Sarah + Jeremy \\ Taupo Wedding captured by Ana Galloway

“If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.” – A. A. Milne

Serene and sincere, Lake Taupo played host to nuptials shared by Sarah and Jeremy, nestled in the native flora of Acacia Bay at a stunning hideaway location.

Bearing a beautifully wild dried bouquet still alive with deep, muted colour, Sarah was exquisitely dressed by Hayes Bridal in a silk slip and blouse with polished features – long slim cuffs, silk covered buttons and frayed hems. A modern, minimal and memorable sartorial affair.

A natural colour palette that was truly cohesive across all elements swept the day. Simple and thoughtfully curated; a subsidiary of the surroundings. An uncomplicated approach to florals elevated both ceremony and reception – bunches rather than full bouquets for the bridesmaids in tones that complimented each of their dresses, understated touches for the tables, and juicy, full dried garlands suspended above the head table.

At the curling edge of the lake under the dipping sun, the newly weds snuck through to the stoney shores. The water, lightly ruffled but momentous and ever unperturbed, reserved a few fresh, dulcet moments between bride and groom.

Divinely shot by Ana Galloway.

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

We met five years ago during a ski trip with mutual friends. It wasn’t until the second trip Jeremy offered to drive me home, giving us four hours to get to know each other. From there a few more dates, then a 6-month trip around Europe (living in a Toyota Previa named Bumble) – the ultimate test for any marriage!

How would you describe each other?

Jeremy is so laid back he’s practically lying down (unlike myself). He’s also kind, patient, extremely generous and always supportive of my creative ideas and obsessive cleaning tendencies.

Sarah is particular (in a good in way), bubbly and loyal. She supports my personal goals and works hard so we can both work towards our future aspirations.

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

We set off very early (about 4am) to hit the slopes on Mt Ruapehu. It was the last day of the season, the snow was getting rather slushy and my legs were pretty sore!

After getting off the chair at the Far West T Bar Jeremy sat down to fix his boots. Next thing I know he’s down on one keen holding a small wooden box that he had made, inside a copper ring (as a placeholder) he had welded. I immediately burst into tears – happy tears! He then pulled out a mini champagne bottle from his back pack and we sat in the snow, just us two, enjoying the moment and taking it all in.

After that we didn’t do much skiing. We were so excited to get back to the family and tell them the news we got pulled over for speeding as we headed back down the mountain.

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

Everything was influenced by the location. I would describe the style as natural and pared back. The native bush, scenery and general atmosphere meant we didn’t need to add much to create a beautiful setting. I liked the idea of using natural elements as décor and adding our own personal touch.

Sarah + Jeremy \\ Taupo Wedding captured by Ana Galloway. Hayes Bridal, Meadowlark. Modern Bride. New Zealand. Bridesmaids. Dried Flower bouquet.

Sarah + Jeremy \\ Taupo Wedding captured by Ana Galloway. Hayes Bridal, Meadowlark. Modern Bride. New Zealand. Dried Flowers ceremony.

Sarah + Jeremy \\ Taupo Wedding captured by Ana Galloway. Hayes Bridal, Meadowlark. Modern Bride. New Zealand.

What was your favourite moment from the day?

We both really enjoyed our ceremony. My good friend James was our celebrant and did a wonderful job of introducing our bridal parties with personalised stories of each person and sharing the story of how we met with just the right amount of humor. We couldn’t stop smiling and the whole thing was just perfect even though all of us were dripping with sweat!

Why did you choose your destination?

We were very lucky to have long-standing family connections at The Point. It’s a place a which holds a lot of meaning to Jeremy’s family, also where Jeremy’s parents held their wedding reception. It was where we celebrated our engagement and from the distance you can see the mountain we skied on when we first met.

What does marriage mean to you?

For us it means a promise to be there for the good times, the bad times and loving each other unconditionally.

Who were your stand out vendors?

Everyone did such an amazing job it’s hard to single them out! On the day the one vendor we really had to rely on was catering and El Mono Loco blew it out of the park. All our guests commented on how delicious the food was and we couldn’t agree more. Not only that but their service was exceptional – they even left us with the leftovers to have the day after.

Our photographer (Ana) was outstanding – her photos are testament to that, not only this but Ana made us feel at ease throughout the whole process and she and her husband Pete felt like family on the day.

I loved my dress and can’t wait to wear it again. Alice is so talented and I thoroughly enjoyed working with her to create something that I felt so comfortable in.

Advice for other couples planning a wedding?

Budget wise, make sure to prioritise the things that are important to you – for us that was food, music and photography.

If you’re that way inclined do things yourself, I made all 90 napkins, did my own table settings, dried my own flowers, made my own cakes and pulled it altogether with the help of friends and family – it was extremely satisfying!

Most importantly enjoy the day. Look around at all the special people and take it all in because it will all become a blurr in months to come.