We wanted the day to be full of love, laughter, and good energy.
WALDO —— We met on Tinder in 2020, right after the first lockdown. After some back-and-forth messages, we decided to meet up. I quickly noticed how sassy, down-to-earth and confident Ella was. That first night, we hung out and talked for hours. We shared so many values and beliefs. It felt like we had known each other forever. She even listened to me ramble on about motorbikes for hours, which was when I knew she was a keeper. ELLA —— Whenever I think about the first time I met Waldo, I just remember hugging him and feeling like I was home. He had these piercing green eyes, and there was such warmth about him. We talked about everything — there was nothing we couldn’t say — and he was the kindest person I had ever met. From that very first day, he felt like my best friend.
WALDO —— We wanted our wedding to feel like a big party with all the most important people in our lives. A wedding is such a huge milestone. In some ways, it feels very serious, but we didn’t want it to be overly formal or traditional. We wanted our personalities to come through in every part of the day, and more than anything, we wanted everyone to have an amazing time. ELLA —— We wanted the day to be full of love, laughter, and good energy.
When it came to my dress, I wanted something timeless and elegant, something I’d still love in years to come. My appointment at Hera Couture was one of the best experiences ever. I felt incredible in every dress I tried on, but the moment I put the one on, with all the accessories, I just knew. The way the fabric moved, the way it made me feel — everything was perfect. I couldn’t have imagined a more beautiful dress.
WALDO —— I had always pictured myself in a velvet suit jacket for my wedding. I wanted something eye-catching, a little different from the classic black or grey suit. When I finally tried my jacket on at Working Style, it was everything I had imagined. The custom lining made it even more special — a vintage motorbike print, a subtle but meaningful nod to my dad and our shared passion for bikes. It was a small detail, but it meant the world to me.
I always loved the idea of having live music, and luckily, Ella agreed on how much it can transform the atmosphere. From the moment the band started playing, the dancefloor was full. It was exactly the vibe we had hoped for. ELLA —— I knew that I wanted Mudbrick as our venue — even before we were engaged! I loved the idea of creating a staycation experience where our families could spend real quality time together in a beautiful place. Waiheke Island felt perfect — relaxed but stunning and the ideal setting for everything we wanted.
PHOTOGRAPHER Keryn Sweeney, @kerynsweeneyphotographer LOCATION Mudbrick Vineyard and Restaurant, @mudbrick_nz CELEBRANT Nate Dunn, @_natedunn BRIDE’S WEDDING ATTIRE & ACCESSORIES Hera Couture, @heracouture BRIDE’S SHOES Country Road, @countryroad GROOM’S OUTFIT & SHOES Working Style, @workingstylenz GROOM’S CUFFLINKS Family WEDDING BANDS Good Gold, @goodgold.nz VINTAGE DIAMOND AND SAPPHIRE RING Family BRIDE’S MAKEUP Lucinda Emerson Makeup @lucinda.emerson.mua BRIDE’S HAIR Paula @leoandlox BRIDE’S FRAGRANCE English Pear and Sweet Pea by Jo Malone, @jomalonelondon GROOM’S FRAGRANCE Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue Pour Homme, @dolcegabbana BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESSES Ruby, @rubytakessnaps; Bec and Bridge, @becandbridge BRIDESMAIDS’ SHOES The Iconic, @theiconicau BRIDESMAIDS’ EARRINGS Country Road, @countryroad STATIONERY Etsy; Canva; Paperless Post SIGNAGE Etsy; Canva FLORIST Ruth Fiona Floral, @ruthfionafloral GROOMSMEN’S JACKET Politix, @politixmenswear GROOMSMEN’S PANTS & SHIRT Barkers, @barkersclothing GROOMSMEN’S BOW TIE Rembrandt, @rembrandt1946 VIDEOGRAPHER Guy Hasler, @thecedarweddings.co STYLIST & CATERING Mudbrick Weddings, @mudbrick_weddings ENTERTAINMENT The Neo Trio @findaband HIRE TBLE Linen, @tble__linen__hire; Royal Laboratorie, @royallaboratorie; My Waiheke, @mywaiheke CAKE ButterButter Cakes by Petra Galler @butterbutternz
