Table of contents

Sophie & Mitchell

"We met nine years ago at work—I was at the physiotherapy clinic, and Mitch was coaching masters swimming in the same building. I noticed his loud voice and fluorescent sunglasses, and he noticed my legs. It took Mitch a while to build up the courage to approach me, but he finally did by offering to share a new chocolate flavour. We started with a lunch date, then moved on to dinners, dancing, and movies. Mitch would leave granola cups and coffees on my desk, and it wasn’t long before he asked me to be his girlfriend."

"A couple of years into our relationship, Mitch’s career took us to Melbourne for a year, but we eventually returned to Auckland to be closer to family and friends. Shortly after, during an anniversary trip to Papamoa, Mitch proposed at sunset. With our shared love of animals, we got our first dog, Eddie, just before lockdown. When our wedding plans were delayed due to COVID restrictions, we decided to start a family first. Now, we have two beautiful daughters who are our world!"



Did you include anything non-traditional in your wedding?

"Yes, we chose to use our grandparents' rings for our wedding. Sophie's mum gave Mitch her mum's ring to give to Sophie, and Mitch's dad gave Sophie his dad's ring to give to Mitch. This was a very special moment for us and our parents, as they passed down their parents' rings to us for such an important event in our lives. Sophie was very close to her Nan, and her passing left a big void in her life. Mitch never got to meet his grandad, who tragically died in a helicopter accident shortly before Mitch was born. It's meaningful for us to look at our rings and remember the history they carry."



What is one thing that surprised you?

"Not a surprise as such, but Mitch and I went to the venue on the morning, along with a couple of friends and family, to set up all the flowers, tables and decor and it was so much fun and such a cool feeling to step back and see it come to life exactly as we had envisioned it, it was better than we ever could have expected."



What do you consider the best investment you made, and why?

"The venue. The Boathouse, Riverhead, is actually where we had one of our first dinner dates, and we loved the scenery and delicious food. It was one of the few venues we looked at and the only one that felt right. We loved the scenery and the sun and rain options; the reception area was stunning and was the perfect base for the decor we had envisioned. Our parents and guests raved about what a beautiful spot we had chosen and we are so grateful to have held our special day here"



What advice would you share with other couples beginning their wedding planning journey?

"It sounds cliche, but honestly - go with your instincts and make your own choices for your special day. It is very easy to get wrapped up worrying about everyone else instead of what is true to you as a couple. I would also recommend taking chances.

I would also recommend taking the time to look for vendors who you connect with, we found our photographer by chance and it immediately felt right, we could not be happier or feel luckier with our photos.

We also looked to our family and friends for help, and Sophie's Mum and stepdad made our delicious wedding cake (the first they made!), which was perfect. Having people close to us helped make the day even more special and unique, not a generic wedding."



What was one non-negotiable for your wedding?

"Our daughters' involvement! We wanted our daughters as part of the bridal party - they were the most adorable flower girls! We had them seated at our reception table with us, and they stayed for our first dance so we could have a chance to dance with them, too. It was important for our daughters to feel as much a part of our day as us".


Thanks to all the contributing vendors:

Photography:
Rhea Rodrigues Photography
Venue:
The Boat House - at The Riverhead
Bridal Gown:
Kellylin Couture
Groom's Suit:
Barkers
Hair & Makeup:
Lexia Dyer
Flowers:
The Flower Bed
DJ:
DJ4U