Josh + NIALL – Captured by Ana Galloway

The stunning wedding of Josh + Niall captured by one of our industry favourites Ana Galloway Photography. Choosing to get married in the place Niall grew up in, Nelson, the couple incorporated family history into their day of celebration with loved ones. Moody backdrops of waterfalls and foggy lakes create a romantic and intimate presence in the images capturing their love so eloquently. Sunshine came out for the ceremony and bridal party photos – with their groomsmaids absolutely killing it in beautiful gowns from Leave Her Wilder, outfits completed with bold bouquets of toi toi by Pebble & Dot.

How did you meet and how long have you been together? We met online almost five years ago when we were living in Wellington. We moved to Auckland for a couple of years and a year ago decided to move back to Niall’s hometown of Nelson.

Tell us a little bit about the proposal and your engagement? At the time we were living in Auckland and Josh had planned a surprise weekend getaway to Wellington to propose. But Niall, unaware, got in first and proposed before the event. We then ended up using the planned Wellington trip to have an engagement party with our friends.

Tell us about your wedding style. What influenced your planning for the day? We both have quite different styles, so we wanted to try and blend these by incorporating a vintage luxury feel with bohemian rustic. Far from being a problem, this worked in our favour and created a perfect harmony of our aesthetics. We also took inspiration from the Nelson region, the season and the venue locations.

Why did you choose your destination? Niall grew up in Nelson so we wanted to incorporate some of his family history into the day. We got ready at Long Lookout, one of the oldest baches at Lake Rotoiti which has been in Niall’s family since the 1940s. The bach is also on the doorstep of Nelson Lakes National Park, so we also jumped in a water taxi with Ana and headed out for our couples shoot at Whisky Falls and around the shores of Lake Rotoiti. It was very early in the morning and required a bit of a hike in the rain in our tuxedos, but the atmosphere was perfect. Then, our ceremony was on the porch of Duncan House – Niall’s great-grandfather’s former home which is now an exhibit at Founders Park. The house has beautiful architectural details which stood in for an arch and aisle so ended up not requiring much dressing at all.

What was your favourite detail from the day? A detail we really liked was organised very late in the piece. A week out from the wedding we asked Josh’s friend Abhi (a graphic designer – Dawdle Bee) to hand write place names on 100 marble tiles and get them from Auckland to Nelson. This detail really lifted the place-settings and tied the table decoration together while also serving as a keepsake for our guests.

Did you have a stand out vendor from your Wedding? Seven days before the wedding we were at a local market and found Pebble & Dot, a new local floral designer. At this point we hadn’t settled on what our groomsmaids would be carrying down the aisle – but Josh had a particular aesthetic in mind. We loved what we saw and gave her a brief and the tight timeframe. She really delivered and her work complemented our grooms’ party perfectly. Also, our day ran so smoothly thanks to Bex Richards from Premier Events Nelson. Her and her team pulled out all the stops with set up, catering and staffing so we didn’t have to worry about a thing.

What was your favourite moment from the day? Our favourite moment was sitting down next to each other at the reception, newlyweds, taking a moment to look around and see our families and friends all together being there with us to celebrate our partnership.

What does marriage mean to you? Marriage at its core is partnership, committing to each other to share in life’s joys and struggles. It is something that evolves and grows with you. Same-sex marriage has only been legal in New Zealand since 2013, so we are grateful to be in a time and place where we can share and celebrate our love with our friends and families.

Advice for other couples planning a wedding? Take time to step back and enjoy the planning process. Where you end up will likely be different from where you started, but that’s all part of the fun. We were making changes right up to the last minute and while at time felt disorganised we have no regrets. Don’t be afraid to make bold decisions and be yourselves!

This stunning wedding is featured in our 2019 Wild Hearts Magazine – an annual journal for the wild & creative soul – full of inspiration and beauty. You can get your copy here.

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