The SECRET GARDEN
17.02.2018
SARAH WALKER and JACK PELTER’S timeless and romantic celebration showcased the hidden gems around their home town.
Jack and I met at Longroom in Ponsonby, Auckland a little over eight years ago. There was a definite ‘love at first sight’ moment. Jack is a charming and charismatic Englishman and we talked the night away under the stars. It was a night we’ll never forget.
Four years later, Jack surprised me with a weekend jaunt to Akaroa – he’s a real romantic, so it didn’t raise any suspicions from me. Jack told me he’d booked dinner reservations at our absolute favourite restaurant, suggesting we sit in the courtyard under the stars. As we headed outside, I noticed the courtyard was filled with candles and bunches of peonies everywhere, with a sweetheart table in the middle. Jack led me over to the table and dropped to one knee, presenting a beautiful ring he had designed with the help of Filigree.
We tied the knot four years later on a beautiful summer’s day in Ohinetahi Gardens in Christchurch. Everything was so vivid in the garden – the birds, butterflies and bees made everything feel magical and alive. We wanted our wedding to be in our own backyard, so to speak. Somewhere familiar and close to home, yet also a bit of an untouched gem. That’s when we found Blue Smoke at The Tannery for our reception – its rich, unique character, with wood panel walls and exposed beams, really sold it for us.
We wanted a timeless feel, with a colour palette of natural hues and a splash of blush pink. Charmed Flowers did an incredible job creating bouquets with plenty of greenery for volume. We used old-fashioned light pink roses in our table setting arrangements, nestled amongst assorted foliage, which sat in gold urns. These were accompanied by gold antique candlesticks from The Little Hire Company, as well as vintage coupe glasses and crystal dispensers from The China Cabinet.
It was always going to be a ballgown-style dress for me – the bigger, the better! During a trip to visit Jack’s mum in Leeds, England, I popped into bridal boutique Wed2Be on a bit of a whim. It was the first dress I tried on but, as cliché as it sounds, I knew it was the one! It was a huge ballgown, with a sweetheart neckline in off-white lace, covered in delicate beading and crystals. I accessorised with a veil, tear- drop diamond earrings and a diamond tennis bracelet Jack surprised me with on the morning of the wedding. I asked my four
best girlfriends to choose dresses they loved in blush, letting them find one that suited them and their personality.
Jack opted for a three-piece suit from Hallensteins – an off-white jacket and black trousers and waistcoat, paired with a white shirt from 3 Wise Men and an Armani watch I gifted him on the day.
We took along our favourite Nadia Lim and family recipes and created our own family- style menu with the team at Blue Smoke. The end result was exceptional.
Jack and I both love music, so we tracked down amazing live acts. For our ceremony, we had Anna and Luke from Auckland, postceremony was Dr Sanchez and during the reception, Voxette. We went to every live gig in Christchurch to find the perfect talent and it made all the difference. While the whole day was a dream, a particularly memorable part was our ceremony – holding each other’s hands and saying our vows was an incredible moment we’ll never forget.