Looking back, where did it all start?

“Our story began nine years ago at school. I had literally just moved to New Zealand from South Africa a week earlier and was starting completely fresh in a country where I knew absolutely no one. Then I met Jacob. He introduced me to his friend group, and I quickly became part of their world. We spent our days hanging out at school, seeing each other after class, going to parties and doing all the usual teenage things. Three months later, on Christmas Eve, Jacob asked me to be his girlfriend and the rest is history.

We were only 16 at the time. Eight years later, we got engaged, and then married at 25. I’m pretty sure our parents thought it was just another high school romance, but for us it was always so much more than that. We grew up together, experienced life together and never stopped showing up for each other.”

What part of the day felt most true to you as a couple?

“Honestly, everything. We planned the day exactly how we wanted it and didn’t let other people’s opinions influence our decisions. It was really important that the wedding felt like us from start to finish.

One of our favourite personal touches was asking one of our close friends to conduct interviews with guests throughout the day. He’s a natural entertainer and came up with hilarious questions on the spot — things like best and worst dressed, couples trivia about us and other fun prompts.

Knowing those little moments were being captured in real time made the day feel even more special. Watching the videos back afterwards and seeing the wedding through our guests’ eyes has become one of our favourite memories.”

What was the best investment you made for your wedding day?

“Without a doubt, our photographer and videographers. From the beginning, we knew that photography and videography were the things we’d keep forever. The wedding day itself goes by so quickly, but those memories are what you return to again and again.

Our photographer absolutely blew us away. Looking through our gallery afterwards left me speechless — every emotion, every moment and every little detail was captured perfectly.

The video was equally incredible and had everyone in tears. What made it even more meaningful was being intentional about what we wanted documented. We made sure to capture special moments with family members who won’t always be around, and we even included a message for our future children so that one day they’ll know we were thinking about them long before they arrived.”

Did you keep things traditional or put your own spin on the celebrations?

“We definitely skipped a few traditions that didn’t feel like us.

The garter toss wasn’t our vibe, especially with family and work colleagues in the room. We also chose not to do wedding favours after realising most guests either forget them or leave them behind, so it felt like money that could be better spent elsewhere.

We didn’t assign sides during the ceremony either. Guests could sit wherever they liked, which created a much more relaxed atmosphere and encouraged everyone to mingle.

Instead of a traditional guest book, we had guests write messages on playing cards because we both love games. It’s something we’ll genuinely keep and revisit for years to come.

We also skipped the bouquet toss and instead dedicated my bouquet to my mum. We’re incredibly close, and it felt like a much more meaningful way to honour that relationship.”

Was there a moment you didn’t see coming?

“For me, it was how calm and present I felt once the day arrived. I’d been so nervous leading up to the wedding, but the moment I reached the end of the aisle, it was like a weight lifted off my shoulders.

I’m not someone who naturally enjoys being the centre of attention, but it never felt like that on the day. Everyone was there because they loved us, and I felt completely present and deeply connected to Jacob in a way unlike anything we’d experienced before.

For Jacob, it was how emotional he felt seeing me walk down the aisle. He’s not usually a crier, but he said it was one of the most special moments of his life.

He was also surprised by just how quickly the day flew by. After all the planning and anticipation, it felt like it was over in a blink — but it was easily one of the best days of our lives.”

If you could give one tip to future couples, what would it be?

“The biggest piece of advice we can give is not to let other people’s opinions get into your head. It’s your wedding day, so plan it in a way that feels authentic to you and don’t be afraid to stand by your decisions.

Do your research when it comes to vendors too. Don’t just book the first option you find. Ask questions, compare suppliers and read reviews. It makes a huge difference.

Don’t feel pressured by ‘limited-time offers’ either. Deals come and go regularly in the wedding industry, so be patient and take the time to make the right decisions.

If there’s one area we’d encourage couples to prioritise, it’s photography and videography. Those are the memories you’ll have forever.

We’d also highly recommend having someone conduct guest interviews throughout the day. It’s such a fun and unexpected addition, and hearing your friends and family share stories, reactions and funny answers is something you’ll treasure forever.

One practical tip that saved us a lot of stress was creating a separate email address purely for wedding planning. All vendor communication, contracts and bookings went there, which kept everything organised and meant we weren’t left with years of wedding-related emails afterwards.

Most importantly, don’t stress the small stuff. Everyone told us that beforehand and they were right. Enjoy the planning process as much as the wedding day itself because it all goes by incredibly fast.”