Wedding Blog

Short and Sweet, What a Treat!

31/3/2018

Yesterday I was up early and ready for my 10.30am wedding at the Sign of the Bellbird.

A lovely gathering of guests including family and close friends joined together to enjoy the ceremony for Donna and Michael. A number of guests did actually comment how short and sweet it was. It was indeed sweet and because it was short and sweet there is not much to share I wish to share. Hopefully some photos will come in due course to add to my couple of quick shots. Wishing Michael and Donna a lovely life together. This is really true love. If a long distance relationship eventually results in marriage you know its forever.

Chris and Linda - very special

3/3/2018

They say a picture says a thousand words - and after seeing these photos I think it is exactly right.

Slight panic during the week when we found the location for the wedding was not going to work because of the road being closed. So Plan B we went to Woodhan Park. Congratulations to the family for making is so special. It was a very special wedding.

This selection of photos from Hannah Thorne Photography. This is what she said on her page: "This gorgeous laid back couple tied the knot surrounded by a lot of love & support in the gorgeous Woodham Park."

Be sure to click on each photo to capture the full impact.

New Zealand - Wedding Specialist of the Year

24/2/2018

I was delighted to receive a late night phone call telling me that I was New Zealand's Wedding Specialist of the year for 2018.

I received this email:
Dear Julie,
It was an absolute pleasure speaking with you today.
It’s always extra special to know all your hard work has paid off and we hope this massive achievement serves as a spring board for continued success in 2018! : )

As discussed, I am extremely pleased to announce you have been successful in winning the award for:

WEDDING SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR – NEW ZEALAND

The Luxury Travel Guide Awards represent the pinnacle of hospitality achievement, championing the best in their respective fields; therefore to come out on top is truly an achievement you should be proud of. We are delighted to pay tribute to and commend all those who have excelled in the industry. This year has seen an unprecedented number of shortlisted companies, providing strong competition in every category.

All winners of the wedding awards are subject to the same rigorous assessment criteria, carried out by our in-house professionals. This ensures only the most deserving companies and individuals walk away with one of these prestigious accolades and gain a place in our awards winners’ guide, which will be distributed to over 500,000 professional & affluent people worldwide. We have a sponsorship deal with Aspire so the guide will can also be found in airport lounges worldwide, as well as on cruise ships, a further 10,000 hotels, holiday specialists and tour providers.

Simply Wedding - Simply Amazing

24/2/2018

Yes, our Simply Wedding on Friday for Serena an Paul was amazing.

Why? because Serena and Paul who traveled from overseas for the wedding were such a lovely couple. Although our weddings are affordable they are still very special with everything you need to make the day amazing.

So the excitement of getting ready and for Paul who hates waiting the emotions that come with most weddings. Nervous excitement. Our bride Serena arrived looking stunning and asked me how Paul was. Always honest - "nervous" was my response.

Frank Visser our Simply Weddings Team photographer did a great job capturing the emotion.. We proceeded to have a lovely little ceremony and because it was raining I suggested they stay in the Westhaven Chapel for congratulations.

Meanwhile Creme de la Rose with my assistance sorted food and drinks. I love the way we all pitch in and do what is needed to ensure the couple have the best day ever. We don't have a rehearsal as we all know what we are doing and I guide the couple for the ceremony and then things just flow. No two weddings are the same.

Why do our weddings work so well? Short time (2-3 hours) and the highest quality businesses delivering results - then there is the couple. I had met with Serena and Paul and I said how lovely they were to the team. You know when the photographer says the bride was such a trouper for the photos in the rain that we had an exceptional couple.

Congratulations team on delivering another beautiful Simply Wedding.
Thank you Serena and Paul for choosing Simply Weddings.
We were delighted to get you married and pleased it was without stress.
Wishing you both a wonderful life together with your gorgeous family.

Venue: Westhaven Chapel and Garden
Photographer www.facebook.com/frankvisserphotos/
Florist, Cake and Catering www.facebook.com/FleursDeEsther/
Celebrant https://www.facebook.com/livinghappyeverafter/

TRADE ME made a wedding come together

13/2/2018

How SPECIAL IS THIS LETTER?

