Madison + Taylor by Stephan & Nakita - Together Journal

Our vision for the wedding was modern, minimal and elegant.

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

We are lucky to have spent much of our 13 years together living and travelling around the world, but now being home in New Zealand close to our families is really special.

Taylor works in the cycling industry and I am a doctor, specialising in Infectious Disease and General Medicine. We share a love of the outdoors and adventuring – our weekends are forever filled with road trips all over the country, in search of spots for surfing, skiing, tramping or biking.

What we love most about our relationship is how happy the simple, everyday things make us – coffee together in the mornings, beach walks, cooking dinner together and solving the worlds problems on our road trips.

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

Madison – We first met at a mutual friend’s party in Mount Maunganui 13 years ago. Despite our lives both leading in very different directions at that point (I was off to Medical School in Dunedin and Taylor to cycle professionally in America), there was an instant connection, and we remained in constant contact. After he returned to New Zealand 6 months later, we made it official and the rest is history!

I was drawn to Taylor’s kindness, sense of calm and the way he will always put someone else before himself – all the things I still love most about him to this day.

Taylor – It was her smile that caught me first. She was so full of life and I remember thinking to myself “I have to get to know her more.” For the rest of the night we were inseparable.

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

Madison – Our love has always been effortless. Despite having to spend so much time apart early on in our relationship, I never doubted that we were meant to be together. I felt such a sense of home with him from the first moment we met and those long-distance years of unwavering support for each other were the foundation for what we now have together.

Taylor – It was clear from the beginning that Mads brought the best out of me and we were a perfect fit. She has always been my biggest supporter, no matter what challenges we face. I don’t remember a specific moment when I knew she was “the one”; it was all the little moments that just added up over time.

Was there a proposal? Tell us a little about it…

Taylor proposed on the 10-year “anniversary” of our first date at the same place we had visited together all those years ago—North Head in Devonport, Auckland. It was a beautiful evening, and we sat and talked for hours, overlooking the city lights. Hilariously, it had gotten so dark by the time he proposed that we needed a torch light for me to actually see the ring!

Tell us about the vision you had for the mood or style of your wedding.

Central Otago has always been a special place for us, having been fortunate to spend plenty of time there with friends and family over the years. It was the perfect place for a NZ “destination” wedding, and we were sold on The Winehouse venue from the first time we visited. Our vision for the wedding was modern, minimal and elegant, aiming to complement the natural beauty of the gardens and surrounding landscape. I have always loved non-traditional flowers, so I was over the moon with our incredible floral pillars and my anthurium bouquet. Most of all, we wanted our wedding to be the ultimate celebration of our love after so many years together. Ensuring all our favourite people had an amazing day with the best food, Central Otago wine, cocktails and a dance floor that continued all night was our main priority.

What was one element you were happy to splurge on?

Our incredible photographers/videographers – Stephan & Nakita. Being lovers of photography and art, it was so important to us that the memories of our day were captured exactly as we wanted. Their style is so elegant and classic that we know we will look back on everything years from now with the same awe as we did when we first received our albums.

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

Madison – I think we were too happy to even notice if something had gone wrong! Our wonderful friends and family ensured everything ran smoothly, and we owe them so much for making our day perfect and stress-free. Our celebrant had a minor technical glitch at the start of our ceremony, but it meant we got to laugh and joke with our guests before saying our vows – which actually made us a lot less nervous.

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

Madison – after meeting Meg at Kenny & Harlow, I instantly felt so comfortable and confident that she could make the dress of my dreams. I had been obsessed with Emilia Wickstead’s wedding dress, and this was my inspiration, with some modern twists. I also initially wanted to wear two dresses, but it ended up so beautiful I didn’t want anything else. Instead, the detachable skirt meant I could add the “drama” for the ceremony with a simpler silhouette for partying later! It also meant I surprised Taylor walking down the aisle, despite us having a private “first look” earlier in the day.

Our rings were very sentimental to us. Taylor’s wedding band was originally given to his father by his late grandmother, and my engagement ring was a family heirloom from his mother, which Taylor personalised with a new diamond.

Taylor – My brother was my best man, and Madi’s brother my other groomsman. With my brother’s fine taste in fashion I didn’t want to disappoint, so even without much research I knew I wanted a Crane Brothers suit. Josh and Murray did a great job. The value of a well-tailored suit should never be underestimated. My cufflinks were a wedding gift from Madi.