IT’S HELPFUL TO RECEIVE TRIED AND TRUE ADVICE, SO WE ASKED OUR NEWLYWED COUPLES TO SHARE THEIR WEDDING TIPS TO HELP YOU PLAN YOUR BIG DAY...

Jamie and Meade’s wedding was a two-day celebration with no detail spared as they focused on love, family and their guests’ enjoyment. From the five-tier five-flavour cake, caravan bar, cigar and whiskey tent, to the day-after food truck, DJ and relaxed Kiwi vibe, the whole weekend was an unforgettable experience for everyone. Their wedding featured in Bride & Groom magazine, issue 101. Photo by Candy Capco

Jamie & Meade's Advice:

Enjoy planning your wedding! It’s easy to get overwhelmed and turn it into a military operation, but it’s such a special time to bond with your fiancé and bring out your individuality.
Money will always be a big thing in planning a wedding so keep a budget to track what you’ve spent and what you have left to pay for.
Be clear upfront on the key things that are really important to you as a couple on your wedding day. You’ll then know where to prioritise your time and money.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Family and friends are often more than willing to help, and it’s a great chance to share your planning journey with others and have some fun at the same time.
If your budget allows, consider planning a second day celebration. It’s a great way to extend the festivities and it gives you a better chance to spend time with friends and family outside the formalities of the main wedding day.
Eat and stay hydrated. There is so much happening on your wedding day it’s easy to be distracted. Particularly for summer weddings, keep up your fluids and you’ll feel much better for it later in the night

Lauren and Conrad's intimate winter wedding was a laid-back, family-style celebration full of warmth, love and laughter. The cool couple decided to make many of their own rules for the day, and it turned out perfectly! *See their wedding feature* *here. Photo by Holly Shin*

LAUREN & CONRAD’S ADVICE:

Not everyone who says they’ll come will come, so invite the extra couple you didn’t think you could squeeze in.
Friends and family will offer to help - so give them jobs early on.
Ignore people telling you you have too much food when you know your guests better than they do.
Don’t feel pressured by what people expect from you and stick with your gut - we noticed many people didn’t even use their pegs and bought their own to save money on our tab.
There’s no shame in setting budgets.
Traditional wedding rules don’t have to apply if you don’t like them.
Book the venue and photographer first then fill in the finer details later.
Keep it simple. Don’t stress the small details of what you want here or there - you won’t remember it or care after the day.
Spend good money on the photography and less on drinks. You’ll look back at those photos more than anyone will remember what they drank.
We stepped away for 5 minutes after the ceremony to take a shot or fireball and just be together before we did family photos or anything else.
Pick a good MC from your guest list and give them all the points you want to cover off. We gave my dad the rough list and said to go with the flow as we didn’t want a timeline of events. If it doesn’t feel like the right time to do speeches, then wait until it is.

After deciding on an empty paddock overlooking Mt Maunganui for their wedding location, Kendall and Matt set to work transforming it into a stunning setting for their big day, complete with a beautiful marquee, amazing food, and a relaxed atmosphere. As a special touch, Kendall designed her gown, which was made by her mum, and featured pearls gifted from her grandmother! Their wedding featured in Bride & Groom magazine, issue 101. Photo by Amy Kate Photography

KENDALL & MATTHEW’S ADVICE:

Don’t sweat the small stuff, just focus on the bigger picture. If people are smiling, eating, drinking, and dancing... then that’s all that really matters.
Your day will go by as a blur, so be sure to take a moment to stop and reflect, and just soak in the happiness around you.
People will be late, speeches might not be heard by everyone, wine will be spilt, but as long as it’s all met with a smile then the day will be remembered well. This attitude also helps reduce stress leading up to the day of the wedding.

