Rosa + Nick \\ Winehouse Wedding captured by Kate Roberge

In the verdant, leafed gardens of the Winehouse, Rosa and Nick wed against the valleys of green at the heart of Gibbston Valley. Layer upon blanketed layer of sage and juniper set the luscious scene for a relaxed afternoon of lawn games, love and laughter.

Rosa and Nick’s reveal under the heartfelt skies of Wakatipu was wildly picturesque – kindred connections breathtaking in the old gold hills, with the endless aegean blue of the lake below and flighty smoke clouds above.

Pared back table settings, fresh pressed linen and cross-backed chairs filled the cottage at the reception. Halos of florals by The Vaseflanked tables; a mix of roses undone at the edges, pearly orchids and golden elements of the rugged landscape feathering at the seams. The perfect mix of modern luxe, bringing the surroundings indoors. Charged flutes continued and the party pursued, with Rosa dancing the (afternoon and) night away in her champagne velvet Chaos & Harmonyheels.

Big love and charisma captured by Kate Roberge. Scroll for pure joy below.

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

Nearly six years ago Nick’s brother married my cousin Amy and we caught each other’s eyes at the reception. We were studying in different cities so didn’t expect it to go anywhere, but three months later I flew up to Wellington to visit him and we’ve been together since.

How would you describe each other?

Nick: She’s kind, gentle, and honest. She has the warmest, most genuine hugs imaginable. She’s very patient, and a far better listener than I am. I trust her more than I trust myself. She’s the cutest being to ever walk the planet. Her smile is my favorite thing ever. She’s an excellent cook, and a far better teacher than she realises.

Rosa: He’s warm and friendly, creative and driven. Very focussed on self-growth and always strives to be the best version of himself. He’s patient and doesn’t get frustrated when I stop to take photos of everything on walks. He’s the loveliest man I’ve ever met.

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

Nick was planning on proposing on my birthday but got impatient and proposed on a sunset walk a few days earlier instead. He dropped a knee and presented a placeholder, cubic zirconia ring from the Warehouse that I could wear until we got a proper one made. It didn’t fit at all because I have tiny hands. So I ended up wearing an adjustable kids ring for a month, it was very classy.

Why did you choose your destination?

I feel very lucky to have been born and bred in Queenstown. Even though we live in Wellington (and it probably would have been a lot easier planning a wedding up here), Queenstown will always be home and I couldn’t have imagined getting married anywhere else.

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

Being a photographer myself, one of the main things I kept in mind was colour scheme and how everything would look together. I ended up choosing an earth inspired palette of blues, creams, whites, to match the sky and fields which I knew would be golden that time of year. I wanted everything to look minimal, fresh and timeless with florals as the main decoration.

What does marriage mean to you?

For both of us I think marriage means that we’re committed to loving and choosing each other every day for the rest of our lives. Not living one foot in or one foot out, but all in, not leaving, no matter what life throws at us.

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

‘I will love and honour you all the days of my life’ is quite a traditional vow you hear variations of at a lot of weddings. But I don’t think we could’ve summed it up better ourselves and it’s special getting to say the words others have said before you.

Who were your stand out vendors?

The florals: I cried when I saw them at the venue because Gypsy did such an amazing job. I’d sent her a few images from my Pinterest board of what I was hoping for and she nailed it.

The music: Joe from Mountain Beats played bangers that had us on the dance floor the whole night.

The photos: We’ve been married four months and still look at the photos all the time, they’re just beautiful, Kate captured the day perfectly.

Advice for other couples planning a wedding?

Give yourself at least a year to plan, book important vendors and pick your colour scheme early. I spent way too long being indecisive and ended up stress planning it all in maybe 5 months. Also consider having your wedding on a day that isn’t a Friday or Saturday. We had ours on a Sunday which initially I was a little gutted about but it made no difference at all. It isn’t just a Sunday, it’s your Wedding day and will be magical regardless!

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Want to see more photography work by Kate Roberge, check out Kate’s profile on our exclusive Wild Hearts Vendor Collection here, and beauttiful flora by Gypsy at The Vase Flora & Foliage here.