Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love, what is unique about you and your relationship… Matt works as a product development engineer while I work in a digital role for a media company. We love to adventure together, keep fit and are always down to try a new experience.
We met at the start of 2015 through a friend in an Auckland city bar. Although Matt was shy for the first few encounters after meeting, he told me I was “the one” 3 months into our relationship.
Matt’s proposal was definitely a surprise. We were going about life as we normally do, waking up early and going on an adventure with coffee in hand. The long drive was full of Matt listening and me talking (although I only realised later in the day why he had been especially quiet this time).
At 6.30am we arrived at Te Arai Point to take photos of the sunrise. Matt had packed my favourite breakfast for a picnic: bagels, cream cheese and bacon. We walked to the waters edge taking photos and chatting, and all of a sudden Matt was on one knee asking me to be his wife.
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… Matt and I have always loved the tradition of getting married in a big, old church with a centre aisle. We found a stunning white church tucked away in Devonport and decided that this was where we wanted to tie the knot.
Our reception venue was held at The Bluestone Room in the heart of Auckland City. The room was full of character and romance – stonewalls, wooden rafters and chandeliers, so some simple styling was all it needed. The tables were decorated with wooden logs from a tree in our backyard, white candles and foliage. Everything about the venues and décor was so suited to us as a couple – a mixture of romance, warmth, tradition and simplicity.
What was most special to us on the day was making a lifetime commitment to each other and celebrating it with the people we love and cherish.
Tell us about your main outfits: My wedding dress was custom made by Nicola Dawson Design. The process was personal and so much fun! Nicola managed to take on all my ideas and create them into the perfect dress for me.
I ended up with an elegant white strapless dress that fit me like a glove with a long train flowing. It was covered in a special laser cut fabric with clear beading that Nicola had recently discovered in Melbourne.
Matt wore a blue woven wool suit from Barkers matched with a grey woollen tie and brown leather.
What were some of the most memorable/unique moments from the day? We decided that we wanted to keep our vows as a surprise for each other on the wedding day. This made the moments of hearing and saying our vows in front of the best people in our lives so special.
We wanted a normal, everyday moment together as a couple in amongst the crazy emotion of getting married. So we went to a French café in Devonport after the ceremony, sat there with a coffee and our closest friends – it was perfect and energised us for the night ahead.
Any advice for other couples planning to spend the rest of their lives together? Making the commitment is just saying yes to the love you already share. It was the best decision we made, and we have continued to move strength to strength ever since. A wedding is as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. Just remember that on the day it’s the love you feel for each other that is going to matter more than anything else, the small details will fade to the background.
Photographer: Avosa Photography | Videographer: Revera Studio | Ceremony location: The Holy Trinity Church | Reception location, styling, and catering: The Bluestone Room | Celebrant: Ryan Bond | Entertainment: Fransen Studios | Styling: We Are Wallflower and Stage It Productions | Flora: Flowers on Onewa | Cake: House of Chocolate | Hair and makeup: Fiona Clare Beauty | Wedding dress: Nicola Dawson Design | Shoes: Steve Madden | Engagement ring: Naveya & Sloane | Groom and groomsmen’s attire: Barkers | Shoes: The Iconic | Wedding rings: Louis the Goldsmith | Watch: Daniel Wellington | Bridesmaids’ dresses: Lulu’s
