It may have taken a while for these two souls to tie the knot but in the end, it wasn’t a bad thing – six years worked out to be just enough time for them to plan the mother of all weddings (considering it was their second attempt) and produce a few adorable small humans along the way.
A world record engagement, Tiff explains that while in the throes of organising wedding number one, her and Terepai (who, both musicians at the time, had recently returned from touring overseas) began to wonder if marriage was really something they wanted. “We were already a family unit”, says Tiff who is glad they took a detour, knowing they wouldn’t have had the same incredible vendors on board otherwise (cue She Takes Pictures He Makes Films, Kathryn Green Illustrations, Bower Botanicals, Samikata Tipi Events and Eat Drink Catering).
“Just letting people do what they do best and having everyone there adding their own unique energy made the day waaaaay beyond anything I could have dreamt up”, says Tiff who admits any instructions she did give were fairly ambiguous. “I was constantly giving a slightly confused chain of descriptions to vendors such as, free-spirited, boho, luxe, country, ocean, mystical, whimsical… but basically we wanted to draw inspiration from the forces of nature we both connect to; Terepai the sea and me the moon.”
One thing she was sure about was her stylish suit, created by Anna Maurer Couture. “I wanted to wear something that had already had a life before me and as Terepai’s entire wardrobe is pretty much from the op shop I knew he’d especially love a re-purposed wedding dress/suit. My mum had worn pants she made to her wedding so my genius friend Anna made me a wedding suit out of this hundred-year-old tablecloth she’d bought on eBay. I loved to think about the moments that may have been shared across that tablecloth and that I had that energy with me on our wedding day. I also love that I can wear it again and again as separate pieces. Winning!” says Tiff who looked nothing short of awesome sauce with hair byWesley Mitton.
Held at The Grove, a macadamia farm in Byron Bay, their wedding was certainly a little nuts and included a colourful, energetic Polynesian show to celebrate Terepai’s heritage plus a special Cook Island ceremony performed by Terepai’s Mum and Aunts to bring happiness to their home (and bedroom!). What this pair loved most though, was having their sons play a part in every element of their day, with three of Tiff’s favourite moments including, “Walking down the aisle together as a family. My stepson Tainui playing the first song we ever danced to (The Shins, New Slang) on guitar as our first dance. Oh! And having our boys write a vow each for us.”
Looking back on their epic day and their colourful journey in general, Tiff can’t help but find it all quite funny. “It’s funny to think of the first time we tried to get married closer to the proposal (before I understood what it really meant for us) buying a dress and then thinking “weddings aren’t for us!” and selling it and then coming full circle a few years later and suddenly realising that celebrating love was a really good idea!” So what does marriage mean for Tiff and Terepai now? “Celebrating love…endlessly.”
Tiff and Terepai’s wedding was initially featured in our first annual Real Wedding Special, available exclusively online via Mag Nation (newsagents are sold out nationwide so if you want one order today!). She Takes Pictures He Makes Films also captured their recovery breky at Secret Garden in Byron Bay, click here to check it out!
CREDITS Photos and cinematography She Takes Pictures He Makes Films // Pantsuit Anna Maurer Couture // Shoes Kron by KronKron // Hair Wesley Mitton // Grooms Suit Vintage // Bow ties Geoffrey Beene via David Jones // Rings Annie Mac Designs // Flowers Bower Botanicals // Styling Rust and Romance // Ceremony and reception The Grove, NSW // Catering and cake Eat Drink Catering // Tipi Samikata Tipi Events // Stationery Kathryn Green Illustrations // Entertainment Fernando Aragones, Kooli and Kamo’s Island Floor Show // Celebrant Inner Circle Ceremonies // Transport Ballina Byron Mini Bus Hire.