Moments of emotion

Steve and Maura

The concept behind our wedding was 1940’s retrospective whimsy with a few birds thrown in. We had fun with our styling; our bridesmaids were styled as 1940’s pin-up girls and the boys were rat-packers in the summer. Here they are striking a 1940’s inspired pose.

Our Bridal party striking a 1940s inspired pose.

We both loved planning and preparing for the day and really threw all our energy into it. I especially enjoyed the quality time spent with my bridesmaids getting ready on the day. Our hair and makeup was by Claudine Stace.

Veil

Bridal party shoes

Shoes

The Ceremony was real highlight for us! Especially, the bridal party arriving on a boat across the lagoon to “oohs” and “ahhs” from the guests. The ceremony was held on Zealandia’s Heritage Lawn.

The bride's entrance.

The ceremony on Zealandia's Heritage Lawn

Our registry table was a Vintage & Pretty creation. We had flat whites at my cafe, Beach Babylon.

Our registry table was a Vintage & Pretty creation. An antique shipping desk & upcycled colonial chair was topped with an Imperial typewriter, antique books, retro blocks & an antique ink well.

Flat whites at Maura's cafe, Beach Babylon

Kissing by the 1958 Caddy

The bridal party quite literally stopping traffic

Our wedding was brimming with polka dots, birds’ nests, native birds, doilies, ABC block messages, hessian, and books made a lot of appearances. We used books, lace, crystal, jars and vintage blocks to decorate and personalise each table. Having access to a library of hundreds of vintage and retrospective props through my business Vintage & Pretty, allowed us to create a truly memorable event with points of interest in every nook and cranny. We even had an outdoor lounge suite equipped with a bird-watching station.

The outdoor lounge suite equip with a bird watching station

Our theme for the reception was rustic, retro and in love with birds! The reception room was filled with flowers, birds, nests, crystal, pearls, hessian and log rounds.

Our rustic, retro and in love with birds head table

Our bird-themed seating plan

Our reception room

We entered the reception to ‘Love Train’ .

The bridal party enters the reception to 'Love Train' by the Ojays

Our beverage selection was pretty amazing!  Punch was served out of huge Shangri-Las served in jars with customised straws, champagne following all night, craft beer including personalised “Piwakawaka” beer and tap badge from Kereru Brewing, Silverstream.

Foxton Fizz out of the crate and Wellington craft beer on ice

Our dessert table was completely decadent!  We combined a bright retro candy buffet with a dessert table brimming with candy apples, cake, cake pops, cookies, lamingtons, candy and a lot more.

 Candy buffet bags

Happy moments

 The photobooth was a great time for us and our guests, creating great thank you gifts and plenty of fun.

Groomsmen photobooth

The Flower Girl & Photobooth

Bridal party in the photobooth

A real highlight for us was our guests commenting on the beauty of the venue, prettiness the decor and attention to detail. We had so many favourite memories of the day including Steve crying through most of the ceremony, me crying through most of my speech and dancing the night away with our friends and our own new-found dancing skills until the end of the night.

Rocking it out to Motown's best

Photography by Melissa Thorburn

Ms Gingham says: What a divine location! The image of Maura stepping out of the boat is breathtaking!

Maura says: “I am a Wellington, New Zealand based bride and business woman. I own a cafe, a bar and a vintage props hire company. When planning our wedding we drew on these skills and resources and well as throwing all our energy into the event. Steve works for the government and was very much the involved groom.”