Kate & Matt - by Alpine Image Company - Together Journal

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love, what is unique about you and your relationship…

Our story is a little bit naughty… Matt and I met at twelve and sixteen, as Matt is my older brother’s best friend. We started dating at eighteen and twenty-two, and it was quite the secret to begin with!

But fast forward six years, and on a cliff overlooking Lake Taupo, where my family had been coming for over 20 years, Matt got down on one knee and … dropped the ring! The moment was perfect and a true representation of us, as it wouldn’t have been us without some kind of mishap.

Tell us about your special day, was there a specific theme or style? Tell us a little about the setting, the styling and some of your favourite details…

We have spent a huge amount of time in Queenstown over the years, and were set on getting married there from the start. Not only is it a beautiful place, but my family is building a house there at the moment, so we felt it would only become more special as the future backdrop to more family memories.

We wanted to get married somewhere a little off the beaten track and a spot not many people knew about. We searched high and low for a house in Queenstown with a lawn big enough for a marquee. After dozens of rejections, One Fine Day came to the rescue with a beautiful house in Jacks Point.

With the beauty of Queenstown speaking for itself, we didn’t want an elaborate wedding that was overly styled and our focus was more on family, friends and food. Our style is very simple and classic, so we kept to greenery and white florals, neutral colours, touches of gold and a clear roof marquee to accentuate the view of the mountains and lake.

Tell us about your main outfits:

We were both suprisingly unfussed about our outfits and felt this was an area which could blow our budget wide open! So long as my dress was beautifully tailored, I didn’t feel I needed some elaborate brand to make me feel beautiful.

I decided to get my dress made, and wanted something simple and elegant. I was set on having a low back, and my dress maker in Melbourne (where we currently live) was absolutely amazing, bringing my vision to life. I also decided to include a small button from my mum’s dress which was extra special. My accessories were very minimal, with nude Scanlan Theodore heels, a delicate Louis Vuitton braclet gifted by Matt on the day, and a veil for some “bridal drama”.

Keeping with the simple theme, the boys kept it classic in black suits and white shirts. My beautiful bridesmaids wore navy dresses from Celine Rita, and our niece and nephew were the perfect flower girl and ring bearer with outfits from a Melbourne boutique.

What were some of the most memorable/unique moments from the day?

For us, it is was impossible to pick one most memorable moment. From getting ready with our respective bridal/grooms parties, right through to the last dance – it was all perfect.

That said, one of the most important moments for us was grabbing a bottle of champagne and heading to a nearby paddock overlooking the lake, taking fourty-five minutes just to ourselves. With the day going so quickly, it was really special to have a moment just the two of us, and celebrate what the day was all about.

Naturally, having all of those we love most in one place was also incredible. Given the nature of our relationship, it was very much a family affair with only two members of the bridal party being non-family. Spending the time with those closest to us was amazing, and we were also both in awe of our family and friends that made the trip to celebrate, many of whom were from overseas. It was quite a humbling feeling.