Category: Wedding

Basically, I needed an excuse to share all our photos with you!

Now that we have a handful of photos, it’s time to write up all the nitty gritty details of our big day. When we were in the early stages of planning, I was constantly googling, typing up wedding-related search queries, and reading blog after blog. While I love flicking through issues of Hello May and Together Journal, there’s something more relatable reading first-hand about my favourite bloggers’ wedding days. So, whether you’re recently engaged, thinking about getting married sometime in the future or just interested in seeing how our day panned out, this one is for you.

I’ve been super emotional since our wedding, especially when looking through our photos. The photo of us walking down the aisle with the rose confetti never fails to make me cry. I think it’s one of those images I’ll forever associate with our day.

Wedding Stationery
Along with our invitations, my friend Amanda created our signage and menus for the day. She chose the font and ensured it remained true to our overall design ethos (pared back, modern and minimalist, words you’ll hear me repeat throughout this post…) Her designs worked seamlessly with the white signage from Bleu Studio. Our ceremony arch was also from Bleu Studio. If you’re planning a modern, minimalist wedding, Lucy’s creations will be right up your alley. We love the clean, streamlined aesthetic of her pieces and designs.

Outfits
I researched dresses online before setting foot in the shops. I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted (something simple yet elegant) and ended up going for a silk dress by Dan Jones. He’s a Sydney designer who steers clear of traditional bridal aesthetics and dresses modern women in the most luxurious fabrics. For shoes, I decided on a pair of Chaos and Harmony heels. A Mount Maunganui brand, they invented the comfy yet affordable bridal shoe for Kiwi women. One of the toughest decisions was jewellery. I don’t really wear much on a daily basis, but after scouring every jewellery site imaginable, I finally came across these Picasso earrings by Holly Ryan and I actually wore them a couple times before our wedding. My engagement ring is a green sapphire from Pieces of Eight Gallery and my wedding band was Nick’s grandmother’s wedding ring.

Monique Cadigan at Graceful Hair Art did my hair, my bridesmaids’ hair as well as Nick’s mom and my mom’s hair. Kasia Stanicich did all of our makeup. I put my trust in both these talented ladies and was thoroughly impressed. Monique urged me to wear a middle part and it ended up looking so glam. Kas’ makeup is fun and fresh, and I loved my peachy eyes because they matched the overall apricot/peach aesthetic. Kas and Mon are the type of women you will simultaneously admire and want to call your friends.

Nick and I were laughing the other day when we realised how many times he’s worn a tuxedo. He wore one for his high school leavers ball and also at our university balls. It made sense that he’d wear one for our wedding because he’s quite a formal guy and Riccarton House is a relatively formal setting. I was also adamant that he wear black because it’s so classic. His tux and bowtie are from Barkers as were his groomsmen’s suits and black ties. His ring is a brushed gold band from Kennett Crafted Jewels.

Venue
Both our ceremony and reception were held at Riccarton House. Many historic buildings were lost in the earthquakes, so we were fortunate to be able to celebrate amongst the oldest building in Christchurch (which was built over 175 years ago). The grounds are home to a forest that was established 3000 years ago and many of the trees are 600 years old! Amanda, Hannah and the team at Local did a wonderful job of planning our day. We worked closely with Hannah, the in-house events planner, who finalised every last detail, down to the second. She ensured the day went off without a hitch and if there were any issues, we had absolutely no idea! A few friends have asked me whether I suggest hiring a planner and I do! Your wedding day can be stressful enough without having to worry about little things going wrong. Having Hannah’s expertise in the lead up to and on the day, was one of the best decisions we made!

Here’s a bit more info on how we chose our venue. If you’re looking for a central city venue for either a wedding or event, I highly recommend looking into Local at Riccarton House.

Style & Aesthetic
We were fortunate to have Hayley and Co. as our wedding stylist. Hayley is immensely talented and also the loveliest person ever! I first discovered her work when attending a media dinner at Twenty Seven Steps a few years ago. We instantly clicked and she went over and above to ensure our day was as beautiful as we had envisioned. We opted for a pared back, minimalist reception. I didn’t want white tablecloths or anything too stuffy, rather we opted for wood tables from Silk Estate, white bentwood chairs (my personal favourite) that transferred well from the ceremony to the reception, and gold cutlery paired with Hayley’s charcoal plates. She sourced our linen napkins from Whistling Reindeer. Our florals were by Alicia at Bunch Floral. She uses what’s in season to create magical, natural bouquets and centrepieces with no waste.

