After meeting through mutual friends back in high school, it wasn’t until Céline and Dean bumped into each other again when they were 19 that things turned up a notch – and they have been inseparable ever since!
Having spent every Summer there since getting together, the pair’s wedding venue was an obvious choice from the start – with both the ceremony and reception held at Céline’s parent’s beach house in Matarangi, in the Coromandel. Not only was it a special (not to mention stunning) place to them - with so many incredible memories - the other appealing factor was that they could make the day completely their own.
Although there was no set theme of the day, the setting took on ‘a relaxed elegance’ look and feel. Wanting to avoid anything over-styled, the couple stuck to minimal styling to maximize the natural beauty of the location.
As for wedding suppliers, the pair knew from the get-go that they wanted Jody from
I Do Photography to capture the day - and they wanted to use local suppliers and vendors where possible. The furniture was key for the overall look and both
Louisiana Lucy and
Arkade had incredible pieces that answered their brief perfectly. The hamptons-style outdoor couches, bean bags, rugs, and wooden bar leaners were exactly what they wanted for the polo-inspired ‘Happy Hour’, and the simple wooden benches and naked archway at the other end of the aisle were perfect for the ceremony under the pine trees.
Having her own bridesmaid dress label (
Céline Rita), it made sense for Céline to design and make all of her girls gowns - as well as her own. All wearing different styles in off-white, Céline worked with each bridesmaid to come up with a design that made them feel a million bucks. Needless to say, they looked absolutely babe’n, and most importantly, were comfortable the entire day!
For her own look, Céline had a French Riviera style in mind, complete with ponytail, off-the-shoulder dress and big earrings. And after hunting high and low for her dream earrings to wear, Céline ended up finding them in her Mum’s jewellery box from the 80s! Knowing that she wanted something elegant and timeless, yet modern and relaxed and with some definite 'wow-factor', Céline’s own gown also ticked the most crucial box – nobody else would ever have the same dress! After buying several different laces, Céline honed in on the most beautiful 3D floral lace – and the result was a stunning gown that most importantly she felt completely herself in. She then changed into a different dress for the reception, made in the same fringe fabric as her flowergirls wore, which was perfect for dancing!
As for their favourite part of the day, this was a tough call for the pair who literally loved every second of the day! However dancing to Fleetwood Mac under the stars for their first dance was a particularly amazing moment that neither will ever forget. With an outdoor dance-floor amongst the pine trees complete with Turkish rugs, festoon lights and all of their favourite people, it was hard to feel anything other than pure happiness.
Testimonial:
Mildred&Co were a dream to work with for our gift registry! The whole process was super easy for both us and our family and friends, with a very user-friendly website. It also saved the hassle of them bringing gifts down to Matarangi, and us bringing them back to Auckland! The range of products to choose from was second to none, and its so special to have these pieces in our home now.
It was so exciting to receive our gifts and read all of the hand written notes from each person. The attention to detail was incredible, I almost didn't want to open the gifts up they looked so beautiful in their wrapping and black ribbons. The detailed spreadsheet was an added bonus, making writing our Thank You cards a much simpler process! Thanks team xx