*Emma & Rourke’s pretty, natural-themed wedding focused on family, fun and a relaxed vibe - see their wedding* *here*. Photo by Lisa Fisher

Emma & Rourke’s Advice:

Don’t be afraid to dream big! At the start of our engagement I made a list of everything I wanted to be included in our wedding. We sat down together as a couple and sorted out what we prioritised what came second and what we could compromise on. This made sure that we were honouring both parties in the wedding and that we wouldn’t have any regrets later on. It also supported us in making the budget and setting our financial goals for saving to make it all happen.
Ask your vendors for their advice or recommendations. We were very lucky to choose such awesome and caring people to help make our wedding happen and they were quite often offering advice for things we hadn’t even thought of that made the day go more smoothly. Vendors usually have a list of people that they get on well and have a good working relationship with, which for us was very important as we wanted everything to flow.
Get on that planning hype! Let’s be real; planning a wedding, no matter the size, can be a daunting task. Unless you love the craze of leaving everything to the last minute, then it helps to start things early. Plus, a lot of vendors get booked up years in advance so if you have your eye on someone in particular it pays to get organised and set goals for you to achieve towards making your wedding day happen the way you want it to.
Do your research and have backups. Sometimes things don’t always go as planned and you may miss out on the vendor of your dreams. Don’t let it get you down; scout out a few different places you like the look of and prioritise them in order of most wanted.
Don’t forget to eat on the day and have fun! Make sure you revel in your day in whichever way makes you happy because in the end it’s about you and your partner. However you have chosen to spend the day, remember to soak it all up, the people, the happiness, the tears and the joy for the memories later on.

While recovering from major surgery, Suzannah meticulously planned her wedding with Tom, incorporating many special details that refl ected them as a couple. From the homegrown flowers by mum, to the foraged tableware, korowai ceremony and handmade stationery, it was personalised, romantic and perfect! Their wedding featured in Bride & Groom magazine, issue 101. Photo by Nadia Buirst Photography

SUZZANNAH & THOMAS’S ADVICE:

Once you’ve settled on a vendor/theme/decoration/gown etc, stop looking! It’s so easy to keep questioning things, but if you’ve chosen, stick with it and don’t be tempted to keep looking – you’ll only confuse yourself and complicate things.
Make sure to wear your shoes in so you don’t get blisters on the day!
Don’t just go with the status quo for your ceremony. Think about what commitments you as a couple want to make, write your own vows, seek out a celebrant who connects with you in a special way, intersperse the ceremony with songs or poems that capture you as a couple. Don’t be afraid to be different and steer clear of empty words and meaningless traditions if they don’t hold any significance to the two of you.
If you have a tight budget and you also want to make a better environmental decision by not importing out-of-season blooms, I recommend asking friends and family what flowers they have in their gardens that you could use. We grew our own and looked around our neighbourhood to collect other bits and pieces. We bought chocolates so we could knock on doors and ask to use some of their fl owers when we spotted things we wanted over the fence!

Nicole and Thomas finalised their wedding venue, photographers, gown, cake, colour theme, bridal party and guest list within two months of getting engaged and couldn’t have been more pleased with how everything turned out on their big day! The couple incorporated a mixture of traditional and modern elements, creating a beautiful and meaningful celebration. Their wedding featured in Bride & Groom magazine, issue 101. Photo by Stephan & Nakita

Nicole & Thomas's Advice:

Makeup wipes are good stain removers for clothes. Take a packet with you on the day to help get rid of stains for photos.
If you have organised transport for your wedding have a designated person for each bus, shuttle or car to make sure everyone is on board. I would recommend this person know most of the people or give a sheet of paper with the guest’s names on it so they can do a roll call.
When opening gifts and cards have a pen handy and write on the back of each card the corresponding gift. This makes writing thank you cards a lot easier as there is sometimes months between opening the gifts and having the thank you cards delivered.

Under a canopy of grapevines and fairy lights, Phoebe and Tom celebrated their magical wedding with loved ones, many of whom played a special role in their day. The couple opted for a 5pm ceremony, so they could enjoy a relaxed afternoon with the bridal party, and it made for an extra romantic occasion! Their wedding featured in Bride & Groom magazine, issue 101. Photo by Natalie McNally

PHOEBE & TOM’S ADVICE:

Plan plan plan! Everything for our day was organised well, and it meant on the day everyone had instructions and I could just relax. The more organised you can be in the lead up, the more you can maximise the fun time!
It’s your special day, so make it your own. You don’t want to look back on the day at something that’s not really you. Everyone’s got ideas, but don’t do something a certain way just because you think you have to.
Don’t wait – if you want to spend your lives together, just do it! We were both 25 and feel so lucky that we have the opportunity to spend so much of our lives together.

