Tell us about the vision you had for the mood or style of your wedding…
If it were any other year, our wedding would have been a three-day extravaganza in Baja California, Mexico. Originally booked for June 2020, we had to heartbreakingly cancel everything three months prior. My mum lives in the UK and it was difficult to get her home to New Zealand during the pandemic. We put all wedding thoughts on hold during this time. Mum went into MIQ in March 2021, we started planning straight away and were married a month later! We didn’t want to attempt to emulate what would have been in Mexico and instead opted for something completely different. I found the stunning private estate in Hawke’s Bay online and booked the first available weekend they had. Luckily we only had six guests, both our parents and our dear friends (whom one of which was our celebrant) so invites and save the dates were exchanged for a quick phone call. Our vision for the day was for it to be the epitome of a chic garden soirée. Intimate, refined, and incredibly relaxed for all involved. We kept the styling simple, relying on the beauty of the grounds, stunning florals, and added personal touches with the handwritten menus and Matilda Goad napkins. Our intention was that when years later, our family are looking at old photographs and film footage from our day they won’t be able to pinpoint the era. Our incredibly talented photographer Ana captured this feeling perfectly for us, and the same too with our Super-8 film videographer Aidan.
What was one element you were happy to splurge on?
Chelsie: Definitely invest a good portion of your budget in your photographer and videographer. As our wedding was small, with only six guests, it was incredibly important that we captured every element of our day to share with loved ones afterwards. Ana was initially booked for our Mexico wedding, she was so understanding when plans changed and were my greatest confidant in the lead up to our Hawkes Bay event. We needed a photographer we could trust wholeheartedly and as we both work within the design industry, we were incredibly detailed with our brief. Ana exceeded our expectations on every level, and we still can’t believe how good we looked thanks to her. We made the last-minute decision to get film footage for our day, and we’re so glad we did. We’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve watched the film since April. It has been so special to share this with our loved ones overseas too and to hear of my grandparents watching from their living room has been heartwarming.
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, is there a story?
Jordan: I went all out with a custom Italian made suit from Crane Brothers. I opted for a collarless shirt and navy suit, in a lightweight wool and mohair blend. My suit was underway for our Mexico wedding date and ended up getting stuck in Italy as a result of the pandemic. John and the rest of the Crane Brothers team were incredible, I’ve never had a shopping experience like it.
Chelsie: Where do I start, Initially I had my heart set on an Emilia Wickstead Bridal gown and had a consultation with the team in London. However, as our Mexico plans progressed I was worried about the heat and the weight of the fabric, so I started to let my eyes wander. Soon after, I spotted the floral blush Roksanda beauty on the runway and knew that I had to find it! I contacted the designer to enquire about the runway sample but to no avail. Then a few years later I spotted someone selling the dress second hand online, who’d bought it for their 10 year wedding anniversary. After months of back and forth, the precious package arrived and it became clear that the dress needed some careful restoration after what must have been a rather wild party! We finished the restoration of the dress just as we went into lockdown and our Mexico plans were cancelled. As we didn’t want to emulate our Mexico plans in Hawkes Bay, it didn’t feel right to wear my blush Roksanda for our ceremony. I quickly snapped up my Emilia Wickstead gown online and it arrived just in time! My parents and Ana all convinced me that I needed to give my Roksanda the outing it deserved, so I swapped into it after lunch and I am so glad I did. The reaction on everyone’s faces, especially Jordan’s as I walked outside will stay with me forever.
