‘I knew it was “the one” even before the curtain was opened and I saw my mum’s reaction – instant butterflies!’

The couple chose a boutique rural wedding venue – Cossars Wineshed at Tai Tapu – for their ceremony and reception and were married by a close friend, Olivia Taylor. In the weeks leading up to the wedding, she’d joked about singing the introduction to the ceremony and, on the day, actually did belt out the opening lines. ‘Everyone had a good laugh and safe to say any remaining nerves melted away as we knew we were in for a really fun ceremony.’

Walking back down the aisle with Lewis is a moment that Jen will never forget. Up until then, she’d managed to keep her emotions in check but then suddenly the reality of Lewis being her husband struck home.

‘The tears started and they were the happiest ones ever!

Sitting at their table as newlyweds for the first time was also an overwhelming feeling for the couple, who say it was perfect to end their day eating, drinking and dancing with all their close friends and family. For their reception, they enjoyed a tasty selection of canapés followed by shared platters and finishing with gelato.

Their wedding photos were mostly taken at Cossars amongst the property’s lawns, courtyards, gardens, paddocks and grapevines. Locations were scouted out a week before, with their photographer, Sophie Isabella.

‘One of my favourites is the very first one that she posted the morning after. I remember the moment in the photo so well and I just felt so ridiculously happy and lucky and now every time I look at it, I’m taken right back to that moment.’

The gorgeous natural setting set the style for this wedding with lots of rich colour and dark greenery.

A friendship forged as first-year university students ended up as something much deeper for Jen and Lewis. The friendship turned to love and, by May 2017, they were engaged.

Lewis chose a very special moment to propose, on the first night of a holiday in Rarotonga with Jen’s family. The sun was setting as the family went for a walk on the beach, and the couple wandered off by themselves. ‘He saw that as his opportunity to get down on one knee and pop the question! He’d just finished saying all these gorgeous things and I’d just managed a wobbly “yes” when we were tackled by my very excited sister!’

Jen and her mother went shopping for the wedding dress in Auckland and found the perfect gown at Hera Couture.

Q&A

Did you manage to stick to your budget?

We went very slightly over. We were pretty clear on our priorities and tried to focus on things that would either make the day even more memorable for us or more fun for our friends and family and not get too swept up in all the little details.

How did you celebrate with your hens or bucks?

Hens – A weekend planned by the bridesmaids/boys that started with brunch and ended up with bubbles and dancing in a gorgeous apartment.

Bucks – In Wellington, with activities including knife throwing, zorb soccer and an unplanned dip in the harbour.

Do you have any advice for other brides planning their wedding?

Don’t lose sight of what the day is all about. Planning a wedding is so much fun but sometimes it’s hard to separate the things that will genuinely make your day amazing from the things you feel you should have. When the day arrives and you’re with your love and surrounded by the people closest to you, none of the extras will feel important anyway!