Chelsea & Brad

Brad and I had known each other for years before we actually got together. We went to the same schools and both grew up riding horses, but it was not until some years later that we met again through our love for fitness and the gym. Brad and I got to know each other through our passion for adventure – we loved planning day trips and getaways together. We knew we were going to have a future because we enjoy doing so many things together and really are each other’s best friend. Brad proposed on our big Europe trip in 2018. Nearing the end of the trip after having travelled for a couple of months we were in Santorini, Greece – a place high on my bucket list. Brad planned a surprise evening with a champagne picnic at sunset on a clifftop and popped the question.

While doing our wedding research we came across a couple’s sunset wedding photos taken at Kauri Bay Boomrock in Clevedon, Auckland and just fell in love with the venue. The beautiful building where we held the reception was really modern and could be decorated exactly how we liked. The venue and views were so incredible that we did not really need to do a lot to it, so we just accentuated it with a modern yet simple aesthetic. Kauri Bay and its landscape were quite ‘us’ – both of us grew up around farms and horses, so we loved the setting. It was definitely a bonus that it was super close to where we and the majority of our guests live in east Auckland.

We chose to get married in February as we are both summer lovers, hoping for blue skies and a beautiful sunny day, which we were lucky enough to get. We loved the way summer had made the landscape look. Instead of the lush greenery that is usually in that area, everything was really golden brown and burnt out from the sun. Looking at our incredible photos we love the aesthetic.

I left our floral arrangements up to Nicole, a family friend and owner of Lila Rose Floral Co. I had total trust in her and asked for a simple timeless look – I am not really one for heaps of colour and busyness. We went for shades of white and soft green with white roses and aloe vera leaves which were perfect, adding a pop of fresh colour that stood out against the gold and brown of the burnt summer landscape.

My crepe silk Made With Love Bridal wedding dress from Felicitys Bridal was very simple and summery with a lowcut back. I loved a fitted look rather than anything fluffy or floaty, so I knew it was the dress right from the beginning. It was a very sleek fit with thin straps, fitted to the knees before flowing into the soft train. The fabric was light with no detail, and I wore a veil borrowed from a bridesmaid for the ceremony.

At the reception, catered by Kauri Bay Boomrock, we had a sit-down two-course dinner with a menu filled with beautiful food that represented the things we both like. The eye fillet was divine and something that the guests really raved about. We had the Mister Gelato cart for dessert so that our guests could all get up to mingle and enjoy the summer evening. Instead of a single-tiered wedding cake we went for two of different shapes and each chose a favourite flavour – lemon with raspberry filling was my summery but not too sweet choice and, as it is the sweeter the better for Brad, he went for chocolate on chocolate. Rachel Wilcox, a good family friend of mine created the cake and did an amazing job.

Brad and I debated for ages over whether or not we should do a first look before the ceremony. We decided not to in the end as Brad really wanted to be surprised when I walked down the aisle. I was really happy with our decision as we both really took in the moment and were so excited to see each other. It actually took my nervousness about everyone looking at me away because as soon as we locked eyes he was really all that I saw. We were kind of in our own little world during the ceremony.

For the two of us, the moments we shared alone as a newly married couple were so memorable. Laughing and smiling as we walked and talked while our photographer took sunset photos was awesome. It was a beautiful evening. Another standout moment is nearing the end of the night when we had every single guest on the dancefloor, including the oldies, smiling, singing and having the best time – exactly what we had hoped for. We really wanted everybody to have a blast! It was the best day ever.

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