We borrowed gorgeous bikes from our friends at Action Bicycle Club for the day. They are our go-to for all our cycling needs and my parents actually hired bikes from Ken and Charlotte in the lead-up to our wedding and ran heaps of our errands by bike. My mom is now buying a similar model back in Canada. We would’ve used our own bicycles, but my Linus is so well-loved and has plenty of bumps and scratches.

FYI: While we enjoyed creating the look and feel of our reception with a marquee, it’s an expensive route to take and we had to cut costs in other areas. 

Food
One of the main reasons we chose Local at Riccarton House as our venue was because the grounds are home to the Christchurch Farmers Market. We frequent the market by bike and love that it supports the best food growers and producers in the region. Our favourite producers were all part of our big day. 

After our ceremony, we had canapes and ice cream by Utopia Ice. Our dinner started off with bread by Bellbird Baked Goods, cheese by Barrys Bay and olives and antipasti from Robinsons Bay. Our salmon was sourced from Akaroa, the eggplant and halloumi stacks as well as the rest of the sides came from the gardens. Our three-tiered cake was by the talented, Cakes by Anna.

For us, it wasn’t so much about what we served, rather we wanted to ensure the meal was fresh, local and seasonal. We decided to host our wedding in Christchurch because it’s a city that has been so good to us and in a small way, this was how we could support and celebrate the incredible local businesses in the area.

We first experienced a family style wedding dinner at my cousin Jimmy’s wedding in Hyas, Saskatchewan several years ago, and loved how intimate and laidback it felt. We trusted the Local team to come up with an amazing menu and they delivered on all accounts! They even managed to create Canadian poutine for midnight lunch! It was such a hit and we’ve since had so much comments about how good the food was…

Photography & Videography

I’ve talked about our photographer, Ana Galloway on numerous occasions and she really needs no introduction. Ana is sweet, kind and thoughtful. She’s the type of person who will amaze you upon first meeting. She’s both professional, and super organised, which was very important to us both. When I was stressing about timings, her calming presence immediately put me at ease. It goes without saying, her photography style is exactly what we were wanting; artistic with a documentary style approach, which lends itself to hundreds and hundreds of gems. Seriously, she filled up ALL of her memory cards! Along with Ana, we had Olivia Spencer-Bower, an architectural photographer who took all the progress shots at Christchurch Town Hall while it was being restored. She got us into Town Hall for our bridal party photos (the first photos taken here in over eight years!)

Like most couples, we spent a long time deliberating on whether or not we needed a videographer. It’s a big expense, but after watching the wedding videos of complete strangers, I knew we couldn’t go without. It sounds obvious, but it was actually quite difficult to find a videographer who records the vows, the ceremony and all the important bits. We met with Craig from Lovelight Cinema about eight months out. He was friendly, engaging and his work captures the sentimentality of marriage that I so adore! We met another time to go over the details of the day and I knew we had made the right decision. My sister, Natalie kept commenting that he was so fun to be around and she’s exactly right. Not only is Craig immensely talented, he has the best personality and energy. He kept us laughing all day long and provided just the right amount of guidance.

Nick recently said that having Ana and Craig with us throughout the day was “deeply calming” and it was “almost like having wedding mentors at your side on what is one of the most biggest days of your lives.”

Choosing Our Celebrant
Finding a someone to officiate our wedding the first big challenge. I relied on Christchurch Weddings for advice on choosing a celebrant. We wanted someone we could truly connect with, who understood our modern ideals and views on equality within our marriage. Hannah Duder came up in conversation a handful of times and I had heard of her through her business, Indigo & Iris. We initially met and were impressed with her sincerity and warmth. My parents also commented on what a wonderful job she did. She is personable, thoughtful and well-spoken.

Music & Entertainment
We hired Praesto String Quartet for our ceremony music. I am obsessed with string music (why did I study piano instead of violin?!) and my dad studied music at university, so having a string quartet was an obvious choice. They quickly learnt the list of songs we requested: the bridesmaids walked to Home by Edward Sharp and my processional was to Here Comes The Sun because my dad loves The Beatles My only regret is that I didn’t get to hear them play longer.

After doing extensive research (aka attending A LOT of weddings), we decided on a DJ for our dance. Along with being super helpful throughout the entire planning process, Lucy at Christchurch Weddings recommended Paul McKessar. He did a fantastic job at ensuring everyone was up and out of their seats all night long. Our first dance was to Home by Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeroes and my parents managed to find tambourines that were used the entire night. The highlight was definitely the kolomeyka, which a traditional Ukrainian dance (typically danced at festivities and weddings) where everyone takes turn showing off their skills. See the photo below.