After five years together, Josh proposed to Hannah atop the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and the couple spent three years planning their bright and beautiful wedding day. An earthy, natural theme with pops of green, yellow and brown looked amazing and suited the happy couple perfectly. Their wedding featured in Bride & Groom magazine, issue 101. Photo by Holly Shin

HANNAH & JOSH’S ADVICE

I recommend finding a venue that does everything – food, decorations, furniture etc. It takes away so much stress and is a good time-saver.
While styling is a very personal experience, I would say keeping styling simple is key. Don’t have too many things on the tables, and have plenty of space for people to gather and chat.
Choosing a few key colours and sticking to them also helps when deciding on a theme and decorations.
Make sure your gown is comfortable and makes you feel beautiful! Don’t be afraid to accessorise with pops of colour if that’s your thing too!

Friends annd family gathered from around the globe to celebrate the marriage of Bonnie and Jin, beginning with a traditional ceremony at an inner-city cathedral, followed by a vineyard reception that paid homage to their families, cultures and new identity as a couple. Their wedding featured in Bride & Groom magazine, issue 101. Photo by Perry Trotter

BONNIE & JIN’S ADVICE:

Choose your wedding party carefully, as these are the people that will save you if something goes wrong!
Prioritise your photographer and videographer. These are arguably the most important professionals worth spending on.
Always check in with your partner. This might seem like a no-brainer, but this special day is about the two of you.

*Nicole and Riley planned a stylish and romantic summer wedding filled with love, dancing, ice cream and a star performance from their pet dog. See their gorgeous wedding* *here. Photo* *by Black Robin*

NICOLE & RILEY’S ADVICE:

No doubt a common wedding tip... Don’t sweat the small stuff! Throughout our wedding journey there were little hiccups and, with COVID lockdown looming, bigger hiccups. Just remember you can only do what you can do. You, your friends and family will still have the most wonderful day regardless.
Take a moment to step back with you new husband/wife on your wedding day and watch all of your special friends and family having the time of their lives.
Weddings can be expensive, even when you try and stick to a budget! For us, photography and videography were important, so we made sure we had enough budget for those two suppliers and spent less on other elements.
Take time to have fun and enjoy the experience. It’s a special time for both you and your partner, but also your family. Celebrate your love and enjoy every moment!

Ellette and Jack exchanged vows in a romantic ceremony surrounded by autumnal trees, as a nod to Jack’s career as an arborist. Then, after a colourful photo shoot with confetti cannons and smoke bombs, they joined their guests at a Gatsby-inspired reception with crystal chandeliers, rose gold cake and a sparkling finale. Their wedding featured in Bride & Groom magazine, issue 101. Photo by David Le

Ellette & Jack’S ADVICE:

Put together a wedding run sheet so everyone, including your vendors, know the schedule for the day. Include a list of contact details, in case anyone has questions or emergencies. Include people like: bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents, photographer, videographer, caterers, venue contact person and wedding vehicle drivers.
Make a list of group photos you want with family and friends. It’s a great idea to give this list to your MC to help herd people together!
Connect your photographer and videographer (via email) before the wedding, if they don’t work for the same company.
Put a little bag of supplies together for the bride and groom and get someone to pop this under the bridal table at the reception venue. Include some eye drops, mints, tissues, lipstick to reapply, plus the room key to your accommodation for the night.
If you’re getting married in autumn or winter, consider hiring umbrellas and storing them in the wedding vehicles. Better to have them and not use them, than to not have them at all.

