WE MET AT A NEW YEARS FESTIVAL HERE (GISBORNE, NEW ZEALAND) CALLED RHYTHM AND VINES, EXACTLY 9 YEARS AGO ON THE DAY WE GOT MARRIED. WE SPENT ABOUT 10 DAYS TOGETHER AND THEN I HAD TO LEAVE TO HEAD BACK TO AUCKLAND (SIX HOURS DRIVE AWAY) AND I WAS BESIDE MYSELF, I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER SEE HIM AGAIN. TWO WEEKS LATER HE FLEW ME BACK DOWN TO GISBORNE AND THE REST IS HISTORY!
WHEN WE STARTED SPEAKING ABOUT OUR WEDDING WE DIDN’T REALLY KNOW WHERE TO START BUT WE KNEW EARLY ON THAT WE WANTED THE WHOLE PROCESS TO BE COMPLETELY STRESS FREE AND VERY FAMILY ORIENTATED – AS WE HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS AND THEY WERE GOING TO BE A MASSIVE PART OF OUR DAY.
WE HAVE SOME LAND THAT WE ARE PLANNING TO BUILD ON THIS YEAR AND DECIDED THAT WOULD BE THE PERFECT PLACE TO HAVE OUR WEDDING, A TRUE KIWI BACKYARD WEDDING. MY HUSBAND BUILT AN ARCHWAY FROM DRIFTWOOD HE FOUND ON THE BEACH, WE HAD BORROWED A MARQUEE FROM OUR FRIENDS, HAD A DANCE FLOOR LIT UP WITH FESTOON LIGHTING AND THE REST OF OUR SECTION WAS SET UP WITH MOROCCAN RUGS WITH FLOOR CUSHIONS AND PICNIC TABLES TOPPED WITH VASES OF WILDFLOWERS.
THERE WAS NO SIT DOWN DINNER, WE JUST HAD A FOOD TRUCK SERVING BURGERS AND A FAMILY FRIEND WORKING THE BAR.
WE LIVE IN A SMALL COASTAL TOWN SITUATED ON THE EAST COAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND, IT WAS PRETTY HARD TO FIND SOMEWHERE DIFFERENT THAT HASN’T BEEN USED BEFORE FOR BOTH VENUE AND PHOTOS. I REALLY WANTED SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAT COULD BE SPECIAL JUST FOR US.
THE CACTI GARDEN IN OUR PHOTOS ARE ACTUALLY FROM THE LOCAL BOTANICAL GARDENS HERE. IM A HUGE CACTI LOVER ANYWAY BUT I HAD NEVER SEEN ANYONE ELSE USE THAT LOCATION FOR THEIR WEDDING PHOTOS SO IT WAS A DREAM COME TRUE!! WE MOVED AROUND A FEW DIFFERENT LOCATIONS FOR PHOTOS INCLUDING WAINUI BEACH WHICH IS WHERE MY HUSBAND SPENDS MOST OF HIS DAYS (SURFING).
OH I JUST KNEW AS SOON AS I SAW PHOTO IT. IT WAS ON PINTEREST! INITIALLY I WAS SET ON HAVING A VERY PLAIN SLIP DRESS BUT AS SOON AS I SAW THE “KEYS” GOWN I JUST KNEW I HAD TO HAVE IT. I SENT THE PHOTO TO MY MUM AND SHE SAID SHE COULDN’T IMAGINE ME IN ANYTHING ELSE. IT REALLY IS MY DREAM DRESS SO THANK YOU DOS FOR CREATING SUCH A UNIQUE DRESS – I FELT LIKE A GODDESS
MY ADVICE WOULD BE TO HAVE YOUR WEDDING EXACTLY THE WAY YOU HAVE ALWAYS DREAMT IT TO BE. DON’T FEEL PRESSURE FROM FAMILY OR FRIENDS TO HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY. THIS IS YOUR DAY TO CELEBRATE YOUR LOVE WITH YOUR PARTNER, AND THAT’S ALL THAT MATTERS.
ALSO – IT DOESN’T HAVE TO COST THE EARTH. THE DAY SHOULD BE ABOUT LOVE, NOT ABOUT IMPRESSING YOUR GUESTS. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, DO NOT SKIMP ON A PHOTOGRAPHER OR YOUR DRESS HAHA.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND A VIDEOGRAPHER TOO!
PHOTOGRAPHER: @ORIWIASOUTARPHOTOGRAPHY//DRESS: @DAUGHTERSOFSIMONE//HAIR & MAKEUP: @HEADCREATIVESALON//FLORALS: @FIELD0FROSES
