Josie & Kael

In November we tied the knot in Wanaka, at a beautiful high country woolshed oozing with rustic charm. It was an authentic and perfect setting for an unforgettable day.

My bridesmaids and I stayed at a cottage onsite where we awoke to a gorgeous still morning with deer grazing right outside our window. It was a slow and relaxing morning with laughs, tears and a lot of coffee! 

Kael and the groomsmen spent the morning claybird shooting and sipping Champagne after helping set up at the venue. Kael and his twin brother are very creative, drawing all of the chalk boards together, and I had the upmost confidence they would do a great job helping decorate! 

I wore a custom lace gown with pearl beaded straps; Kael wore a custom three-piece suit and his late grandfather’s pocket watch. The bridesmaids wore silver slip dresses, nude heels and baroque pearl earrings that were designed and made by me.

Our wedding party was a mix of siblings and nearest and dearest friends. My younger sister, Lily stood by me as my maid of honour and kept me calm and relaxed the whole time. Kael’s brother Clarke stood by him as his best man, and the boys were fun, cheeky and absolute gentleman. 

Our ceremony was perfect, looking out to the mountains through a grove of trees. My nerves were calmed as soon as I set eyes on Kael and all I could do was smile. The aisle was lined with rustic shepherd’s hooks filled with gypsophila leading to our ceremony platform where two large oak wine barrels stood, topped with stunning soft pale, dusky pink, lilac and mauve floral arrangements of roses and peonies. 

Kael and I wrote our own vows, and Kael’s first line “Hello darling” immediately did what he does best and made me laugh and left me smiling and feeling relaxed and in love. 

The woolshed was decorated by our family, friends and venue team. The festoon lighting and bunting that was draped across the ceiling and outside was handmade by Kael’s mother from old wedding lace used by Kael’s grandmother when she made wedding dresses. 

Guests enjoyed a range of outdoor games, and a spectacular grazing table made by Kael’s sister and family.

Picnic blankets were spread across the lawn where shoes were off, and drinks were flowing while an acoustic duo band set was played in the background. 

The head table was covered in gum foliage and dried thyme flowers, deer antlers and soft florals in brass accents. The linen table runners were white rustic linen made by Kael’s mother and sister which pooled over the ends of the tables and tied softly with linen strips. 

Eclectic brassware covered the tables, which were collected by Kael’s mum and family. The brass was clustered on wooden center pieces filled with candles and soft floral arrangements. Kael and I created table “fish” instead of numbers, stemming from Kael’s love of fishing. 

Each plate was set with dried lavender and a wild flower seed bomb with name tags made by me.

The speeches were made by the fathers, maid of honour, best man and bridal couple. These speeches were from the heart and photos capture the emotion that flowed from these words. Laughter, tears and pure joy was felt across the room. 

Kael and I snuck off during dinner to take some dusk photos, which we absolutely loved. We practiced our first dance in the fields and soaked in the amazing day we were experiencing. It was a special time – time to reflect and tell each other how we felt and how lucky we were. 

We started the party with our first dance, a rumba!  A whiskey and red wine lounge was opened with an outdoor rustic fireplace roaring and we all danced the night away before we were swept off to a remote little cottage surrounded by lavender and lush fields as far as the eye could see.

Everything about our wedding day felt so right and perfect, it was the happiest we have ever been in our lives being able to celebrate our love for each other with our friends and family.

We feel so blessed to have such dedicated family and friends helping make our day more than we could have ever dreamt of.

Photos by Jodie and Bell - The Good Wedding Company

Criffel Woolshed / Megan McKenzie Celebrant / Trish Peng / Barkers / Gypsy West - The Vase / Peppermint Kitchen / Retro Dub / Pure Hair Studio / Olivia Wild / Bec & Bridge