In today’s episode, I'm sharing my chat with beautiful Clara, recent bride and wedding dress designer, we love to hear both perspectives!

A few things we cover:

💜 Clara met her husband Tom on Tinder and they instantly clicked. He proposed with a sweet, well-planned surprise involving a seaplane, a beach, and a heartfelt speech.

💜 They chose the Tree Church for its beauty and flexibility, especially being able to bring their own alcohol. Despite the early finish time, they loved the relaxed vibe.

💜 Clara made her own wedding dress, drawing inspiration from the venue. She even designed it on a flight home and collaborated with a friend to create a second reception dress.

💜 Her top planning priorities were the venue and photography. She was a "PowerPoint bride" with spreadsheets, Pinterest boards, and cost comparisons for each location.

💜 She took the week off before the wedding to stay calm and present, started the wedding day with a peaceful solo walk, and loved the speeches and time with Tom the most.

💜 Clara runs Clara Bridal, designing bespoke wedding dresses as well as a core collection. She works with local and remote clients and offers a seamless custom process.

💜 Her biggest advice for brides is to trust your instincts, avoid getting overwhelmed by too much inspiration, and remember the day is about you and your person.

...and so much more!

Below you can find the handles for all C & T’s vendors. Be sure to check out some of their photos on IG at ⁠@thekiwiweddingpodcast⁠ + give us a follow.

Vendors:

Photography: @sapphirestudios___

Dress: @clara__bridal

Second Dress: Clara + @re_______studio

Suit: @rembrandt1946

Bridesmaids Dresses: @clara__bridal⁠

Makeup: @tiveshni

Coordinator: @willowlane_events

Cake: @babybuckbaking

Catering: @3forksnz

Venue: @treechurchandgardens

Rings: @naveyaandsloanejewellery

Earrings: @capelliaboutique

Flowers: @chloelefleur

Clara’s Planning Spreadsheet

In today’s episode, I'm sharing my lovely chat with Chloe, a recent bride, married at Stoneridge Estate in Queenstown.

A few things we cover:

💜 Getting engaged in the most Gossip Girl-worthy way (yes, at the top of the Empire State Building 😍).

💜 Choosing a destination wedding in Queenstown and why Stoneridge was the perfect venue.

💜 Getting a custom Brooke Tyson Ritual wedding dress made and changing up her look with a beautiful scarf.

💜 DIY stationery and signage: the rewarding (and time-consuming) process.

💜 Navigating wedding planning as a young couple, including budgeting and guest list challenges.

💜 Honouring Samoan culture with a traditional Siva performance.

💜 Overcoming comparison, social media pressure, and finding peace in authenticity.

💜 Honeymooning in Bali and moving overseas right after the wedding.

...and so much more!

Below you can find the handles for all C & D’s vendors. Be sure to check out some of their photos on IG at ⁠@thekiwiweddingpodcast⁠ + give us a follow.

Vendors:

Photographer: @pattersonimage

Dress, Veil & Scarf: @brooketysonritual

Venue: @stoneridgeestate

Florals: @flowerroomqueenstown

Celebrant: Dan Ackermann

DJ: @mountainbeatsdjco

Cake: @sophieroseannacakes

Stationery & Signage: @chlotusa

Bride’s Rings: @zoeandmorgan

Groom’s Ring: @michaelhillj

Earrings: @cami.citrine

Bride’s Shoes: @novoshoes

Makeup: @olivia.jane.jenner

Hair: @tussockhairandmakeup

Grooms & Groomsmen Suits: @rembrandt1946

Bridesmiads: @rubytakessnaps + @peppermayo

Also featured:

Together Journal

Zoe and Morgan

In today’s episode, I'm chatting with Lana about her gorgeous Southland wedding!

A few things we cover:

💜 Meeting her husband at a friend's wedding, where they were both in the bridal party.

💜 Her vision for a wedding that was fun, modern, and timeless.

💜 Choosing to celebrate their big day on the family farm, a spot that was significant to them and allowed their guests to stay on-site.

💜 How their friends and family rallied to get the property looking amazing for their day.

💜 The couple's top priority for their guests to have a blast! Opting for a cocktail-style reception with food flowing throughout the night, rather than a sit-down dinner.

💜 Looking beyond Southland to find their wedding vendor dream-team.

💜 Finding her dream dress at Natalie Rose Bridal in Auckland, straying from what she thought she’d choose.

💜 Prioritising quality vendors alongside DIY projects and being savvy with certain areas of the budget.

...and so much more!

Below you can find the handles for all L & E’s vendors. Be sure to check out some of their photos on IG at ⁠@thekiwiweddingpodcast⁠ + give us a follow.

Vendors:

Photographer: @aimeeprestonimages

Videographer: @badpandaproductions

Design, Styling and Furniture Hire: @nichollsandco.nz

Venue: Marshall Family Farm

Marquee: @yougather_events

Hair: @the_florence_society

Makeup: @lorenrussell_

Cake: @siobhan.cakes

Catering: @churchyscatering

Band: @jetsetbandnz

Wedding Dress: @natalierosebridal

Alterations: @fritzandsarah

Second Dress: @jessicacoutures

Celebrant: @meganmckenziecelebrant

Invites: @sayi_do

On today’s episode I’m chatting with the lovely Kirsten. All about her wedding(s) in 2019 and her business Amplified Cosmetica.

A few things we cover:

💜 Meeting as teenagers through mutual friends at a wine festival.

💜 Starting out in a long-distance relationship, chasing their career goals, moving to Australia together, travelling and then moving home to be close to family.

💜 Navigating some terminal diagnoses on both sides of the family, the heartbreak and grief that comes alongside that, and deciding to get married earlier than planned to include all their immediate family in the celebrations.

