I had seen Westney in a lecture at uni and knew I had to meet her. It took almost a year to finally talk to her and introduce myself properly.
For me and Guy, loving each other has always felt like the easiest thing in the world and we’ve always prioritised our relationship over everything. Guy works in advertising and design and I’m a photographer and run my own floristry business on weekends. We live in Mount Maunganui and love the simple lifestyle this beautiful place offers, with long summers spent by the beach.
As we’ve both worked in the wedding industry we’re lucky to know lots of incredible vendors. This made the planning process really fun. Two of our friends, my bridesmaid Ashleigh and her partner Blake, run Sapphire Studios, so they photographed our wedding day. And another very close friend, Jarrod, filmed the day as it unfolded.
We chose to tie the knot at Orua Beach House in the Coromandel, as it has the most beautiful views you have ever seen, and the owners are really lovely. We wanted an intimate affair, so only invited 50 guests, and the ceremony took place overlooking Hot Water Beach. Our reception took place up the nearby hill. We joined our guests on a long table decked in vibrant flowers and candelabras handmade by our friend Josh from Dandie Store. Our caterers, No Biggie, live down the road from us, and we’ve loved their food and style for years, so they were an obvious choice for our wedding day. We also worked closely with our friends at Twelve Tables who always go above and beyond. The only request we had for our florist, Floral Centric, was to create something with lots of crazy colours and flowers everywhere! We’ve known owners, Ainsley and Michelle, for years, so completely trusted them to do whatever they thought best.
A real highlight was sneaking off after the ceremony with our closest friends to take some photographs. Watching all our friends and family come together to celebrate was so special and a memory we will never forget. My aunt made my mum’s wedding dress, so I asked if she’d do the same for me. I showed her a couple of dresses that I liked and we used these as inspiration for my own dream gown. In the three-month lead-up to our wedding, she poured her heart into sewing the dress, and it was a really special experience for both of us. On the morning of the ceremony, my lovely friend Dani Froude did my hair and makeup.
For us, our rings were one of the most important aspects of the day, as they’re the only things we will keep for the rest of our lives. Guy struggled to find a wedding ring that he loved, so after months of research and conversations with the local jeweller, he designed his own and it was perfect. He loved the experience so much, he’s been working at the local jewellery store learning as much as he can about the process. His plan is to launch his own company specialising in men’s solid gold jewellery. For us, getting married was all about celebrating with loved ones. Thankfully, everything went to plan. There were even dolphins at the ceremony!
photographer Sapphire Studios / videographer Jarrod Saville / groom’s outfit Rembrandt / bride’s outfit Handmade by Aunt / hire Twelve Tables / location Orua Beach House / celebrant Grace Saathof / flora Floral Centric / bride’s makeup Dani Froude Makeup / bridesmaids’ attire Yellow dress Paris Georgia / Brown dress Ruby / catering & beverages No Biggie / cake The Caker / bride’s ring Naveya & Sloane / groom’s ring Guys Gold
