A Fine Romance

Lush foliage and a gorgeous garden setting made these nuptials all kinds of beautiful.

Dale and I met while at university just over 10 years ago. We both worked part-time at a liquor store – so romantic! He popped the question on holiday in Vanuatu, in a secluded cove on a private island.

We wanted to hold our wedding on our 10-year anniversary, which happened to be in March. An early autumn wedding meant I could comfortably wear a light dress during the ceremony, and then throw on a leather jacket as it cooled down during the evening.

The Narrows Landing in Tamahere was our venue of choice. We were absolutely sold on the food, and the expansive indoor space was ideal for our reception of 110 guests. It featured floor-to-ceiling windows that wrapped around the room, opening out to a spacious deck. This was the ultimate place to get the party started with pre- and post- ceremony drinks, while the venue’s velvety manicured lawns and immaculate rose gardens worked a treat for our outdoor ceremony.

Envisioning a natural, uncluttered look, we focused on an abundance of greenery and wooden décor and furniture. A clean, simple colour palette of black and white featuring subtle flecks of gold set the stage for this vision.

Branches, foliage and white and blush flowers – think roses, gypsophila and anemones – filled the reception space. These ran