Morning lovely people! Hope you are all well and having a good week so far. Things here have been a bit up and down for us this week so hoping for more calmer days ahead. Anyone else really feeling the urge to escape to somewhere beautiful and remote, just to have space to think and process everything that has happened, and still is happening, this year? Never before have I wanted to escape it all so much than I do right now. If you know of any log cabins in the middle of nowhere then let us know!
We have a beautiful real wedding to share with you today, sent all the way from New Zealand by Hannah McMaster Photography.
Captured pre Covid, it features the gorgeous Christie and Sam Matson who said I do in March 2020 at Meadowood House in Napier, Hawkes Bay – a beautiful woodland and tipi wedding venue that was the perfect location for their relaxed, laid-back bohemian theme.
Full of everything you would expect from a bohemian outdoor wedding, Christie and Sam organised and styled all of the décor themselves. From the triangle ceremony arch (dressed before by Christie and her bridesmaids) to the dancefloor layered with Persian rugs, everything you see was styled by them and it all works so beautifully with the laid-back vibes they were hoping for.
Christie shares with us how it all began. Look out for her amazing Zimmerman wedding dress – she looks absolutely gorgeous.
Enjoy lovely people.
A Golf Course, Champagne and One Knee…
Sam proposed on my birthday. He took me to Cape Kidnappers golf course in Te Awanga. We road around the course on a gator and when we got to the highest point (my favourite spot) of the course he got down on one knee! He then pulled out a bottle of veuve clicquot and two glasses from a secret underground cubby hole and we celebrated.
A Zimmerman Dress…
I bought my dress from Zimmerman. As soon as I saw this dress pop up in my social media feed I knew straight away it was the one. I had been looking but nothing ticked all the boxes until I saw this one. It was a risk buying online but when it arrived it fit perfectly! I chose it because it was me all over, it fit the theme of our wedding, my personality and it was just stunning.
My shoes are Forever Soles. Another online buy, I have been very lucky with my online buys. I saw these shoes awhile before I bought them and just kept finding myself going back to them so I knew they were the shoes.
My rings were made by Bruce at Unio Goldsmith Havelock North. My earrings were bought from a store in Napier, I can’t remember the name.
A Tipi, Glamping and Woodland Ceremony…
We found our venue at Wild Hearts wedding expo at Black Barn. We both fell in love with it instantly, it ticked all the boxes for us and was totally our style!
There are four glamping tents at the venue and an art deco house so we had a few of our guests stay the night.
There is a big tipi tent on site, it was absolutely stunning, I decorated the big long wooden tables with tall brass candle sticks and silver dollar tree leaves.
I always had an image in my head of how I wanted our setting. I kept an updated pinterest folder of ideas I liked and pulled them all together.
Our ceremony setting was set underneath beautiful big over hanging trees. We had a triangle archway which myself and my bridesmaids decorated with silver dollar and toi toi the night before. We had Persian runners down the aisle, also wooden stumps with empty wine bottles and dried toi toi flower arrangements up the aisle. Our song that was played as we walked down the aisle was ‘You are the reason’ by Leona Lewis and Calum Scott. My Nana said a beautiful reading from the bible.
An Amazing Photographer…
We chose Hannah McMaster as our photographer, I met her at the Wild Hearts expo as well. She is amazing! So easy to get along with, made us feel so comfortable and wasn’t afraid to joke around too. Everyone at the wedding couldn’t speak highly enough of her!
DIY Decor, A Long Grazing Table, Persian Rugs and Lights…
We did all of the decorations ourselves. The tables were simple with just brass candle sticks and silver dollar arrangements in the middle. We didn’t have a sit down meal, we had a big long grazing table so our guests could eat when they wanted and sit where they wanted. We had Persian rugs for our dance floor in the tipi next to the DJ. Fairy lights and lantern lights were scattered through the tipi and through the trees out on the lawn. I set up different little lounge spots out on the lawn, bought in rustic furniture and plants from my mothers house. There were settings with low pallet tables we put together with tea lights and small flower arrangements. We had pouffes and pillows situated around the pallet tables.
The Mad Platter…
The Mad Platter were our caterers and these guys were spot on with the food. We had two big grazing tables with crackers, fruit, cheese etc, and a table with slider buns, salads and meats. The tables looked so good, the food was amazing.
For our favours we had a basket full of little wrapped parcels with some of my mums homemade brownie inside and a thank you card attached to the parcels.
Favourite Moment…
My favourite moment would have been the whole ceremony. Spending that special moment with all of our family and close friends. Walking down the isle seeing my husband to be and my children looking beautiful just organically roaming the setting. It was the best moment and I would re live that over and over again.
Any Advice?
Don’t stress, its about you not anyone else. Don’t loose sight of what your doing, its your day marrying your person that’s all that matters.
The Line Up…
Photography: Hannah McMaster; Venue: Meadowood House; Bride’s Dress: Zimmermann; Bride’s Shoes: Forever Soles; Bride’s Makeup: Makeup Etc; Groom’s Attire: Hallensteins; Catering: The Mad Hatter; Rings: Unio & Pascoes; Bridesmaid Dresses: Petal and Pup
