Kate & Zac

Kate and Zac celebrated their marriage on Muriwai Beach, a place where both their families have lived for more than 30 years. The whole day was a real labour of love for the local ‘village’, and the end result was a chic celebration full of fun. Kate fills us in on the details…

Our wedding had a very rustic DIY feel to it and we tapped into our talented friends, family and locals to help prepare for the day. We asked Zac’s dad to become a celebrant so he could marry us; his sister-in-law baked our gorgeous wedding cake; my mum and I made all of the decorations; my dad handcrafted all our wedding tables and our amazing driftwood arch; the beer, wine, and band were supplied by locals; and we transformed my family home to hold the reception. Almost every aspect of the wedding had a connection to someone who was sharing the day with us, which made it personalised and special.  

Rain was forecast on our wedding day, so the girls spent most of the morning fixing last-minute arrangements or rescuing seating from an onslaught of heavy downpours. While this chaos was going on, Zac was enjoy a morning of cards, beers and a surf! By the time four o’clock came around, and it was time to jump into the local surf school van and head to the beach to marry Zac, the rain had stopped.  

I walked barefoot down the hill with my dad. Muriwai is one of Auckland’s top tourist and surf spots so it was a bizarre scene as we passed guys in wetsuits while holidaymakers stopped to take photos.

After the ceremony, we headed to the top of the cliff where we celebrated with bubbles and delicious homemade canapés. Following that, everyone went to my family home where guests were invited to set up camp on beanbags and beer-crate benches. Guests drank local wine and kegs of beer while listening to the speeches and the sun set on a day I will never forget. We served paella and pulled pork sliders for dinner, and the rest of the night was spent dancing the night away to classic sing-along songs. This truly was a night to remember.   

Photos: Frank & Peggy Photography
Others that made their wedding special: Barkers, Ingridz Dressmaking, Jarlo, Cotton On, Rachel Major, Van Lier Nursery, The Hungry Cook, Four on the Floor