We first met in fifth form at Wentworth College – Ryan was being introduced to our English class and someone needed to take him to science, so being super kind I volunteered. We quickly became friends and then he asked me out at a party one night – and I said no! Then spent the following three weeks was wishing he would ask me again… Luckily our school ball came around and he asked me – that was nine years ago. Ryan would say I chased him.
The proposal was amazing! Ryan and I had cycled to Welcome Rock, an hour out of Queenstown, to stay at The Mud Hut. In the evening we had an outdoor bath in the high country mountain ranges. Afterwards, Ryan poured us champagne – which he’d carried on his bike in a backpack – and got down on one knee to pop the question. He’d worked with Naveya & Sloane to design me an engagement ring. I love that he chose a ruby.
Our wedding reception was cocktail style, to keep a relaxed feel and to make it easy to mix and mingle with our guests. So we skipped a sit-down dinner and instead had canapes and nibbles in bamboo boats followed by a ham carvery and large cheese platters. Neither of us are very traditional so instead of a three-tier cake we had an orange cake with passionfruit curd and crushed pistachios, a gluten-free polenta cake with lime, strawberries and cream and a carrot cake with cream cheese and white chocolate. They looked beautiful topped with pansies and white roses. The cake table doubled as a dessert table and had large lolly jars for mini chocolates and marshmallows.
My mum was amazing and offered to do our flowers for us. I basically gave her autonomy, just said I wanted white flowers and that I liked peonies for my bouquet. She and Ryan’s mum and a couple of their friends sourced everything from the flower markets and did all the arrangements – I’ve had so many comments on our flowers!
My dress was nothing like I’d imagined, it just worked when I tried it on. I ended up buying a French lace top with a statement collar from Rue De Seine a couple of sizes too big so it was beautiful and flowing, then went to my mum’s trusty seamstress to make me a skirt.
The most memorable moment was walking down the aisle! I think this moment and the feeling is truly something you can’t anticipate until you’re doing it! I was really nervous with everyone’s eyes on me but it felt so good to see Ryan and then almost forget about the guests while we were saying our vows.
Photography by: Jonny from A Narrative of Love / Location: Auckland
See more of this wedding inside issue three available to purchase here: issue three
Brides Top, Rue de Seine | Hair and Make up, Paige Best | Grooms & Groomsmen Attire, Barkers |Bow Ties, Bow Harris | Venue, Quarterdeck Restaurant |
