Taranaki Weddings - the beginning

My husband and I resided in Sydney, Australia for over ten years. When we got engaged in 2005 we knew we would be going home to Taranaki to seal the deal so I immediately started planning, taking to the internet literally the next day.

These days, the internet is what we turn to for quick and easy learning. We read the news, study articles, shop online, connect with friends, tweet our every move and if we have questions we need answering quickly, we google search. So when I eagerly typed in 'taranaki weddings' in the search field , I was very annoyed to have pages of results to trudge through and most were national websites, not Taranaki specific.

I spent days researching what I needed, from venues to hairdressers, classic cars to live bands with close to zero results.  I wasted a lot of precious time as I was working full time and studying, not to mention the time difference and businesses not being open on weekends! Needless to say, the whole experience left me exhausted, disappointed and very anxious being overseas and unable to visit places for myself.

I ended up relying on my Mum and friends back home to make phone calls or visit places. They themselves were run ragged trying to find information or recommendations - reporting back with either dead ends or the name of a friend of a friend. What I learnt through this whole experience was that Taranaki seems to work from word of mouth or who you know.

So the idea of a centralised website was born back then in 2005/2006 through my personal experience of being an ex-pat. When we moved home a year ago and noticing it still didn't exist but that other regions had one, I did some research and decided that there was a gap in the market and so Taranaki Weddings the website was created. 

My aim is to support only Taranaki businesses and services; putting the small folks who don't have websites on the internet map and to list as many as I can to give couples planning their wedding a stress free experience.

The journey so far has been exciting and fun. I've met wonderful people who are supporting my vision and goals and I'm gaining followers who I haven't met through facebook and twitter. Thank you to everyone for the huge help - its growing momentum daily.

So there it is, Taranaki Weddings - the beginning. Keep your eye on us by signing up for our monthly newsletter and also follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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tawera phillips
Posts: 3

Re:
Reply #3 on : Fri April 06, 2012, 22:48:12

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Hi there,
What a great start for a website. I totally agree with you when trying to arrange a wedding from abroad. I am from Taranki and am living in Scotland. My partner and I are looking at getting married next year in Taranki and it's not easy. I came back last year and looked at a few venues but apart from that you really have to rely on family and friends and nothing comes up on the internet it seems to show everywhere else but Taranki it's very frustrating!!
Do you know if there is anywhere in Taranki that will do a pig on a spit for the reception I've seen the main caterers on line but we don't want to spend a fortune. Also do you know if you can hire kilts from anywhere in New Plymouth? I have emailed Kingsway Mens Wear they don't do hire kilts.

any help would be great thanks
tawera phillips

Jeremy Wallis
Posts: 3

Love Taranaki
Reply #2 on : Thu August 04, 2011, 12:02:23

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I too am an ex-pat from Taranaki, and I love coming back home around the end of the summer season Feb or Mar when the weather is at its best. I have had attended some of my best weddings in Taranaki around this time of year and can honestly say when that mountain comes out in all its glory, no matter what side of the mountain your on there is no other place on the planet like it. The spiritual feeling you get from the Taranaki Provience at that time of the year is magic and excellent for weddings, so any one looking at going down the path of marriage and want somewhere magical look no furhter than Taranaki, it has it all.

Nichola Hunt
Posts: 3

Congratulations
Reply #1 on : Wed July 06, 2011, 04:02:09

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Congratulations on a fabulous idea and getting it up and running. My partner and I got engaged in December last year and straight away I was online researching Taranaki Weddings only to find nothing! All the best with your website and I trust you will help many brides to be very happy.
Cheers
Cola