Lauren & Joe by Danelle Bohane

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

Joe is from the UK and I grew up in Auckland. We both moved to New York 10 years ago and met in a bar 5 years ago.

I had decided it was time to leave New York but then promptly had a change in plans! I fell in love with him that first night. We are both high energy people and operate at a million miles an hour! Our values are aligned and we think the same way, so we feel very much equals in our relationship, which is important to both of us. We also have a similar sense of humour, which goes a long way! Joe is the Director of a digital advertising agency and I am an Interior Architect. We got engaged on an Autumnal morning in a small garden in Paris which was a very special and private moment for us. It was just before a family vacation. Joe had planned it so we would be seeing my family a few days later and could celebrate with them – an example of how incredibly thoughtful he is.

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 both knew we wanted to get married in New Zealand. With Joe’s family in the UK and friends in the States, it was always going to be a big ask for two thirds of our guests to make the trip to New Zealand! We chose January 4th so people could fold the trip into their Christmas holiday. We had 80 guests which was a great number in creating the intimate and relaxed gathering we envisioned.

We held both the ceremony and reception at our family bach in Four Mile Bay, Lake Taupo. It has been in our family for nearly 60 years and felt like a somewhat sacred place for us to get married. Our friend Cara Hickey performed the ceremony, which was personal and definitely made us feel at ease. We wrote our own vows and our friend Chloe Trebilco read ‘To Love is not to Possess’ by James Kavanaugh.

The aesthetic for the wedding was established pretty early on with our friend Lotta Nieminen, who designed our beautiful and unique invitations in a variation of greens. The blues and greens and quality of light at Taupo are so spectacular, we really didn’t want much decoration in such an environment – the landscape really is the hero! In that sense, we didn’t have a ‘theme’ but rather wanted to keep it simple with all elements in natural materials – wooden furniture, linen tableware, handmade ceramics – which were enhanced with olive branch and white candles on the tables. It was very simple and honest. The Sperry tent created a beautiful space for the evening.

Tell us about your main outfits:

We sourced our outfits in NYC to allow plenty of time for fittings. Joe had his suit made at P Johnson. Having a Negroni in their showroom whilst looking at fabrics and details was fun for both of us! I ended up selecting the first dress I tried on (with plenty in between), by Sarah Seven. She is a young New York designer who I was really happy to support. The clean lines of her pieces are completely aligned with my aesthetic and the she was such a pleasure to work with. The veil was a last minute addition at the encouragement of a friend which I was happy she talked me into! For dancing, I changed into a little Stella McCartney dress that was super fun to wear.

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

The wedding day itself was only one part of a week holidaying with friends at Taupo – which was a very memorable week! Especially as we live so far from New Zealand, being with everyone in summer holiday mode was incredibly special for us. Our favourite moments from the wedding day were seeing each other for the first time at the ceremony and the speeches! Joe’s speech and our super talented maid of honour, Lucinda Kennedy’s speech in particular were brilliant. I also loved getting ready with my bridesmaids – we felt like schoolgirls again! Members of our family put in so much effort with the practicalities and logistics of pulling off the wedding – we were incredibly grateful. Having people come together for you around an event like that is very humbling and certainly memorable.

Any advice for other couples planning to spend the rest of their lives together?

We are hardly ones to give advice – we only just got married! As far as advice for a wedding goes –only do what feels right for you as a couple – there really are no rules. Be present and just focus on enjoying the whole event.

Photography: Danelle Bohane | Ceremony and Reception location: Family Home, Lake Taupo | Celebrant: Cara Hickey (friend) | Bride’s outfits: Sarah Seven and Stella McCartney | Groom’s outfit: P Johnson | Rings: Anna Sheffield and Catbird | Shoes: Loeffler Randall | Earrings: Jennifer Behr | Makeup and Hair: Gorgeous Skin, Beauty & Makeup | Fragrance: Fueguia 1833 | Bridesmaid’s and Groomsmen’s outfits: Marle, Elizabeth & James, Badgley Mischka, Rejina Pyo, Miss Crabb | Styling: Royal Laboratorie | Hire: Lucy Chase Weddings | Marquee: The Flagship Events Company | Flora: Bloomin Flowers | Catering and Beverages: Yum Food Company | Cake: Baked with Love | Invitations: Lotta Nieminen