Dear Trade Me,
My partner and I would love to enter your party competition! My man and I have been together now for 11 years and we have an 8-year-old son together. Trade Me has been a big part of our wee family over the years.
We purchased much of our son's baby gear on Trade Me. We found our family's car on Trade Me. We have found jobs on Trade Me. My partner even purchased my engagement ring on Trade Me!
Whenever we want to raise some money to do something special as a family we gather together our unwanted items and list them on Trade Me. Next month we will be celebrating two years since the purchase of our first home, which we found through a private sale listing on Trade Me!
In our relationship, my partner and I seem to have done things in reverse. We had a child, got engaged then bought a home. The one thing we haven't managed to do yet is get married! My partner works hard to provide for our family so I can be a stay at home Mum.
Being a single income family makes saving for a wedding hard. All the unexpected things life throws at you like car troubles, house problems, job losses, vet bills, and doctors’ visits eat up the savings. Add to that the earthquakes, which disrupted us a lot, and a wedding has been at the bottom of our priorities list. We’ve had a health scare recently and this has made us rethink our priorities. We would really love to be husband and wife.
With our funds being low, we have been discussing getting hitched at a registry office just to make things official. Then I saw your competition for celebrating a life moment. After how much Trade Me has already been a part of our lives, it would be so cool for Trade Me to be part of our wedding too!
Our dream wedding is nothing too formal or fancy. Within the last couple of years I lost my Mum suddenly and my partner lost his Dad. I think it will be tough for us to get married without them there. They were a big part of our lives and are dearly missed. All the speeches, memories and formalities would be too hard. Something a bit more laid back like a classic Kiwi backyard BBQ sounds more like us! A day to celebrate our relationship with our nearest and dearest. A day full of good food, fun and laughter and lots of dancing!
Thank you for reading my email and considering us for the party. We would love for Trade Me to be part of our special day if you will have us!

I was told that Ange’s entry was actually the very last entry that came through to us after we asked our community to tell us about a life moment they thought was worthy of a Trade Me-flavoured celebration.

The Trade Me Team did a fantastic job and you can read all about it here on this link: https://newsroom.trademe.co.nz/articles/the-wedding-built-by-trade-me/

The Trade Me Team came down from Wellington and I am so impressed with the way they all worked together to make this wedding come together. As the chosen Celebrant by Ange and Darren I was pleased they chose what they wanted their ceremony to be. It was perfect. Jono who I know well worked his magic as he took photos; told someone (not my husband) that the young sound man wired me for sound and we were both professionals. Hopefully there will be no photos from Jono that surface. Miss Lilly and her team just did the most amazing food and drinks service. I love trying the canapes if I get the chance. How can you recommend businesses if you don't sample the goodies. I love being involved in all weddings but especially enjoy working together on special events. Who knows I might get to work again with the Trade Me team. Congratulations everyone involved a success. To the couple Ange and Darren - Mr and Mrs Keep - my wish that you have an amazing married life and family life.

Just so you know all the photos below are from my phone and I never promote myself as a photographer - although I love sharing with photographers when there is a magical moment. I had hoped to share video might have to get the Trade Me Team to help with that.

I Loved My Themed Wedding

13/2/2018

Recently I helped out a couple who had some challenges with their appointed Celebrant. I stepped in to help and this time everyone was very happy.

The venue: Rydges Latimer Christchurch
So Darryn a musician and Tracy and Scientist came over to New Zealand From Mornington, Victoria, Australia.
They came to get married with us and then go on a House Boat on honeymoon back in Australia.
Highlights include son and father walking in the bride; the whole themed wedding with everyone dressing as planned. Meeting Kim on music a lovely woman and the Bride's Dad buying me a drink. Special music that Darryn had pulled together for the ending that made everyone smile and get in the spirit of the event. Never in all the years I had been marrying people has that ever happened.
Lots of happy people, a very special couple and a very special celebration of their love.

Congratulations Darryn and Tracy - wishing you a long and happy life.