Other Details Worth Noting
My sisters, my mom and Nick’s mom spent the morning getting ready at The Britten Stables, which is just a short walk from Riccarton House. Catherine and Penny brought a picnic basket with breakfast and coffee. Here, my godmother brought in a traditional kolach to bless us before our wedding day. This was a quiet moment with our close family and something I’ll remember forever.

We also returned to quickly freshen up after our photos. I highly recommend doing first look photos before your ceremony, so you can spend time with your guests, many of which have travelled huge distances to be with you. It also allowed us to relax, catch up with old friends, and enjoy the champagne and canapes with our guests before the reception.

Nick and I spent our wedding night back at The Britten Stables and gosh, it was glorious. The property is stunning and completely self-contained. I’m already dreaming about returning for a second visit. They were also so lovely about us taking heaps of photos in the main areas of the house and these are some of the best shots of the day!

The day after our wedding, we invited our out of town guests to Smash Palace for brunch. It’s our go-to hangout for after work drinks and the team created the most delicious menu for us.

Well, there you have all the details from our wedding day. It was more magical than I could’ve ever imagined and it feels surreal to call Nick my husband after a decade together; a decade that has been filled with highs and lows and so much growth. Many of our family and friends travelled more than 10,000 km to spend the day with us and we felt immensely blessed to share this major milestone with them.

I never felt like marriage would change our dynamic as a couple, but lately, I feel as though we are closer than we’ve ever been and we appreciate each other more and more every day.

Oh, and I only cried four times during the day. Not bad for a sap like me.

 

 

 

 

It’s been almost a month since I celebrated my bachelorette in Auckland, surrounded by some of my beautiful friends.

I’ve only been to a handful of hen parties in my lifetime and each has been completely different from the former. A few were tightly organised, with every detail carefully thought out. Others took a more, “let’s see where the day takes us” approach. For mine, I really wanted a city escape and to stay right downtown.

I’ll never forget my friend, Kirsten’s bachelorette when we went to New York City. There was no itinerary and the group sometimes would break into groups of two or three depending on our moods and interests. I was able to catch up with a friend in Williamsburg and my sister, Stephanie and I even joined a march in Greenwich Village. It was a week rather than a weekend and we all made memories to last a lifetime.

Personally, I don’t believe in a one size fits all mentality when it comes to bachelor/bachelorette parties. The event should be customised to the individual’s tastes whether they want one last hurrah or a relaxing spa retreat to unwind after all the stressful preparations. There’s absolutely no wrong way to do it, and here’s what mine entailed…

A Quick Note…

I decided on Auckland for the location because it’s where I lived and went to university for three years. Many of my friends still live there and were travelling down to Christchurch the following weekend. Also, my Canadian family and friends were all stopping over in Auckland from Vancouver before flying domestically to other parts of the country before the wedding.

Barre Class

Faced with rain, we refused to let the forecast dampen our spirits. We met at our gorgeous central city apartment (who knew you could find Airbnbs in the heart of the Britomart?!) before walking to Parnell for a barre class. There’s nothing I love more than a sweat session to kick off the day, so I was excited to try Bloom Barre and Pilates on Gibraltor Street. The light-filled studio is a wonderful place to workout, and owner/instructor is classically trained, so you can expect the best possible training and technique. She ensured our morning class was heaps of fun and we spent the entire hour laughing. I’m sure I’ll be back the next time I’m in Auckland.

We discovered Bloom thanks to our friends at Romer App.

On our way home, I was seriously tempted to stop for coffee at Winona Forever, but we had brunch waiting for us at the apartment. Here, we played some games and got into the champagne and cupcakes my friend Robyn kindly brought along. After a few sips and a light bite, it was time to head to the ferry.

Waiheke Island

By this point, it was pouring, so a few of us grabbed Ubers while the others braved the rain. By the time we got on the ferry, the rain had subsided somewhat, but it was still a pretty bumpy ride. Despite being a bit nervous on boats, with some bubbles in my system and good pals by my side, I was having a ball.

Our wine tastings commenced at Mudbrick, which is my go-to Waiheke winery. I’ve been so many times and yet, I never tire of the space. It’s extra special on a sunny day, when you can sit outside and sip rosé. The cellar is equally impressive, a cosy place to spend a few hours.

As we polished off a few glasses, my sisters and Nick’s sister surprised me with a photographer, Joanna Walker, who took a bunch of amazing photos to help commemorate this part of the day. It’s been lovely to look back and relive my hen’s party all over again.

She also joined us at Cable Bay (our second winery of the day). Another Waiheke favourite, Cable Bay is a lot more modern than Mudbrick. Sadly, they’ve recently closed off their lawn to guests, so you can’t sit with a bottle of wine and relax like you could in the past. Regardless, the views are still pretty epic and I love the sleek space!

