We’re both born and raised in New Zealand, but we are the United Nations when it comes to backgrounds. Sam has Dutch, Italian and Scottish heritage, and Olivia is Chinese, Peranakan and Ceylonese Tamil from Singapore and Malaysia.
Olivia is a lawyer in television entertainment and is super outgoing. Sam is a music producer and songwriter, the sensitive, creative type. Olivia’s magnetic energy and the way she likes to live with joy are at the top of Sam’s list of favourite qualities (plus her incredible cooking). Olivia loves Sam’s sweet-natured, strong spirit, and creative drive. And his hair! We met after a concert in Auckland through mutual friends nine years ago. There was instant attraction. We stayed in touch for a year before we started dating while Olivia was at law school in Wellington and Sam was travelling for work. We’d always try to surprise each other by turning up unexpectedly in the other’s city.
Sam definitely won with the proposal, though. He was in LA for work and had arranged for Olivia’s parents to pack her bag, kidnap her from work, and drop her at Auckland airport. Sam welcomed a still-in-shock Olivia at Honolulu airport and surprised her with a day of activities and pampering, ending with an unforgettable top-floor balcony proposal during a classic Hawaiian sunset. There were lots of tears, champagne, and a beautiful diamond ring Sam had designed.
We had a destination wedding in Los Angeles with 65 of our nearest and dearest, who started arriving the week before so we could hang out with them. We spent a lot of time creating our website and app, featuring a guide to our favourite places in LA. We wanted our wedding to have a warm, intimate vibe and Carondelet House, a 1920s Italian villa, was perfect. Everything went without a hitch thanks to our amazing wedding coordinator. To thank our guests for travelling so far, we added special touches — a Polaroid seating chart, a black and white glam photobooth (so LA!), a custom neon sign, In-n-Out Burger gift cards, signature cocktails and American cliché touches like truffle mac ‘n cheese, which was a big hit. We felt so privileged to have Danelle Bohane photographing our special day. She and her husband Dirk were such calming influences.
Olivia met Trish Peng through mutual friends when they were at school and they reconnected in LA. Trish drew the perfect hybrid dress Olivia was after — a clean silhouette with detachable beaded lace sleeves in a buttery ivory satin with a badass long lace veil. Sam’s tuxedo was custom-made by Seth at Christopher Schafer Clothier and had classy touches, such as the wedding date and initials embroidered into the suit.
At the end of the night, our black car drove down Hollywood Boulevard to our super-luxe Hollywood Hills AirBnB. It felt so dreamlike! Our caterers had packed up dinner for us and we sat in our wedding clothes on the balcony drinking champagne, eating truffle mac ‘n cheese and reliving every second of the day. It was perfection.
Photography: Danelle Bohane | Videography: SparkStory | Bride’s outfit: Trish Peng | Groom’s outfit: Seth at Christopher Schafer Clothier | Groom’s shoes: Hugo Boss | Groom’s socks: Dolce & Gabbana | Bride’s shoes: Saint Laurent | Wedding website/app: Appy Couple | Planning: Tanya at XOXO Weddings | Groom’s bowtie: Lanvin | Rings: Olivia Moor at Naveya & Sloane | Flora: Best Day Ever Floral Design | Bride’s earrings: Tiffany & Co (gift from groom) | Groom’s watch: Tag Heuer (wedding present from bride) | Bride’s makeup: Shadara Holmes | Hair: Randi Petersen | Venue: Carondelet House | Groom’s fragrance: Tom Ford Tobacco Oud | Bride’s fragrance: Tom Ford Jasmine Rouge | Hire: A Rental Connection | Lighting: Mike Mercy | Entertainment: JCR at RedShoe | Catering and drinks: Très L.A. Catering | Cake: Momofuku Milk Bar