Olivia and Mackley were married after 12 years together, with their two beautiful daughters by their side and 60 family and friends, on a warm, windy February day at Lake June. See their wedding feature *here. Photo by Carla Mitchell*

OLIVIA & MACKLEY’S ADVICE:

Do not let wedding planning consume you. If it stops feeling fun then take a break or change directions.
Do include your kids as much as you can. Our wedding wouldn’t have been the same without them!
Try and make as much as you can and enjoy it; it can save money too.
Be creative and make the ceremony just how you want it.
Go straight on your honeymoon if possible. The after wedding buzz was a high you can ride all week, together.
Finish the party just before midnight – it’s always good to finish on a high.

Kelsey and Darren wanted to create a feeling of love and romance on their wedding day, and achieved this through their passionate celebrant and the photography, which captured real feelings in real moments. Their wedding featured in Bride & Groom magazine, issue 99. Photo by Kate Little

KELSEY & DARREN’S ADVICE:

Get to know your vendors! They are what makes your day come together, so spend the time to get to know them before your wedding and it will make the day so much smoother. We had multiple meetings (and wine) with both our photographer and celebrant and by the time the wedding rolled around they felt like family –they are in fact new friends in our lives now!
Laugh at anything and everything that goes wrong on the day – you didn’t plan it and you can’t change it, but don’t let anything ruin your day because all that truly matters is the love you have for the beautiful soul you are marrying!
Don’t scrimp on photography! You get what you pay for!
Put loads of effort into your seating plan – it is so worth it to see your guests having an awesome night. I spent hours going over the plan, making sure I had placed people by guests that they have common ground with, and we had laughter and chatter all night. Guests even told us they’d made new friends!
Don’t forget to thank your bridal party. They have just put up with you talking about the wedding for the past year, dealing with your stress and helping make decisions – that is hard work too! I created survival kits for them all with essentials to get through the day, and a wee gift to say thanks.

Crystal and Jeffrey wanted to give their international guests the experience of a rustic Kiwi wedding, and included their love for film, travel, plants and photography into their special day. The result was bright, beautiful and full of love and laughter! Their wedding featured in Bride & Groom magazine, issue 101. Photo by Joe Elliott

Crystal & Jeffrey's Advice:

If possible, take time to plan your wedding, and do it in stages. This will make the whole process stress-free and enjoyable, and you’ll be able to map out a day that reflects both of you.
Book yourself a weekend away with your other half in the three months before your wedding. In the last few weeks of preparation, you will be caught up in the little details that you can forget the purpose of a wedding, and that is the commitment to spend a lifetime together!

Cathy’s family farm was the perfect setting for a rustic and fun-filled wedding when she married James. The couple incorporated their background in farming into the décor, including hay bales, an arch made of railway sleepers, biodegradable confetti and homemade signs. A hand-reared calf was a surprise wedding gift, and turned out to be the star of the day! Their wedding featured in Bride & Groom magazine, issue 101. Photo by Amy Bell Photography

CATHY & JAMES ADVICE:

Lock in your venue ASAP and then the planning will come easily. You will need to know how many the venue can cater for and what dates you have in mind when you contact them.
Have at least one bridesmaid and one groomsman in charge of the timing on the day so you are not the only one keeping an eye on it. They can give you a countdown for how long you have until you need to get in the car and head off to get married.
We seated guests opposite their partners so they got to know more people at their table. This worked a treat and the friendships that have come out of our wedding make us so happy!
If you’re getting married in summer make sure you serve punch or water for your guests to enjoy before the ceremony kicks off.

After 18 months tending to the land, Tegan and Mitchell celebrated a beautiful and heartfelt wedding under a stunning marquee at their family farm. The couple aimed for a natural and romantic feel, which included wildflower seed invitations and minimal decorations. Their wedding featured in Bride & Groom magazine, issue 101. Photo by Amy Bell Photography

TEGAN & MITCHELL’S ADVICE:

Let your bridesmaids choose their own dresses within your colour palette. It’ll make them feel more comfortable on the day and they’ll be excited to wear their dress.
Hire a wedding planner! They know what they’re doing and will help things run smoothly on the day so you don’t need to run around doing last minute tasks – just relax!
Think about how the day will go and put yourself in your guests’ shoes. Will they be happy waiting around for hours while photos are happening before they can go into the reception area? Do they have to sit through all the speeches before being served food?