Newsletter & Wedding Planner

Gift Registry

Real Weddings

Bride Diary

Discussion Forum

Product & Services Directory

Articles

Dresses for Sale

Advertise

Contact Us

To start from the beginning............

Paul proposed to me in Jimbyron Bay in Bali in July 2005. We were over there on holiday with my sister and her boyfriend and Paul had it all planned months prior!

He had my engagement ring especially designed and made. He even put the ring in the security box at the hotel and told me that only he had access to it (you'd think I would've been a bit suss but no!).

Paul had also asked my Dad to come around to our house to 'give him some advice on building a deck'. The real reason was to ask my hand in marriage, very sneaky!

Whilst at dinner, watching the sunset on this beautiful beach, Paul suggested we go and get some photos of the sunset. I agreed, oblivious to his big plan!

He proposed and of course I said yes. We were only 2 days into our holiday so we decided not to tell everyone until we got home, big suprise for everyone.

We agreed on a November wedding so had 16 months to get everything planned. We had a few people coming from overseas, including my brother, so this gave them time to save up for the trip home to NZ.

I had my sister and 2 best friends as bridesmaids and Paul had 3 of his best mates as part of the wedding party, one of whom flew back from the UK especially.

My hens night was the weekend before the wedding and such an awesome night! My bridesmaids had totally everything organised. We started with some games and drinks, then headed into Caluzzi in town for a very entertaining dinner and caberet show! I had a list of photos I had to get taken which added to the amusement for everyone else!

I found my dream dress in an Australian bridal mag and wondered how I was going to get it! I then found a NZ stockist and got it made to fit over here, it was actually the only dress I tried on, I loved it that much!

We got the bridesmaid's dresses from Staks, black, strapless gowns. My bridesmaids carried red gerberas and had them in their hair, which looked stunning against the brown hair and black dresses. I had white lillies for my bouquet. All our immediate families also wore mini red gerberas as corsages.

We all had our hair and makeup done and left the house looking gorgeous!

Our wedding day rolled around very quickly and the actual day went even quicker! (everyone tells you that it will go so fast and it really does!)

Paul and I got married at the Wilson Chapel in Takapuna. An absolutely beautiful setting and having the whole chapel packed with our family and friends made it perfect.

My Dad walked me down the isle to David Gray's 'This Year's Loving'. Our celebrant was fantastic and guided us through the process, including our vows referring Paul's housework skills and my patience for his quirky dress sense! Special mention was also made to our four grandparents that were able to be there.

We then had photos taken around the exquisite gardens at the Wilson Chapel and then down to Cheltenam Beach in Devonport. Our caterer's prepared a picnic basket and some champers for us to keep us going until the reception.

The reception was held at the Maritime Lounge in the Auckland Viaduct, with Dawsons doing the catering. The room looked stunning, extremely romantic with candles everywhere, including myriads of tealites sitting on cake stands at the tables. We named the tables after places that were special to us, like where we met and where we have holidayed.

Our MC was very close family friend that came all way back from South Africa with his wife. He did a great job and kept everyone on track and entertained throughout the evening, with 160 people at the wedding, that was very necessary!

The speeches started with a huge surprise for both Paul and myself. Our friends and family had all got together and contributed photos for my cousin Julie to make a DVD for us to keep. It started from when we were born (coincidentally at the same hospital), right up to photos of us coming out of the chapel as a married couple. She had raced back to the hotel to finish it off before the reception! Music was played in the background of the DVD, including our wedding song and favourite songs that have special meaning to us. We were absolutely blown away!

The speeches followed from both of our Dads, one of Pauls groomsmen, my sister, Paul and myself, all very humourous, sentimental and special!

The food was delicious and instead of having a wedding cake, we had 4 flavours of cupcakes for everyone to either eat there or take home in small boxes that I'd had made.

We did our first dance (after a lesson and some practice) and everyone else joined in for some serious dancing, with the band Springfield getting everyone on their feet.

The whole day was so fantastic, we both had the best day of our lives. We really appreciated how lucky we are to have each other and have such amazing, supportive friends and family to turn November 11th 2006 into a day we will never forget.