Tell us about your special day, was there a specific theme or style? Tell us a little about the setting, the styling and some of your favourite details:
We always planned to have our wedding on the Coromandel close to where Andrew’s parents live. We spend a lot of time down there at the beach and wanted the familiar, breath-taking surroundings for our big day.
When we visited the Stone Terrace we knew instantly it was the venue for us. The European style villa and archways set on the clifftop of Hot Water Beach gave us our theme, a perfect combination of classic kiwi summer and warm balmy nights on the seaside in Italy – it felt like we were on vacation which is the atmosphere we wanted to create.
So with the venue delivering our theme, we went about centring the rest of the wedding around this. This included the rustic hand made sourdough and olive oils as entrees, chilled local wines (from NZ of course) and large family-style share plates down the centre of the tables. We wanted tasty, hearty but beautiful seasonal food that everyone would enjoy sharing.
The flowers, napkins and stationary all incorporated a similar colour scheme of blush, nudes, creams and beiges to compliment the stunning architecture of the venue, the views out to the surf and surrounding hillside. I did, however, want the archway to be made up of flowers that had a real pop. I worked closely with Rosie from Rose Tinted Flowers to bring my vision to life. We decided that going with dried, artificially coloured flowers would be the best way to achieve the wow factor that I wanted. Rosie and her team did a phenomenal job and I loved how the bright archway still tied in with the overall colour scheme. I loved seeing our friends take pictures under our archway – this was one of my many favourite details of the day.
Tell us about your main outfits:
Well, my journey in finding ‘The Dress’ was not how you see it unfold on tv. I first started trying on wedding dresses right after our son was born, and this came with its challenges – my body had changed, I was occupied with the swing of motherhood and time was very limited! I eventually went shopping again my own, which I found more relaxing and I chose my dress from Felicity Bridal that day. On the big day, I had so much fun with my dress. The layered tulle allowed for plenty of movement and we got some beautiful shots which I am beyond happy with.
Andrew always knew he wanted to wear a navy blue suit and after trying on half a dozen navy blue suits, we decided in the end that the one from Hallensteins was an incredible fit, great quality and the price point was easy on the wallet. Win – win.
What were some of the most memorable/unique moments from the day:
Leading up to our wedding day we got countless advice from friends and family, one of the recurring themes was that the day goes so fast and to really try and be in the moment, pause and enjoy each other.
This was something we were mindful of, and Andrew made it happen by taking me away from the crowd with a fresh glass of champagne and a plate of food for us to take a moment, together. This was one of my most memorable moments as we sat on the terrace stairway in the sun as husband and wife and watched our loved ones enjoy our special day. That’s a memory and a feeling we will treasure.
Any advice for other couples planning to spend the rest of their lives together:
So much goes into the planning of a wedding, especially for us women who have likely spent a great deal of time thinking about that day. I think planning is essential in creating the day of your dreams and bringing your vision to life, however, try not to get too caught up in the small stuff. The stress and anxiety that comes with planning every detail can take away from what is such a special and exciting time, so I would say, try to acknowledge that some things aren’t worth the stress and at the end of the day its about having the best time with your soulmate, and everyone you love!
Photography: @kerynsweeneyweddings | Ceremony and Reception location: @stone_terrace | Celebrant: @rek_gp | Bride’s gown: @madewithlovebridal | Groom’s suit: @hallensteinbrothers | Rings: @zoeandmorgan | Hair & Makeup: Maša Milnović | Bridesmaid’s attire: @becandbridge | Groomsmen’s attire: @hallensteinbrothers | Hire: Peninsula Party Hire | Flora: @rose.tinted.flowers | Catering and Beverages: @_sugarfish_
