Liah & John

Having owned and operated a bridal design company in New Plymouth for years, Liah Roebuck and her fiancé, John, were excited to plan their wedding alongside their amazing friends in the industry. Everything came together beautifully to create a dreamy day with a modern rustic theme. Liah shares their story…

Not many people can say they made their own wedding gown, and for me it’s something I will cherish forever. In the lead-up to the wedding I spent time and love hand stitching and getting my gown perfect. I was so excited to reveal all my hard work to John. Aside from the ceremony, our first look was the biggest highlight of the day for me. Approaching John, tapping him on the shoulder and seeing his reaction is a moment I will never forget. Something so intimate, and I am glad we saved it for just the two of us. We spent time soaking in these private moments together before our bridal party joined us.

Our wedding party means the world to us. John had a large troupe of groomsmen he’s been close friends with since intermediate school, and my bridesmaids were my best friends and sisters. They all helped in the lead-up to the wedding, and each put their own mark on the day, making it a unique and personal experience.

The venue was styled to perfection, with vintage furniture, an abundance of flowers, and personalised touches nestled in the shaded woods at Waiongana Gardens. We read our vows, said ‘I do’, and walked back down the aisle as husband and wife, showered in confetti! The cocktail hour with a vintage caravan bar set the scene for the whole afternoon, and our guests spent a few hours lounging, playing lawn games and relaxing with loved ones. We also had speeches and cut the cake.

The reception followed at a local hall. The full wooden interior tied in with our theme and we hired matching wooden furniture to complete the look, with warm festoon lights criss-crossing the ceiling. Garlands of greenery brightened our wooden tables, and dotted amongst them were handmade scented candles. Working with our wedding planner, we custom made all the signage, and incorporated subtle hints of gold throughout the venue on the nametags, jars and dessert table. We put a lot of effort into making the bar, dessert and guest book areas really special. We shared the day with friends and family from all over the world. Standing back and seeing the past year’s work, effort and details come together was just surreal!
See Liah & John’s gorgeous wedding featured in Issue 94, Bride & Groom magazine

Photos by Photography by Mandy Mills
Bride’s gown: Liah Roebuck Bridal
Groom’s attire: Barkers
Planner/stylist/props: Victoria Jayne Weddings
Cakes: AimeeJane Cake Design
Flowergirl dresses: Liah Roebuck Bridal
Teepee: Mocka
Others that made their wedding special: Hallensteins, ASOS, Forever New, Michael Hill, Waiongana Gardens, Mangorei Memorial Hall, Andersons Catering, MakeUp by Annalee, Gloss Hair and Beauty, Jetcharm Barbers, Petal Pusher Flowers, Raybern Entertainment, Sam Bennett, Full Circle, CaptureYou Video, TLL Events, Dobsons, Hello Audrey Vintage Caravan Bar, Feathers & Stone, Photobooth Fun