Lydia and Hamish’s wedding was held in mid-March at the Summer House in Nelson. The ceremony was held outdoors on a beautiful hilltop overlooking Tasman Bay and the western mountain ranges beyond. There were four rows of white wooden chairs set out, and several white roses were placed singularly in the ground – marking a pretty pattern across the front where the wedding party would stand, and at the end of each row of chairs. Two large arrangements of flowers, created by Dirt Floral, were set at the front – mostly white like the rest, but with a few stray pale pink roses mixed in.
The wedding party were dressed beautifully in black and white. The two bridesmaids wore long black dresses with fitted waists, a bow at the back and a cowl neck. The groomsmen wore black suits with black bow ties, and a white rose pinned on their lapels. Lydia’s gown – designed by Vinka Design – featured a fitted bodice with a low V-neck and a full skirt with a train, and she wore, pinned in her hair, a long veil embroidered with white flowers. Hamish wore a black Working Style suit, with a white bow tie, and gold cufflinks engraved with the initials ‘H’ and ‘L’. The ceremony was officiated by a friend of Hamish and Lydia’s, and the song ‘Dancing in the Moonlight’ was played as they walked back down the aisle.
Afterwards, the guests all gathered in the Summer House’s large conservatory for the reception. The long dinner tables were expertly styled by George and Co, with white tablecloths, bunches of white and pale pink roses, orchids, and tall thin candles. At each table setting was a piece of black card with the guest’s initials in large silver letters. The wedding party sat at a long table by the windows – with the hilltop and the sea behind – and above it all hung strings of lights and large bunches of white gypsophila. The dinner was roasted salmon, vegetables and green beans, and after it, the desserts were laid out on a table in the corner – chocolate slices, small meringues topped with berries, and pieces of white-iced wedding cake, decorated with pressed flowers.