💜 Planning the perfect surprise small wedding… and keeping it a secret from all those that weren’t in attendance.

💜 Despite facing heartbreaking loss for their bigger wedding down the track, not making it a Memorial Day, but having special details to honour their loved ones, while still throwing an epic party.

💜 Prioritising what they really wanted and not trying to cater to every single one of their guests opinions and desires.

💜 Navigating a difficult relationship dynamic with a bridesmaid and ultimately regretting including them on the day… why you need to trust your gut and do not dismiss red flags when they arise.

💜 Surprising everyone at their big wedding with the fact they were already married.

💜 Spending time together go-karting on their wedding morning!

💜 Why their first dance was to the ‘Friends’ theme song.

💜 Her background, how she got into the beauty industry and what led to opening her own business: Amplified Cosmetica.

💜 The services they offer and the importance of doing a proper full skin consult with a trusted specialist before letting anyone treat your skin.

💜 How your pre-wedding beauty routine doesn’t need to be over-the-top or ridiculously expensive. You can focus on what you value most and avoid outside pressures.

💜 Choosing vendors you trust and being aware of beauty vendors that manipulate or use AI in their portfolio.

...and so much more!

Below you can find the handles for all K & D’s vendors. Be sure to check out some of their photos on IG at ⁠@thekiwiweddingpodcast⁠ + give us a follow.

Follow Kirsten: @amplified_cosmetica

Vendors:

First Wedding (June 2018):

Location: Mosgiel, NZ

Photographer: @mcgivern.sinead

Hair & Makeup: @amplified_cosmetica

Flowers: @estelleflowersnz

Second Wedding (October 2019):

Location: Alexandra, NZ

Tipi: @gatherandgoldtipis

Photographer: @rachel_wybrow

Wedding Dress: @grace_loves_lace

Photobooth: @thefloatobooth

Diary Planner: Little White Book from @forgetmenot_journals

Planning Recommendation: @swellhire

On today’s episode I share my chat with the gorgeous Rebecca, all about her love story and destination wedding in Bali.

A few things we cover:

💜 Meeting online, going away on their travels and then reconnecting at the right time.

💜 A surprise trip to Cairns, a helicopter ride and a beautiful proposal in the middle of the ocean.

💜 Starting her research straight away and immediately deciding to use a wedding planner.

💜 Comparing NZ venues, along with their guest list and budget, to an overseas holiday with a destination wedding and deciding on the latter.

💜 Finding Emma from Long Table Events and feeling a great vibe over email as well as great communication, they chose her straight away to be their planner.

💜 Prioritising family and involving all their special people in different roles leading up to and on the day.

💜 Her dress shopping journey, struggling to find the right one until she came across her stunning Eva Lendel dress at Natalie Rose Bridal.

💜 Her beautiful experience saying yes to the dress with Natalie at The Pink Palace in Parnell, finding her second dress at LVR Bridal and working with Fritz and Sarah for her alterations… a dreamy lineup of Kiwi vendors to curate her bridal wardrobe.

💜 The wedding week! Arrival celebrations, a girls and boys day pre-wedding, the wedding day itself and the recovery day.

💜 Beautiful moments from the day like including their children, their first look, beautiful vows, a stunning sunset and epic party.

💜 How much further their budget stretched in Bali than NZ and allowed them to choose the more premium option in many of their choices.

💜 The importance of focusing on what matters most and doing what is best for you.

...and so much more!

Below you can find the handles for all R & J’s vendors. Be sure to check out some of their photos on IG at ⁠@thekiwiweddingpodcast⁠ + give us a follow.

Vendors:

@natalierosebridal

@fritzandsarah

@motionhouseweddings

@longtableevents

@dollface_darlings

@andrewmaehair

@evalendel

@wedsetter_

@lvr_bridal

@kimkassascouture

@thediamondshop

@cocoflorencenz

@shonajoy

@cranebrothers

@balieventhire

@thekitchenhouse_bali

The beautiful Kaitlyn joins us on the podcast today! Recent bride, married at Te Miro Woolshed.

A few things we cover:

💜 Knowing each other for years and then going from friends to something more.

💜 Starting their family together and navigating parenthood before marriage.

💜 A surprise proposal in a beautiful spot, being heavily pregnant and including a toddler mid-tantrum.

💜 Prioritising capturing memories and having delicious food.

💜 Dress shopping with an idea in mind of what she wanted and ending up choosing something completely different.

💜 What their process was for narrowing down the guest list.

💜 Walking herself down the aisle.

💜 A food truck for dinner and laid-back barbecue vibes.

💜 How hard it can be to hand over control, and wishing she did that a little more.

💜 The overwhelm of social media and navigating what you actually need to create an amazing day.

💜 How much they spent and the sacrifices they made to save for their special day.

💜 What it is like to plan a wedding alongside parenting three young children and how they communicated that with them.

...and so much more!

Below you can find the handles for all K & B’s vendors. Be sure to check out some of their photos on IG at ⁠@thekiwiweddingpodcast⁠ + give us a follow.

Vendors:

Venue: @temirowoolshed

Photographer & Videographer: @leroexmedia

Florals: @dried.petal

Dress: @evieyoungbridal from @madisonrose.bridal

Shoes: @mi_piaci

Veil: @veilsandmorenz

Hair: @hannstech_hair

Makeup: @gabriellehoughtonmua

Tan: @tan.republic

Food: @get_loaded_

Cake: @sweetiesbydan

Bridesmaids Dresses: @billy_j_bridal

Suits: @dorsetsuits

Kids Attire: @nextofficial and @oui.babe

Celebrant: Matt Hicks @dj4younz