Owen and I worked out pretty quickly that we’re incredibly similar — apart from him being a morning person and me being a night owl. We both work in funds management; the same job at different companies. Our work can be demanding, so it helps that we have a good understanding of what each other does.
We’ve spent the last few years renovating our home in Auckland, so love spending time just being there. We did have plans for more overseas travel which Covid put a stop to, but we’re just as happy enjoying the little things — friends, family, going for walks, or having lazy sleep-ins.
Owen– We met in the modern way; a swipe right on an app. We did have a mutual connection — my cousin is one of Steph’s close friends. So Steph was able to do her research on me before sending the first message. And I had actually noticed her in one of my cousin’s photos several years prior, thinking she looked pretty cute.
On our first date Steph spent the first 10 minutes talking about a financial metric, which I’d never experienced on a first date. But it was endearing, and a few hours later I had a pretty good feeling she could be the one.
Stephanie– We both knew what we were looking for in a relationship — someone loyal, supportive and thoughtful. Over time, it was clear we’d found that in each other. It’s an amazing feeling to be completely secure in the knowledge that we are there for each other, no matter what.
Although I knew it would happen at some point, the proposal caught me completely off guard. Owen meticulously timed an afternoon beach walk during our Fiji holiday, and had champagne delivered to our room. After our stroll, he suggested I turn around so he could get a photo of me in the sunset. When I turned back, he was on one knee. I bawled my eyes out, said yes, and we enjoyed the rest of our holiday in newly engaged bliss.
We wanted our wedding to have a classic, timeless and effortless feel. As soon as we saw Kauri Bay Boomrock in Clevedon, we knew it was the perfect venue. We loved that it wasn’t too far from Auckland, but felt like it was miles away, with rolling hills and beautiful scenery.
I was torn between a classic, simple dress, and something more dramatic. I opted for the best of both, with a long detachable train that I could remove for the reception.
Owen– Our wedding was meant to be 10 days earlier — we were one of the many couples caught by the snap Auckland lockdown in March. We wanted to go ahead as soon as possible, especially as we had two guests and two bridesmaids who’d made the sacrifice of going into managed isolation, so we chose a date and pushed forward. Thankfully, the lockdown didn’t extend beyond the week and we were able to celebrate the following Monday. We think it ended up making our wedding even more special —we could really feel the love in the air. And, despite it being a Monday, the dance floor went off!
Ceremony + Reception: Kauri Bay Boomrock | Videography: Grey Area Productions | Photography: Stephan & Nakita | Bride’s dress & veil: Vinka Design | Groom’s tuxedo: Crane Brothers | Flora: Blush | Bridesmaids’ dresses: Knuefermann | Groomsmen’s suits: Rembrandt | Rings: Sutcliffe Jewellery | Bride’s shoes: Loeffler Randall | Groom’s shoes: Florsheim | Bride’s earrings: Grandmother’s earrings that she, mum and sister all wore on their wedding days | Makeup: Serenity Makeup | Hair: Boutique Bride | Cake: Amy’s Secret Kitchen | Celebrant: Justine Russell-Cowan | Bride’s fragrance: Chance by Chanel | Groom’s fragrance: Sauvage by Dior | Hire: Twelve Tables (all furniture except chairs) and Two Foxes (chairs)| Entertainment: Coachella Folk Covers Band | Catering + beverages: Kauri Bay Boomrock | Stationery + signage: Harlan Creative | Lighting: La Lumiere
