I first had the pleasure of meeting Olivia and Jonny back in 2016. We had a great chat about their wedding, how they first got together and everything in between! Olivia met Jonny when they were just 15. They hit it off and at 16 they started dating. Fast forward 9 years and they’re almost inseparable. The proposal came after Jonny had been away in America for several weeks. He was unpacking his bag in front of Olivia and showing her what he had bought, when out popped a small white box. He asked her there and then if she would marry him. She said yes!
They had two main goals for their day. They wanted their wedding to be a big party with friends and family. They also wanted their guests to be part of making the day special by contributing their own touches. So several of Olivia’s friends did the girls’ hair and make up, which helped to calm the nerves and make the morning fun. Olivia and Jonny’s very old and dear friends Hannah and Theo shared the role of celebrant, which made for a relaxed and heartfelt ceremony. Olivia asked Jonny’s Mum Sharon if she was up to the challenge of making the cake, she proved herself more than equal to the task! After a lot of late nights in the kitchen the cake came together beautifully.
The planning all went smoothly, right up until the week before the wedding when tragedy struck Christchurch. The Port Hills caught fire, with flames rapidly spreading quickly to cover a huge area. The venue Olivia and Jonny had booked was nestled in the hills and in danger from the flames. So just days before their wedding they began searching for a new venue. With the help of Victoria Foods they discovered Omarino Wine Park in the nick of time! With a beautiful blue sky overhead, Omarino Wine Park proved the perfect spot to celebrate their wedding. It was such a happy day with two of the loveliest people you could hope to meet. I loved capturing your wedding Olivia and Jonny, thank you so much for having me!
The Professionals:
Gown: Wilkins Bridal Christchurch
Venue: Omarino Wine Park
Suits: BeBe Tailors (Vietnam) made while they were on holiday there.
Bridesmaid dresses: ASOS
Hair stylist: Lauren Kelland (Friend and Hairdresser)
Makeup artist: Sarita Ellery (Friend)
Cake maker: Mother of the Groom (Sharon Cooke)
Florist: Kate from Ahoy Designs
Catering team: Victoria Foods
Celebrant: Hannah Duder
Bride’s rings: Kay Jewelers (USA)
Groom’s wedding band: Michael Hill
