Brent and Julia were married at Wallis Gardens, Hawera on 26th February this year and had a european summer garden wedding theme. The gardens were delicately decorated with long pastel yellow, pink and white ribbons from the trees that blowed gently in the breeze. Jars of candles lined the pathways and Japanese paper lanterns in the same colours hung from neat nylon lines across the garden lawn and pond.
The Groomsmen were choppered to the property by Beck Helicopters, making an impressive entrance that gave guests their first taste for what this day had in store.
The bride and her three bridesmaids and flower girl got ready at a nearby property and drove to the gardens in style by three black Chryslers driven by her family members with grins from ear to ear. Julia wore a scallop lace strapless mermaid gown with chapel train and the bridesmaids each wore long v neck dresses in pastel blue, green and yellow. The flowergirl wore a cream satin princess dress with coral chiffon overlays. All had bouquets that matched their coloured dresses with flowers of hydrangeas, gypsophila, roses and pearls.
The ceremony was short but packed full of laughs, tears and a good behaved dog called Oscar! After all the congratulations and a quick drink, the bridal party were whisked off for photos at Waihi Beach while guests enjoyed champagne, canapes and the romantic tunes of a string quartet in the summer sun. This was also the chance for guests to write their best wishes to the couple on a large guest board they had made.
For the wedding reception, a grand marquee was erected at the back of the property where guests were served a martini glass of sorbet to start the evening meal. The tables were each decorated with a tall vase of hydrangeas and peacock feathers and each place setting got a home-made chocolate with the couples photo as a token favour to take with them (or eat on the spot)!
The meal is served and everyone indulged in succulent crayfish, salmon, tender beef, chicken and seasonal vegetables before helping themselves to a candy bar for dessert. After the speeches, the couple cut their four tiered cake (2 x chocolate, 2 x fruit) and then danced their first dance to ‘A Wonderful World’ sung by their brother-in-law. Then the party started and everyone was up dancing to the band with all their favourite cover songs while Brent and Julia quietly slipped off to their honeymoon night at a local Bed and Breakfast.
To describe the couples favourite moments of the day, Julia says “you know how as a kid, you dream of your perfect wedding day? – mine was exactly how I imagined”. Brent speaks fondly of the moment Julia walked down the aisle to ‘There for me’ by Sarah Brightman and “the reception”!!
Photographer: Moxwai. Venue: Wallis Gardens. Wedding Attire: All dresses made overseas. Kingsway Menswear. Hair: Yvonne Huxtabel and Viva. Make-up: Jichelle Health and Beauty, Stratford. Flower Bouquets: Lovells. Marquee: Dobsons. Transport: Friends Chryslers. Beck Helicopters. Music: String Quartet and Accumen (band). Cake: Jean Webb. Catering: Pihama Cricket Club and Rita Tidswell. Chiller and Portaloo Hire: Storage and Equipment Hire.
