Against the quiet background of the Tararua Ranges, Emma and Glen were married at the iconic Milk Station in Otaki – a recently restored station, draped in contemporary Italian character and inspired design. Enveloped in a canvas of over four acres of European inspired gardens, the magic of their surrounds took centre stage, offset with minimal, modern styling.
Original exposed riveted steel beams blended with fine art from Europe, set the tone for this beautiful soiree, which was magically captured by Jinal Govind.
How did you meet and how long have you been together?
We went to the same school and knew of each other, although we weren’t friends as Glen was a couple of years older. A few years later we both ended up in Wellington and Glen messaged asking if I wanted to have coffee with him. We met at Verve on Lambton Quay and you haven’t been able to separate us since!
Tell us a little bit about the proposal and your engagement?
When life gets busy or we want to go out for dinner but are feeling a bit poor, we have a tradition of getting KFC and sitting in the car at Oriental Bay. One night after taking Wally to puppy class we were short on time so Glen suggested KFC at the waterfront. He pushed the rubbish at me and asked me to go put it in the bin. When I came back, there he was holding a ring.
Tell us about your wedding style. What influenced your planning for the day?
We wanted simple and elegant so we opted for white and black. Lots of white flowers, champagne bridesmaid’s dresses, black suits for the boys. We wanted the venue to stand out so we went very minimal where we could.
Why did you choose your destination?
We wanted a venue where almost all our guests could stay on site, so no one had to travel far. We also wanted to be getting ready in the same location as people were staying so it made it easier for our families to be involved in that part of the day too. The Milk Station was the perfect location for us. You can arrive the day before your wedding and no one needs to leave until the morning after your wedding. It’s perfectly set up to host weddings and is such a stunning place.
What was your favourite detail from the day?
The flowers, Horrobin and Hodge did such an amazing job. We received lots of comments on the flowers and I’m still so happy whenever I look at our photos.
Did you have a stand out vendor from your Wedding?
Absolutely has to be our photographer, Jinal. The energy he brought to the day was perfect and he genuinely seems to love what he does. He made us feel so comfortable and quite a number of our guests said how nice he was to them as well.
What was your favourite moment from the day?
Sitting at dinner, looking out at everything we had worked on for over a year finally right there in front of us. It’s one of the few times in your life where all your favourite people are all in one room, just for you. It was really special.
What does marriage mean to you?
Always having each others backs and putting each other first. Having someone with the same goals and ambitions as you and collectively working towards that.
Advice for other couples planning a wedding?
There are so many options for every decision you have to make so once you make a decision, stick with it and move on to the next task. If you keep revisiting and changing your mind, things will get on top of you really fast. Also, make sure you create a detailed run sheet and give it to everyone who has a role in your day, that way everyone knows what to expect and where to be and when.
|| VENDOR CREDITS ||
Photography by Jinal Govind Photography | Videography by Krysti Jaims Media | Floral by Horrobin & Hodge | Venue The Milk Station Otaki | Cake by Sweet & Tonic | Stationery by You Need Me Creative Studio | Signage by Peg Creative | Rings by The Village Goldsmith | Celebrant Ashleigh Carlyle | Bridal Gown by Etcetera Bridal | Hair & Makeup by Duo Styling | Grooms Suit by Barkers