Dinner, Drinks, Dancing & Karaoke

After the wineries, we ventured back to the city to freshen up and meet up with a few more friends before dinner. Dinner was at nearby Ima (recommended by my friend, Emma) and it was the highlight of my day. A Middle Eastern restaurant with the best service (seriously we big time bonded with our waitress…) We ordered way too much and ended up having leftovers for breakfast the next day. Anyway, I can’t reclmmend Ima enough! The hummus is legendary and it’s PERFECT for groups. They also gave me a free cocktail, which was so sweet!

Full disclosure: I was quite unwell in the lead up and during my hens party, so I wasn’t up for a massive night.

That said, we managed to make it to a few bars (Saint Alice on the Viaduct is a new fave!) and to karaoke (Luxury Karaoke on Queen Street is great for groups!) I was in bed by 1am, which was not a bad effort for this sick gal.

It was an incredible day. I was surrounded by many of my lovely ladies and we managed to fit in many of my favourite activities!

One of the main reasons we decided to get married in Christchurch was to support local vendors. We moved back to Nick’s hometown because he wanted to play a key role in its rebuild and I wanted to blog about the aspects that make it such a rad city. There are SO many businesses that make this city a wonderful place to be. Much of this blog and my Instagram account have been dedicated to promoting local businesses and organisations. I don’t think I would still be living here three years later if not for the incredible creative community here in Christchurch.

Without further ado, here are some of the fantastic wedding vendors we’ve been working with (so far) and have made planning so much fun…

Planning
I’ve discussed our decision to host our wedding at Local at Riccarton House, but I want to reiterate how excited we are to be working with the team at Local. Since the beginning, they’ve been incredibly accommodating, answering all my questions and helping us put our ideas in motion. Nick and I often visit the Farmer’s Market on Saturdays or stop in for coffee on Sunday. The grounds are stunning, the vibe is always relaxed, and the house is incredibly special. I’ve often heard people say that wedding planning is super stressful, but so far planning our celebration has been an absolute dream. I can’t wait to share more as our big day approaches.

I’ve also been working with multi-talented Lucy at Christchurch Weddings on many planning elements. She’s full of advice and tips on everything from hairstyles to bridesmaid dresses, catering, DJs and beyond… You name it, Lucy has the answer. I had NO idea I needed a wedding planner until after our first meeting. Her skills span much more than just answering my endless questions, so  be sure to check out her website and Instagram account to see some examples of her work .We’re also working on a post about everything she does as a wedding planner. Stay tuned for that because it’s going to be a goodie! Oh, and I grabbed myself a copy of Notes From the Heart and am looking forward to filling it in and recording my thoughts throughout this special time.

Photos by Hannah Bird Photography 

Design & Styling
I’ve talked about the role of a wedding stylist and why we decided to hire one in a previous blog post (you can find it here). We’re working with Hayley of Hayley and Co. for our big day and I’ve loved catching up with her to discuss everything from colour schemes to florals to ensure everything is cohesive. I’m quite detail-oriented, but it’s been helpful running my ideas past a professional. Hayley’s styled many weddings throughout Christchurch and New Zealand, and we’re so lucky to have her as our stylist!

Florals
In other news, we’ve also decided on a local florist, Alicia from Bunch Floral. was an easy choice for us. She does things differently than most florists, using seasonal produce and reducing waste. Everything she makes it unconventional, elegant, and strikingly simple. You may remember when I wrote about attending one of her workshops and how I left feeling inspired? Well, here’s the blog post if you haven’t yet had a chance! Alicia is so incredibly talented and I love her wild, unfussy yet perfectly balanced arrangements.

Photography by Charlotte Sowman

Hair, Makeup & Outfits
There’ll be no sneak peeks about my dress (sorry!) but I can tell you that I’ve got my hair stylist and makeup artist booked in. The talented Kasia Stanicich is doing my makeup (how lucky am I?) and Monique at Graceful Hair Art will be doing my hair. If you’ve seen her work, you’ll know how talented she is! I even have a Pinterest board of hairstyles saved because I’m that extra. I’m currently tossing up between a few pair of shoes (open or closed toe? Neutral or vibrant?) as well as headpieces (I’m leaning towards no veil) and I might share some of those details in a future post.

Getting inspired…
This weekend, I’m attending the Wild Hearts Wedding Fair. I’ve been to a few Wild Hearts events in the past and they kindly invited me to their Christmas party last year right after we got engaged. They always put together the loveliest, most unconventional fairs, (with the coolest vendors) which is super refreshing. If you’re Christchurch-based, don’t miss out on tickets. Oh and I’m so looking forward to their runway show.

