A Modern wedding at Mawhiti Waiheke

Serenaded by the sounds of Sam Jones on saxophone, Ashton & Andrew’s intimate soiree at Mawhiti Waiheke was a beautiful combination of art, architecture and luxury.

The sculptural form of the ‘Gateway Pavillion’ with unparalleled views of the Hauraki Gulf, needed little styling to accent the space – decorated only with minimalist white and green florals, providing the perfect fusion of modernist architecture and organic touches. The ceremony unfolded in an open-aired space where vows were exchanged before a sculptural backdrop overlooking the ocean.

This modernist wedding was planned & styled by Waiheke Island Events and beautifully captured by photographer Wildfolk Photography.

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

We met at work in early 2018 and first got to know each other over Korean fried chicken and beer when we ended up being the only attendees at a Friday group lunch. This led to many more one on one lunches, with us officially starting our relationship in August 2018.

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

In April 2022, we were spending the weekend at Jackalope on the Mornington Peninsula, just south of Melbourne. The property is incredible – on a beautiful vineyard with rolling green hills. On our last morning, Andrew suggested going for a walk early in the morning, which Ashton thought was a bit strange given it was raining, but agreed to go anyway. The rain started to ease as we approached a lake at the bottom of the property, and the sun came out making the raindrops across the vines and grass sparkle – just like the ring Andrew quickly pulled out of his pocket! Then Andrew dropped to one knee and proposed. We were the only people there which made it even more special for us.

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

Our goal was to have a small, intimate and relaxed wedding with immediate family and our closest friends. The idea of having a wedding at a house with a chef to cater was actually suggested by our masseuse, so we have her to thank for this because it’s certainly not something we’d considered. Overall, we wanted a simple, modern and carefree wedding that was free from expectation. In terms of style, we didn’t have a specific ‘vision’ in mind, but we wanted it to be complementary to the environment in order to enhance the natural beauty of the location. We were happy to leave it to the professionals and encouraged them to express their creativity!

Why did you choose your destination?

We live in Melbourne but Andrew is from New Zealand, so it was quite meaningful for him to get married there. We first travelled together to Waiheke Island in March 2020 and fell in love with the place – the natural beauty, the fabulous food and wine and the lovely people! This became a special place for us and we also wanted to show our guests – many of whom travelled from Australia and Japan – what an amazing location Waiheke Island is.

What was your favourite detail from the day?

We can’t pick a single detail. Everything was perfect – we had phenomenal weather, beautiful native floral arrangements, awesome music, delicious food and a fabulous photographer who made us feel really comfortable.

Did you have a stand out vendor from your Wedding?

All our vendors were fantastic and we would highly recommend them all!

What was your favourite moment from the day?

Andrew: When I first saw Ashton as she was walking up to The Gateway Sculpture (where the ceremony was held) from the house. Ashton looked so beautiful. I was excited but nervous!

Ashton: Mine is the same, coming out of the house and looking up at Andrew waiting for me in The Gateway Sculpture. I couldn’t wait to get to him.

What does marriage mean to you?

A commitment to love your partner and to build a life together, through mutual trust, support…and to have fun!

Advice for other couples planning a wedding?

A wedding can be whatever you want it to be, so do what’s right for you, not what you think you ‘have’ to do. Go with the vendors you like and connect with, embrace their creativity and trust their judgement. Don’t get too bogged down in the details, the marriage is the main event and your guests just want to celebrate your special day with you!