORA: Eden Florist, @eden.florist / MAKEUP: Kasia Stanicich, @kasiastanicichmakeup / HAIR: @styled.by.ren / STYLING & PLANNING: Soirée Studio, @soireestudio___ / SUIT HIRE: Sergios Menswear, @sergios.menswear / RECEPTION LOCATION: Great Hall, The Arts Centre / CATERING: White Tie Catering, @whitetienz / CELEBRANT: Hayley Carville (a friend) / LIVE BAND: @the_fillets / CHAIRS, TABLECLOTHS & NAPKINS: Loula Hire, @loulahire / CAKE: Meg Black (a friend) / REGISTRY: Wishing well for an art fund / STATIONERY: Made by bride / MARBLE BAR & BRASS LAMPS: Hayley and Co, @hayley_and_co