A timeless wedding at a historic Spanish Homestead

Amongst the sprawling grounds of Puketutu Island Estate, Pelin and Matt created the timeless wedding they had dreamed of. Inspired by the old world romance of the Estate, the couple were married at this hidden city retreat.

Guests were welcomed through the grand, treelined drive, before reaching the serene escape of the beautifully restored Spanish Mission homestead. The ceremony took place outside on the perfectly manicured front lawn, with the building’s Romanesque facade as the backdrop. White blooms, cascading drapery and soft lit candles extended the mood of enchanting classicism.

This stunning wedding was beautifully captured by Zanda Photography

How did you meet and how long have you been together?

Our initial encounter wasn’t very romantic as we first saw and met each other at work. We didn’t know each other very well but would always exchange polite pleasantries and sometimes discuss work related matters. As fate would have it, our paths crossed years later and since then we have both known it was always meant to be. We have been completely inseparable for the last couple of years.

How would you describe each other?

Pelin: To me, Matt is loving, supportive, compassionate and so kind. Not only is he intelligent but he also has a great sense of humour always making me laugh. What stands out most for me is how loving he is and how he can always make me feel so special. Matt: My wife Pelin is the most kind, loving and stunningly beautiful woman I have ever met. She would do anything for the people she loves. She makes me feel loved and special and I can’t imagine life without her.

Tell us a little bit about the proposal and your engagement?

Matt organised a staycation for us in Melbourne at The Langham, a gorgeous hotel in the heart of the city. He had planned it for the weekend along with dinner reservations. On our first night as we were getting ready to go out for a lovely dinner at a French restaurant Matt said he wanted to give me a gift. When we were ready, Matt walked over to get the gift and when he turned around, I realised he had a little box in his hand. He then suddenly got down on one knee, and with the most beautiful and emotional expression on his face told me he loved me and asked me to marry him. I must’ve been so shocked with his wonderful surprise that I went quiet and didn’t respond. Not because I wasn’t going to say yes but because I was so genuinely surprised! As I looked at him, he looked so emotional and he said “please say yes” and of course I said YES! We had the most beautiful, intimate moment just the two of us. We both cried from happiness and he told me he wanted to say so much more during his proposal but was lost for words during that moment. He then told me all the amazing things he had planned to say and I felt so incredibly loved and special. We then went out for our dinner and had a beautiful night celebrating together. Other than our actual wedding day, this was the most special moment of our lives.

Tell us about your wedding style. What influenced your planning for the day?

The style of our wedding was classic, elegant and timeless. The colours we chose were soft, neutral tones such as ivory, cream and white, accented with the beautiful colours of the venue and its greenery. We wanted beautiful florals and candles throughout the venue creating a beautiful ambience for our guests. The venue itself was a huge influence, a beautiful Spanish estate with its stunning gardens, ponds, terrace and all the beautiful rooms of the estate. It really complemented our vision and became an integral part of our wedding aesthetic.

Why did you choose your destination?

Matt and I live in Melbourne however we decided to have our wedding in Auckland. Matt was born in Auckland and where he lived majority of his life. We were very lucky to have family and friends travel to Auckland for our wedding and with most of Matt’s family and friends living in Auckland already, the decision was easy. It’s also important to mention that there were so many beautiful wedding venues in Auckland, it made the decision even easier for us.

What was your favourite detail from the day?

It really is so difficult to pick one specific detail from our wedding day. Everything was so beautiful. However, the venue and the way everything was styled was definitely a stand out. Puketutu Island Estate has left a lasting impression with its beautiful gardens. We had the opportunity to get ready at the gorgeous estate with our loved ones. The venue allowed us early access to get ready in one of the estate’s beautiful rooms with our closest friends and wonderful family. This was so special as both my mum and mother-in-law were with me. We got to spend the whole day together and had the most amazing experience. I felt so lucky. I also have to mention the beautiful decor, florals, candles, furniture and how amazingly everything came together. Everything looked so elegant. This was all thanks to Mel from The Event Refinery who not only organised and coordinated everything but she also brought our vision to life.

What was your favourite moment from the day?

Our most special and favourite moment from our wedding was undoubtedly our ceremony. Whist we were both so nervous about the ceremony, it turned out to be the most heartfelt and meaningful experience of our lives. The ceremony was so personal as we had both written our own vows. It was definitely filled with so much love and emotion and we felt the joy from all our loved ones. Our celebrant Juliet played a big role in making the ceremony really special with her warmth. Our ceremony will always be a special moment we remember forever.

Advice for other couples planning a wedding?

It’s so important to do what feels right for you but our most important advice is to enjoy the journey. Your wedding day is such a special occasion that passes by in the blink of an eye. Embrace the excitement, be present in the moment and savour the experience. We would also say capture the moments to have beautiful memories to look back on. We were lucky enough to have Zanda to capture our wedding day and now when we look back on our wedding photos and video it brings back all the wonderful memories.

Who were your stand out vendors?

Matt and I look back on our planning and our special day and we cannot believe how unbelievably lucky we were to have the most amazing vendors. Mel from The Event Refinery was there with me from day one. With her amazing hard work and attention to detail she brought it all to life. Thanks to her our wedding was styled so beautifully and elegantly and everything ran smoothly. I didn’t have to stress about anything on the day because I knew I was in good hands. Zanda photographed the most amazing moments for us that we will cherish forever. We look back at our photos and video and they bring back such wonderful memories. She is so talented; every single one of our photos turned out beautiful. The amazing Puketutu Island Estate and Urban Gourmet were so great to deal with especially Abby who was always so responsive and helpful. The catering and staff on our wedding day was wonderful. My amazing wedding dress was made by Vincenzo Pintaudi Couture in Melbourne who makes the most beautiful wedding dresses. The experience with Vincenzo was consistently lovely. He created the wedding dress of my dreams. Juliet Harper was the most warm and lovely celebrant who created the most heartfelt ceremony for us. We instantly felt so comfortable with her and the ceremony turned out to be the most memorable part of our wedding. The amazing florals by Amber from Flower Me and the perfect candles by Ioana from Revel and Light just created the most elegant feel and ambience. My hair stylist Sammy Sutton-Walsh and makeup artist Alexandra (Beauty by Alexandra) really listened and understood what I wanted and helped me feel beautiful on my special day. The list goes on, everyone was so great!

What does marriage mean to you?

To us marriage is a commitment of our love, companionship and to grow old together. It’s a promise to share our lives together and always be there for one another.

Do you have a favourite quote or piece of your vows you would like to share?

Both our vows were so heartfelt and special it’s so hard to pick one piece. However, if we were to pick one thing it’s the fact that we both mentioned our beautiful dog Ollie in our vows. We love him so much. It was a lovely coincidence. In Matt’s vows he promised to devote his life to me, Ollie and our family. Evidently this was something that meant a lot to the both of us.

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