Seaside and serene, Jordan and Danny shared their nuptials above the vast Wellington coastline. Soaring views, weighty yet calming tides and the constant undulation beneath set a profound scene.
Jordan was exquisitely dressed by Rue de Seine; a romantic, structured bustier with a skirt of fluid lace and crochet flared sleeves. A light, playful and modern boheme statement for the seaside. Danny and his groomsmen sported pewter Barkers suits with a barely there check.
Simple and fresh table settings held summery stone-fruit tones, emboldened by charcoal linen and detailed by intricate florals. Candles and festival lights awaited nightfall and live music in the sea breeze.
Above the bay before the dipping sun, the newly weds shared a quiet moment alone atop the lightly rolling shoreline before dancing the night away under the salt-filled stars. Lofty heights and love shot by Hollow & Co.
How did you meet and how long have you been together?
We have been together 12 years. We met as teenagers when we both started swimming for the same swim team, we were interested in each other straight away but despite getting each other’s numbers from mutual friends, many late nights texting and seeing each other most days, due to a bit of shyness and teenage nerves it took us about six months to actually talk one on one in person! But once we got talking, we have been together ever since. We were 16 and 17.
How would you describe each other?
Jordan says… Danny is a happy person, he can laugh at himself and doesn’t take life too seriously, he’s super loyal and protective of his family and close circle of friends and is a calming presence in my life.
Danny says… I love that Jordan is so chilled and independent, she knows what she wants and is so loving to me and everyone else in her life. She brings a different perspective to life which is calming and refreshing.
Tell us a little bit about the proposal and your engagement?
I had no idea at all. It was a normal Sunday – we took our daughter to the pool as we always do and went to the markets in town. On our way back Danny suggested we get an ice cream and walk to the look out over Titahi Bay. Once we got there it was really windy and cold but Danny insisted that we walk to the top. As we got to the top, there was a picnic set up in a sheltered spot with wine and cheese. I immediately thought it was for someone else and was about to say to Danny how nice it was that someone would do that and as I turned around, Danny was on one knee with a ring. Danny had had his brother set up the picnic! We had a pretty short engagement; it was about 7 months between getting engaged and our wedding.
Tell us about your wedding style. What influenced your planning for the day?
Our wedding style was beachy and rustic. We both almost live at the beach and we decided to get married at Danny’s parents’ property which overlooks the ocean. Our goal was to have all our friends and family there and to make sure we both had the best day with minimal stress. We knew a backyard wedding could be pretty stressful so when choosing vendors, we made it a priority to choose ones that had great reviews and to spend our money on the areas which would help us achieve our goal of minimal stress and a great time so that meant ensuring we had waiters, bar staff, great entertainment and a good photographer. Our minds were at ease knowing that the day would run smoothly and we wouldn’t have to do anything other than have a good time.
Why did you choose your destination?
We love and spend a lot of time in the ocean so we wanted somewhere that could incorporate that. Danny’s parents’ property has such an amazing view and they were happy to host, so we went with that. We are both from Wellington and most of our family live locally and Danny grew up in Titahi Bay so the location was perfect.
What was your favourite moment from the day?
We couldn’t believe how perfect the whole day was. Apart from some pre-wedding nerves the whole day was just so enjoyable. Highlights were probably walking back down the aisle as a married couple and being greeted by our family and friends with hugs and congratulations, sitting at our table with our closest friends and siblings and looking out to all our guests who were having a great time, the dancing.. and our midnight McDonald’s cheeseburger delivery.
What does marriage mean to you?
We already lived together and have a baby so for us, our wedding was a celebration of what we had already achieved together and an official promise that we will continue to support and love each other while we work together towards our shared and individual goals.
Who were your stand out vendors?
We felt so lucky with the vendors we had. The food by Nosh was amazing and their service was outstanding, before you even knew you needed a top up, they were filling your glass. Our singer/pianist, Shaun Preston was beyond amazing, he had everyone dancing and we had so many comments on how good he was. Our photographer, Tom, was great and we were blown away when we saw our photos. He was so easy to work with, made everyone feel comfortable and just knows how to get beautiful photos and is a wedding pro so he had so many tips on the day.
Advice for other couples planning a wedding?
Choose what is most important to you and choose how you spend your money based on that. We wanted a stress-free day so we chose key vendors, like food and service, photography and music that had amazing reviews so we could put our minds at ease and not worry about anything on the day. Also, lists! I had a list and spreadsheet to keep track of what had been done and what needed to be paid then.
|| CREDITS ||
Photographer: Hollow & Co | Gown & Veil: Rue de Seine | Bride’s shoes: Mi Piaci | Flora: Flowers Manuela (bouquets) | Suits: Barkers | Groom’s Shoes: Florsheim | Bridesmaids dresses: Chiffon Boutique | Rings: Zoe Porter | Hair & Makeup: Hair There & Anywhere | Flower girl’s outfit: Karibou | Stationery & Signage: Mishmash Design | Floral Table settings: Stem | Floral Arch: Michelle Zuba (bride’s aunt) | Marquee, Table & Chair Hire: Hire Master | Candles: Made Lovely Hire | Celebrant: Rosalind Baxter | Catering: Nosh Catering | Cake: Em & Skye Cake Co | Entertainment: Shaun Preston | Venue: family property
We are excited to have Hollow & Co as part of our exclusive Wild Hearts Vendor Collection. Check out more of their stunning photography here and follow them on Instagram here.
Words by Isabelle McKay.
