With This Ring: August 05, 2016

154 With This Ring
THE
PHOTO: EMMA BRITTENDEN
More and more kiwis are opting to go
away to get married and it’s easy to see
why. A group of friends and family relaxing
on holiday together and creating lifelong
memories is the perfect setting for a
wedding. The ceremony and reception
are often just the icing on the cake!
With a wish list that included “a
good photographer, great music
and our own style and design of
decorations,” the couple were
also keen to involve family and
friends in their wedding plans.
“The flowers on the tables were
in pottery vases that I made at my
auntie’s pottery studio in Diamond
Harbour with some friends, my
Mum and my aunties – it was a
great crafty thing for everyone to
get involved in during the winter
months” laughs Alana.
Photographer Cam McDermid
was a friend of Alana’s brother and
he captured the whole day through
and into the evening. Adam Caves,
another friend was a gem setter so
“we were very privileged to have
my wedding band and engagement
ring made by him and go through
the amazing process of designing
my own unique ring.” Not to be
outdone, Hayden, who was a
graphic designer also created the
stationery for the wedding which
Alana agreed “was a great way to
include him in the organising!”
Alana’s exquisite wedding
dress had an art deco look with a
low back, rucching, buttons and
two layers of lace, the top layer
being beautifully beaded. “I loved
everything about it and topped it off
with a long veil that was so soft and
elegant.” The gown was made by
Christine Reeves, an experienced
and renowned dressmaker in
Christchurch. “She had made my
sister-in law’s dress and had done
such a great job that I wanted her to
do mine.”
Alana’s bridesmaids wore
dresses they sourced at Forever
New. The simple style in navy was
a very flattering colour that suited
everyone and was offset by neutral
flowers with “a pop of peach” created
by Aromaunga florists. The guys’
grey suits from Hallensteins were
worn with crisp white shirts and
black ties, complemented by peach
buttonholes and a peach tie for
Hayden.
Forsaking tradition, Alana and
Hayden chose to have their photos
taken at Mona Vale before the
wedding! “We were less nervous for
the ceremony and had time together
without rushing back to the guests.
The boys arrived first and set up by
the fountain for the girls to walk in
for the “grand reveal” then the bridal
party had a picnic at Mona Vale
before setting off for Trent’s.”
Using a 1927 vintage car owned
by their groomsman’s grandfather,
Alana arrived at Trent’s for the 3pm
ceremony which was held outdoors
facing “horses in the paddocks and
doves in the trees.” “We wanted our
parents all involved so Hayden’s Dad
gave us the rings, we had our Mums
sign the register for us, but it was
very special to have Dad walk me
down the aisle because he had been
very ill and couldn’t even walk a year
before the wedding.”
With their formal photos already
taken, Alana and Hayden were able
to share canapés and their wedding
cake by Sugar Baby Cakery after
the ceremony. Then it was time to
enjoy music, dancing and a delicious
barbeque as well as a photo booth set
up in a boat – which everyone loved!
“Our wedding venue organiser
Amanda made the day run
seamlessly, the speeches were
brilliant which made us feel very
loved, we wished the dancing could
have gone on longer, but best of all
was having all our friends and family
in one place to enjoy our day with
us.”