Michelle + Michael // Wild Summer Vows captured by Midge Edine Photography

Le Bons Bay always held a special place for Michelle + Michael, with the wild seabreeze and forest dreamscapes these wild hearts said ‘I do’ in the one place that these Summer nights of love will forever be remembered.

Bohemian prints and wild flowers, every detail inspired a nostalgic notion of sweet Summers at the family Bach. A Wedding Day filled with adventure and rustic charm. From dancing on the cliff tops after a romantic First Look, to beachside vows, flying foxes and rustic celebrations under the stars.
Whimsically captured by Christchurch Photographer Midge Edine.

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

We met at a dress-up party. Michael was a giant penguin and I was Tinkerbell. Somehow it was love at first sight. (just kidding, it took us 4 months to go on our first date haha). We have been together for 7 years.

How would you describe each other?

Michael is adventurous and has an inventor’s mind. He loves to get the most out of each day. I am creative and more relaxed, but love an outdoor adventure with him.

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

Michael proposed the night of our 5 year anniversary dinner with an empty ring box (good boy). He told me the booking was later than it really was so that I’d be ready earlier. I had no idea it was coming! We had just been on a month-long North Island camper trip, where he had AMPLE opportunities to pop the question and hadn’t done it, so I assumed it was still a long way off. After the proposal, we went to dinner, where it felt like we were sharing a special secret no one else knew. We had a 2-year engagement to limit the planning stress, as we knew it would be heavily DIY.

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

Our wedding was boho/rustic style. We wanted it to feel relaxed and carefree rather than go the more traditional route. Le Bons has a classic NZ bachy vibe, and we wanted our wedding to blend in with that feel. We did away with the seating plan and let the guests mingle where they liked throughout the night. We had a make-your-own- icecream station, grazing tables and a buffet dinner. The crockery and cutlery were the type you would find in any bach, mismatched and retro.

Why did you choose your destination?

Le Bons Bay is special to both of us, but particularly Michael. His family has owned a bach there since he was a baby, so many of his favourite memories are from adventures in the Bay. We still visit there regularly and love every minute of it. Now, whenever we walk down the beach we have fantastic memories of the ceremony as well.

What does marriage mean to you?

If you had asked me that before the wedding, I would have said “An excuse for the best party ever!”, but really it’s a deepening of a commitment to each other. There is something about it that instinctively makes you more of a team, ready to move forward together. I find it comforting too, the thought that there is this person that is willing to bind their life to mine despite all my flaws.

Who were your stand out vendors?

Liv Webber, our celebrant. Funny, charming, relaxed. So efficient behind the scenes, and so effortlessly embodied the feel of our wedding.

Midge Edine Photography. We have had mountains of compliments on our gallery. Midge and Jordan did a fantastic job. Can’t wait for our highlight video!

Gary Brittenden Catering. Gary came out of retirement for our wedding. He is a Le Bons local, and used largely local produce and seafood for the buffet. It was so nice to have a local tie to the catering.

CTRL ALT ROCK- The band! So professional and talented! They even custom learned our first dance song so we could do it to a live performance. They were the talk of the night.

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

“You are an inspiration to me. You make me strive to be a better person…” “…Thank you for letting me laugh with you, and at you, every day. Thank you for asking me to spend my life with you. I know it’s going to be a series of excellent adventures no matter what life throws at us.”