This was put on Facebook - how beautiful - thank you Tracy
For us doing a "locational wedding" in the grooms home town of Christchurch was challenging to organise from Australia. We had to find a celebrant who was on the ball. Within 24 hours of initial contact Julie had us booked and our ceremony sorted. Julie also made the effort to join in the red and black theme. She had the sense of humour to call out to the congregation to give us a "Hell Yeah!!!" and videoed our unconventional recessional post ceremony. She mingled with our guests during our photographs and my father was especially enamoured with her natural charm. For a fuss free, classy and accommodating celebrant I could not recommend Julie Lassen more highly.

Welcome To The Family Charlotte

12/2/2018

It is wonderful to be tagged on Facebook when you read a message like this: "Today was perfect in every way for our beautiful girl Thanks so much to everyone who came to celebrate Charlotte's Naming Day. We are so lucky that we have so many people who love and cherish Charlotte as much as we do️"

So it was that I joined Hayden and Jessica to welcome their cute little girl into the family. Charlotte is the perfect name for this cute baby and having married this couple in 2016 it was lovely to catch up with some familiar faces.

Many people have never been to a naming ceremony before and I think numbers of families doing them has dropped. I am not sure why this is probably just busy lives. This blog is not meant to be about the ones that don't happen rather this very special one that did.

Jessica's brother was down from Auckland and I told him it all came together because of him. I am pretty sure it was more Jessica's lovely parents who got busy and helped to create the most awesome food and setting. Just wait until you see the photos.

The Best House-Warming Party!

12/2/2018

A couple of weeks ago, only two to be precise I received an email asking
if I could come to a housewarming and marry them.

I love these surprise weddings and together we worked out a plan
to maintain the surprise.

It is always funny when people say they knew.
It is very clear when the announcement is made its going to be a wedding
there is heaps of emotion and including happy tears.

I was reflecting on the party and tLouise's gorgeous Mother who is also
called Julie and how she and I talked while we waited for the guests to arrive.
The guests actually made a short ceremony into a long one as we were interrupted a
number of times with guests arriving. It certainly didn't worry me and I think it added to the
uniqueness of the housewarming.

It was evident from the family support and the vows shared that this a marriage where
true love is evident. Wishing you all the best Louise and Pete on I am sure many
more adventures together as husband and wife.

Thanks for the images Louise and Pete - gorgeous.

INITIMATE WEDDING VENUE

10/2/2018

Very exciting I just found this. Perfect venue for your small wedding and as it is nestled
alongside the picturesque Halswell River in a tranquil Tai Tapu "The Church" has been lovingly restored to create a unique venue stepped in history. (My parents were married in Tai Tapu as were lots of other family and friends).

If you are planning a wedding brides can arrive by boat and get married on the expansive deck area or indoors. The property includes four bedrooms, modern sound system, options for seated or cocktail function and a large kitchen.

Wow, this looks like the perfect place to celebrate your intimate wedding.
Treat yourself to an outstanding experience where you will feel the tranquility the moment you enter this large enchanting former Church. This will be a high-light of your travels. The property, built in 1881, has been bought back from it's former glory as a much loved church to now represent the finest, unique accommodation around. To experience it's unrivaled charm will be the highlight of your stay. T

From the Airbnb listing:

The space
Whether you are looking for a retreat to relax in away from the world or to entertain friends and family, you will find it here. Bring the bride in by boat, get married on the expansive deck area or indoors, where many have stood before you. This property is set up for events with it's own sound system, large kitchen with scullery for caters and many more features to make your stay as memorable as possible. You will be able to both relax and entertain here.
Guest access
This property is exclusively yours throughout your stay.
There is a separate toilet for visitors and guests downstairs and two ensuites upstairs. Another two ensuite bathrooms are yet to be commissioned and guests in these rooms will need to access the other ensuites for bathroom amenities.
Interaction with guests
We want you to enjoy your stay and are only a phone call away, should you need us. If there is anything we can do to help you create a special event, please do let us know.

See the link below with all the photos.

www.airbnb.co.nz/rooms/21789632

A Gorgeous Elopement

15/12/2017

Today, Friday the 15th of of December 2017, saw us up at the beautiful Sign of the Bellbird. Yes, the perfect location for the perfect elopement. Two lovely gorgeous women from England now married.

Congratulations Emma and Angela.
Your friends were the perfect elopement guests and Frank Visser Photography captured the moments.