Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love, what is unique about you and your relationship:
We met as 16 and 17 year olds, at a camp in Hamilton, New Zealand. I was immediately drawn to Darius. His eyes, his voice, the way he carried himself, and the way he treated others, there was something so compelling about him.
The spark was instantaneous, and we fanned this flame by romantic gestures such as venturing down to the nearest camp tap to brush our teeth together. After messaging back and forth, and going on dates to McDonalds, our story continued, until Sophie ghosted Darius…
There is much debate on who can claim the honour of playing cupid in our relationship, but after a year and a half and from some external forces, we re-kindled our spark. From there on out, I knew I had met the man I was going to marry and I never wanted to ghost him again.
We started our journey together young, at 19 and 20 we are now married, promising to love each other more fiercely every day until death do us part.
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:
Our day was perfect. A beautiful reflection of our hearts for God, and our hearts for each other. A day filled with love and filled with the people we love.
Personally, what made our wedding so special, was the fact that I was marrying the man of my dreams. That from this day forward, we become one, we become husband and wife.
Like most females, I had created my idea of the perfect wedding years ago and wanted to bring that dream to life. It was a moody, winters day. Bare vine covered the walls surrounding our ceremony, toi toi’s lined the aisle in vintage brown bottles, an autumnal, dried floral installation attached to the arch piece with a warm fire burning in behind. Ataahua Garden Venue does most the talking, we just added pockets of styling to add our own touch.
Tell us about your main outfits:
The groom and the groomsmen wore linen blend suits from The Hallensteins Brothers, in a light, sandy colour complementing our rustic, bohemian theme. Brown shoes and belts, with a delicate boutonniere matching the arch piece and bouquets layered over the fold of their jackets.
I wanted an elegant, traditional dress and I couldn’t be happier with what I found. The fit, the way it fell, and the lace train that followed me. I am in love with it. A long sleeve, lace – with a deep V back adding a slight modern twist. But my favourite part of my wedding attire was the white, fur coat. It was the perfect way to keep warm but to also look like a snow queen.
I loved the eclectic details hidden throughout our wedding, we continued this theme with our mis-matched bridesmaids dresses and earrings that kept to the same rich, clay colour, as well as each bridesmaid having a different coloured fur coat, finishing off the look with a pair of brown heels.
What were some of the most memorable/unique moments from the day:
The most memorable moment of the day for me was getting to see my fiancée for the first (and last) time. We did a first look before our ceremony, the whirlwind of emotions and weight of it all fell when I got to see and be with Darius. A deep sense of peace, and comfort came, which also coincided with a rush of joy and anticipation for what was to come. It was a special moment to experience after the sleepless night, both on the phone to each other at 4am, feeling like a kid on Christmas too excited to sleep, it was finally happening.
Any advice for other couples planning to spend the rest of their lives together:
The wedding: Enjoy it! Don’t let yourself get lost or caught up in the busyness of the day, steal a few moments throughout the day to breathe and soak it all in. Take a few moments with your partner, let it sink in, recognise the reality and beauty of it all.
For future: The greatest advice for any relationship is found in the bible, particularly this verse in James 1:19, “… Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” It speaks for itself, let them have your ear.
Ceremony and Reception location: Ataahua | Photography and Videography: JC Photography and Video | Celebrant: Charles David Dishroon | Bride’s gown: JJ’s House | Groom’s outfit: Hallenstein Brothers | Bridesmaid’s attire: Mirrou | Groomsmen’s attire: Hallenstein Brothers| Bride’s engagement and wedding ring: Pandora | Groom’s wedding band: Etrnl | Bride’s fragrance: Valentino Valentina Pink Eau de Parfum | Catering and Beverages: Big Smoke BBQ, Blomquists Artisan Bakers
