Tayler + Riini by Erica Jane - Together Journal

Being quite young with different plans, after university we went our separate ways which was hard at the time but one of those moments where we knew that if it was meant to be, it was meant to be.

Tayler – Riini is an architectural designer and I’m a development manager so we work in the same field. It’s quite nice to be able to understand each other’s work. Our relationship started with a smile in our first-year architecture lectures in Wellington. Throughout the year we’d bump into each other but we got to know each other in our second year. Being quite young with different plans, after university we went our separate ways which was hard at the time but one of those moments where we knew that if it was meant to be, it was meant to be. Fast forward five years and I was back from Europe when we met up for a drink.

Riini – When I learnt Tay was back from overseas in 2018, I couldn’t make my way to Auckland quick enough! Laying eyes on her again I was overcome with excitement, and it felt like we had never been apart. We both knew from that point that this was it.

Tayler – Riini popped the question at the top of Wairere Falls on a Sunday afternoon dog walk. The walk had been my suggestion, so it was definitely a surprise. I always wanted a colourful and bright wedding and the bright, fun florals seamlessly merged with the contrasting white minimalist furniture and marque. It was perfect with the stunning setting and, thankfully, the amazing weather we had.

Riini: It was a privilege to host our special occasion on the whenua (land) that my siblings and I were brought up on, our whānau homestead designed and built by my grandparents. The setting was extremely relaxing and comforting. My two jobs for the wedding were to sort the band and the land. There was a bit of work to do on the paddock to flatten the ground for the marque so I was more than happy to splurge on heavy machinery to get the job done. The bridal party was warmly welcomed to the reception by the sounds of Cook Island drums and once we were seated, we received our floral headpiece/neck piece, handmade that morning by my mother and aunties. It was so special to be able to celebrate and share my Cook Island culture and traditions. The only issue we had was the point in the ceremony where we exchanged rings. After receiving the rings from our ring bearer, we could only find my ring in the bag. After an initial panic and stress we figured out Tayler’s ring had got stuck inside mine. It took a good couple of minutes at the altar and a bit of stress and nervous laughter before we could get them unstuck.

Tayler: I wanted a dress that was simple, timeless and fit like a glove so a custom dress by Kenny & Harlow Bridal was the perfect match. The bespoke cropped blouse was a bit unique to change up the look for the evening.