We got to the end of the jetty, but instead of jumping off, I turned around and Sam was down on one knee.
Liv —— Sam is a lawyer and I’m a communications manager at L’Oreal. We now live in Auckland but love to travel and spent the last five years living in London. I first saw Sam playing in a band before we met. Later that year, he asked me out. I really thought he could be the one on that first date. It was easy to picture us spending the rest of our lives together. We’d both grown up enjoying the same musical and sporting hobbies, loved travel and were hoping to find someone who could match the other’s drive to make the most of this crazy, busy, fulfilling life!
We were sunbathing on the jetty at our bach in the Marlborough Sounds when Sam proposed. He suggested a swim. We got to the end of the jetty, but instead of jumping off, I turned around and Sam was down on one knee. We were the only ones in the bay. It felt so personal and private. Sam surprised me with a very special proposal ring, a Tiffany & Co gold band with five diamonds to celebrate our five year anniversary. We then decided to go engagement ring shopping together.
We decided to get married in the South of France. At that point, we had been in London for three years and due to Covid, our families hadn’t been able to travel to see us. The idea was to bring our London and New Zealand friends and family to a special, remote place for a weekend of long overdue catch-ups, with plenty of delicious French wine and food, dancing, laughter and activities.
We found a stunning French château that was elegant but also rustic and relaxed. It took me ages to figure out what style I wanted for my gown. I’m quite petite and a lot of the gowns in the UK had too much material or just weren’t my style. I went for the ‘Mila’ low-back gown by Australian designer Prea James, made from thick silk. I added extra length to the train and chose a chapel length, two-tier hand-crafted veil. I was lucky to be loaned a pair of beautiful Oscar de la Renta gold and pearl earrings from a best friend for my ‘something borrowed’ and wore my late mother’s sapphire and diamond engagement ring as ‘something blue’.
Sam —— I always wanted to wear a black tuxedo on my wedding day but when we chose the South of France in July for our wedding, I was a little nervous about the heat! A couple of friends recommended P Johnson Tailors in Fitzrovia to make me a tux. It was exactly what I wanted and luckily the day ended up being the perfect temperature.
PHOTOGRAPHER Jonny Scott, @jonnyscottphoto LOCATION, STYLING & HIRE Château Rigaud, @chateaurigaud VIDEOGRAPHER Keith Scott (Jonny Scott), @jonnyscottphoto, @keithscottfilms CELEBRANT Edward Bowie, friend BRIDE’S GOWN Prea James Bridal from The Fall Bride, London, @preajames_bridal;, @thefallbride BRIDE’S VEIL Helen Martin Veils, @helenmartinveils BRIDE’S SHOES Loeffler Randall, @loefflerrandall GROOM’S SUIT Bespoke from P Johnson Tailors, @pjohnsontailors PLANNER Karen Ward of Château Rigaud, @chateaurigaud FLORA Jillian Davies of Folies et Fleurs @folies.et.fleurs BRIDE’S SECOND DRESS Savannah Miller Bridal, @savannahmillerbridal ENGAGEMENT RING Partridge Jewellers, @partridgejewellers WEDDING RINGS Naveya & Sloane, @naveyaandsloanejewellery BRIDE’S PARTY SHOES Jimmy Choo, @jimmychoo BRIDE’S EARRINGS Oscar De La Renta (borrowed from a best friend), @oscardelarenta BRIDE’S GOWN ACCESSORY BOW Jessica Bennett from The Fall Bride, @jessicabennettbridal HAIR & MAKEUP Jo Adams of Hair & Makeup Atelier, @hmu_atelier FRAGRANCE Ralph Lauren, @ralphlaurenfragrances CATERING & BEVERAGES John Grabecki – Head Chef at Château Rigaud, @grabecki1, @chateaurigaud CAKE Cheese tower by Château Rigaud, @chateaurigaud ENTERTAINMENT Brightlights Band, @brightlightsband REGISTRY Mildred & Co, @mildredandco STATIONERY Bride CLASSIC CAR Bordeaux Classic Cars & Tours, @bordeauxclassiccars