This post is getting quite long, but really this is only the beginning. During a time that’s often considered overwhelming and stressful, I’ve never felt better and know it’s thanks to the women mentioned above.

 

Couples are now dating for longer and living together before tying the knot, which means traditional bachelor/bachelorette parties are becoming a thing of the past.

I had a discussion with a friend the other day, which inspired this post. He was in disbelief that I was planning on inviting both male and female friends to my party. This got me thinking about how I’d like my bachelorette and wedding day to play out. Nick and I are doing away with outdated traditions that don’t feel relevant to us. But, more on that another day…

Here are eight ideas that I think would suit a modern bride (or groom) to-be. Even if you’re not planning or attending a bachelorette anytime soon, this list might inspire your next birthday party or event:

Visit a few nearby wineries
Let’s start with this one because it’s basically my dream hen situation. A sunny afternoon exploring Waipara or Waiheke sounds absolutely perfect for a chill bride-to-be. If you’re based in Christchurch, why not explore North Canterbury’s collection of world-class wineries and restaurants? There’s Black Estate, Pegasus Bay and Boneline to name a few… Or, check out North Canterbury Wine & Food Festival in early March. If you’re in Auckland, an afternoon ferry ride to Waiheke would be absolutely divine. How about lunch at Man O’ War or Mudbrick Winery?

Road trip to the beach
My friend Annie had her hens weekend at another friend’s beach house in Northland, it was the most wonderful time ever. We kicked things off with a scrumptious brunch at Odettes Eatery (but Amano or Ortolana would be perfect and perfectly situated as well) before carpooling up North for three days of bliss, sunshine, platters and outdoor baths. We even escaped to a winery for lunch, which was absolutely divine.

Attend a music festival
For the modern bride who still wants to get a bit rowdy, a music festival might be just the thing. As a teenager, I always envisioned bopping away at Bonnaroo or Osheaga for my bachelorette.

Explore a new city
Potentially a more expensive option, a city break is worth considering if you’re not going on a honeymoon or live within driving distance of a city you’ve yet to visit. Another friend of mine, Kirsten had her bachelorette in New York City (I know, right?) We travelled as a group of eight for five days and it was magical. I was living in Toronto at the time, so the flight was only an hour and reasonably-priced. We did a few touristy things, but spent most of our time in Chelsea, Williamsburg and Soho. Without a set itinerary, I even managed to catch up with a few friends who live in the city.  A mini holiday is a great way to bond with your friends before tying the knot.

Hit the slopes
If you’re based in Western Canada, a ski trip bachelorette would be incredible. Imagine renting a house (with a hot tub) in Golden BC and spending the weekend in the powder. Aprés ski is another excellent reason to opt for this type of bachelorette. I especially like the sound of mulled wine and cheese after a day on the slopes.

Sail away
If you live in a warmer climate (or it’s summertime in Canada), a day spent sailing might suit you and your mates. I love the idea of hiring a yacht for the day and sailing along the harbour. There are charters that allow you to bring your own food and drinks, which is an effective way to save money. Otherwise, some clubs let you hire out boats if you’d like to sail yourselves. Nick would love this option!

Pamper yourselves
Spa day bachelorettes appeal me to on so many levels. With the stress of planning a wedding, nothing sounds better than spending the day getting massaged and pampered. Her Majesty’s Pleasure in Toronto would be the perfect spot any time of day as they serve up delicious coffee or beautifully crafted cocktails alongside your mani/pedi or blowout. The Pamper Bar in Christchurch is another excellent option if you want to get your nails and brows looking fierce for the wedding. They also offer spray tans at their second location, The Tan Bar.

Art crawl through the city
With so many amazing local galleries scattered throughout most cities, an art crawl is a lovely idea for a creative bride-to-be. In Christchurch, you could explore CoCA and the Christchurch Art Gallery before settling in for lunch and negronis at Universo. Many city galleries host monthly parties that run well into the wee hours, so it’d be worth coordinating your bachelorette party with one of these events. My friend Mary organised her birthday party at the ROM and we spent the night on the dance floor with DJs and live music and exploring the galleries with tasty food and drinks.

Many of us live in different cities and even different countries throughout our lives. Modern day bachelor and bachelorette parties are about spending quality time with friends from different phases of our lives. There’s no better feeling than your childhood bestie connecting with your uni pals and your siblings getting to know those mates you met on exchange.

What do you think? Does a bachelorette/hen party need to be a final hurrah with your gal pals or are you a more modern bride who would prefer something a bit alternative?