"Love is beyond either condition: without spring, without autumn, it is always fresh." Rumi
To all our newly engaged couples. Congratulations! Be yourselves and create a wedding that truly reflects who you are together. We hope we inspire you and introduce you to the wonderful world of weddings.
Kiwis Emma and Kingsley have known each other since they were 4-years-old. "We were always family friends but it wasn't until we were 20 that we really connected during a weekend away on Kingsley's family boat." Kingsley proposed with a surprise trip to Waiheke Island. "We had the wine cellar at Cable Bay winery all to ourselves. We sipped champagne and watched a clip of our time together that Kingsley had created." After Kingsley popped the question it was lunch in the winery's restaurant overlooking the water.
Kauri Bay Boomrock boasts an idyllic setting with panoramic views across the Hauraki Gulf. Even though the couple only ever saw the venue under construction, they knew it was where they wanted to get married. "I am a horse lover so the fact that Kauri Bay Boomrock was on a farm with horses and other animals made me so happy. Kingsley is a boat builder. He loves the water and fishing and the view over the bay was stunning." It was a venue that they felt encapsulated them as a couple.
Emma wore an Anna Campbell gown. "I have always loved Anna Campbell gowns with their sparkling embellishments. The dress was comfortable and I was drawn to the intricate beading on the bodice. It also had a gorgeous flowing ivory silk skirt." To add a hint of drama, Emma wore an organza skirt for the ceremony.
Kingsley looked dapper in his navy suit with grey tie. His groomsmen wore grey suits with navy ties to mirror Kingsley's look. Emma's mother-in-law created the bridesmaids' silk shimmer gowns with open back in blush pink.
Emma and Kingsley's wedding was a relaxed and intimate affair with 62 guests. "In my eyes the wedding was totally laid back and we went with the flow of the day. Kingsley and his groomsmen went clay bird shooting and played golf in the morning, while myself and the girls got ready in a house in Kauri Bay."
"The highlights for me were seeing Kingsley for the first time as I walked down the aisle and having our bridal party photos taken around the farm. One of the donkeys escaped from its paddock so my brother and I rounded him up and chased him back into the paddock while Kingsley waited in the car! It was hilarious chasing the donkey in our wedding attire!"
"We didn't really have a specific theme but wanted lots of flowers, as evidenced in the gorgeous ceremonial arbour. It was a combination of peach, pink and cream roses, dahlias and carnations as well as trailing vines and other greenery. I wasn't too worried about the finer details of the place settings at the reception but wanted the wedding to have an overall rustic and romantic feel."
As wedding favours, Emma and Kingsley had a golf ball for each guest. "That way they could have a go at the venue's driving range. "If you get a hole in one at Kauri Bay Boomrock you win a prize. This was great fun and our guests got very competitive!"
A welcome sign made from the native New Zealand timber rimu was laser etched with the couple's names and decorated with fresh blooms and lush greenery. Instead of one wedding cake, the couple had 5 small cakes of all different flavours.
Another special moment came for Emma when her maternal grandmother presented Emma with a horseshoe she had decorated. "The horseshoe was from one of my horses in my hometown, Hamilton."
Emma and Kingsley's wedding reception was styled with gorgeous foliage garlands that ran the length of the wooden trestle tables. Black bentwood chairs and grey napkins gave the space a modern, luxe feel.
gown: Anna Campbell, annacampbell.com.au
shoes: Harriet Wilde, harrietwilde.com
photographer: The Official Photographers, theofficialphotographers.org
wedding venue: Kauri Bay Boomrock, kauribayboomrock.co.nz
flowers & floral design: Blush, blush.co.nz
cake: The Caker, thecaker.co.nz
stationery: Michaela McBride Calligraphy, michaelamcbridecalligraphy.com
groom & groomsmen: Hallensteins Brothers, hallensteins.com
hair: Vanilla Hair, vanillahair.co.nz
makeup: The Little Loft, thelittleloft.co.nz
The Atlantic Restaurant, Melbourne, Victoria
Photography Collections Photography
A proposal during Victoria’s lockdown 1.0 then came planning a wedding during a pandemic, but Christina and Christian knew exactly what was important to them and moved their date forward and created an intimate celebration with Melbourne’s city lights as their backdrop.
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The Great Hall, Sydney University, NSW
Photography by Jimmy Raper
Meeting on a sail boat whilst they were both travelling throgh Croatia, Marie and Dean planned their day as the fairytale way their relationship began. “Coming from big Italian and Maltese families it was stressful at times but I loved the creative elements – the styling, invitations, music, flowers! The best part was seeing all come together in the end – it was such a fairytale on the day!”
Astra, Falls Creek, Victoria
Photography by Wild Romantic Photography
Jazmine and Marcus love their winter sports and one of their favourite destinations together, it made the perfect backdrop for their wedding day. With the stunning white snow abundant they warmed guests hearts with every little detail.
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Love is definitely not cancelled for Louiline and Srinath. When international borders closed due to COVID, Srinath was studying in Australia. It meant he couldn’t travel home to Singapore and his love which he planned to propose to. Determined more than ever that the question couldn’t wait, he planned a surprise proposal virtually.
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Metropolis Events, Southbank, Victoria
Photography by White Vine Photography
Stephanie and Matthew celebrated with style, glamour and a few pit stops of fun along the way. From their stunning church ceremony within the historic Melbourne University grounds to an Italian card game in the cafe where their first date was. They ended the day sharing their culture and love under city lights at Metropolis Events on Melbourne’s Southbank.
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Fig Tree, Byron Bay, NSW
Photography by Van Middleton Photography
Emily and New both from Perth chose a coastal destination wedding. With the day beginning with a surf on iconic Byron Bay beach, Nev married Emily in an outdoor ceremony at Fig Tree Restaurant surrounded by family and friends. Emily’s mother was the celebrant and a highlight to their day.
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Ivy Ballroom, Sydney NSW
Photography by All Grown Up Weddings
Isabella and Michael exchanged vows in a Sydney historic church that Isabella’s parents married in and then made a glitter entrance to party the night away at Sydneys Ivy Ball Room. Details of love were scattered through the day that celebrated their love and their families.
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The Little White House, Emerald, Victoria
photography by Karon Photography
Everything was all set and ready to go for the 100 guest wedding in Melbourne’s Fitzroy Gardens and a month before their date the tragic news of Covid-19 hit. “We were now faced with the realisation that we had to completely change everything we had planned and worked so hard towards.” It turned into a perfectly imperfect wedding day that was meant to be.
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Photography by Matt Ashton
Kisha and Don spent nearly a year planning their perfect wedding but nature had other plans, with bushfires ravaging across Australia and their a pandemic they were forced to abandon all their plans and still had the best day ever!
