Matt and Rose found “love over the air fryer” during their very first job (we see you, KFC, you sneaky Cupid). Fast-forward 15 years, and the two said ‘I do’ in New Zealand with a fun and playful extravaganza that we guarantee will serve as a muse for all the maximalist couples out there. Think fruit sculptures intertwining with florals and tulle and, of course, the pièce de résistance, Rose’s custom gown.
As a professional SupperClub host, curating a bold, colourful and unapologetically ‘Matt and Rose’ occasion was well within the bride’s wheelhouse (with mini-me trainee Gigi in tow). “I like to say my one-year-old daughter basically hosted a wedding with me – she came on every shopping trip, every supermarket trip, every dress fitting, picked the flowers, was there for every car unload, set up and pack down.”
We’ve got Billie Blue Photography to thank for these epic pics, and the bride and groom had some sage advice to share, too. Cancel ya plans and open that Pinterest board because there’s inspo ripe for the picking!
THE VENUE “We saw no venues aside from the venue we chose. My only prerequisite for a venue was that I wanted to be married surrounded by bright flowers everywhere. Being an introvert, Matt wanted something ‘low key’. I asked a friend who is a wedding photographer if she could think of any gardens with bright, beautiful flowers everywhere, not necessarily a traditional venue. She told me she had seen a few weddings on a private property in Cambridge. I cold-called the homeowner, and Jane, the owner, agreed to meet me. Jane had gone to the trouble of baking myself and Gigi a cake for the occasion. This sealed the deal, as food is my love language. The venue owners went above and beyond to make our day perfect. The first song on our playlist was by Jimmy Barnes, and they asked us if we liked him. We responded that he is one of our favourite artists. Later in the night, Jane (the venue owner) showed us a text message from Jimmy, saying congratulations on our wedding! It turns out that Jane used to be Jimmy’s manager. It just felt like it was meant to be that we ended up getting married there.
THE VIBE “Our wedding was a maximalist theme. Matt wasn’t bothered by styling and let me go crazy with whatever I wanted. I love creativity, colour, and styling that evokes conversation. As I am a ‘host’ for a living, I knew I wanted the tablescape to be a main focus, as this is where guests really connect. My motto in life is “more is more’ so I knew I wanted the tablescape to be aligned with this, and I didn’t want the wedding to look like a Pinterest board. One of our biggest values as a couple is authenticity. We wanted a day that felt 100% like us, as we have always focussed on doing ‘us’ rather than playing by the rules. So when planning a wedding, we didn’t care about following tradition or doing what was expected from us.”
MEMORABLE MOMENT “Matt is an introvert, so a wedding was a huge ask for him. I didn’t want him to spend his day feeling overwhelmed, so we designed the day in a way that worked for us. We did private vows, which was the best part of our day, prior to the ceremony and then in the ceremony, kept it so simple. Our celebrant shared some of our vows for us to our loved ones didn’t feel left out, but it meant we had our special moment, just the two of us, to share what was in our hearts with only each other.”
THE DRESS “I got my dress custom-designed by Brooke Tyson, who was just a dream to work with. I had an idea in my head that I wanted something floral but completely unique, and she just ran with it. I wanted it to still feel bridal, so I stayed with an ivory base, but Brooke built 3D fabric flowers all over it and hand-stitched each one. I felt like a garden queen. I was worried near the end about whether it would land with my guests or not, as it was pretty out there, but to be honest, it wouldn’t have mattered whether it did or not because I felt so amazing in it.”
A WORD OF ADVICE “Don’t worry too much about whether you will like your wedding style in 10 years’ time. I’m not sure I believe in ‘timeless’. Do something that feels authentic to you, and makes you feel like you on the day. Also, with creative vendors such as florists or designers, I think it is sometimes better to let them run with it. They are creatives in their field for a reason – pick vendors aligned with your style, then lean into it.”
Getting hitched in NZ? Here’s a stellar round-up of vendors you need to know, or click here to check out more real New Zealand weddings. Loving these vibrant, colourful hues? We have a feeling you’ll dig this Palm Springs-inspired shoot.
CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer Billie Blue Photography Cinematographer Cin Cin NZ Event Planner Rose Kennedy – Rose’s Dining Table (Bride) Stylist Grace Hodge – Thieves and Co (Friend/Family) Florist Flowering Valley, Flour and Bloom Stationery & Signage Beach Days Design Venue Bruntwood Estate (Private Venue) Catering Food by Wild Wood Fire, Rose’s Dining Table (Grazing & Lolly Tables) Cake Maker Fankery Hire Items Carlton Party Hire Tableware Rose’s Dining Table & Keith Grinter Fruit Candles Conscious Me Candles Marquee / teepee & Lighting Hire Happy Hire Entertainment Jon Lousson Band Celebrant Kimberly Dyer Rings Grae Jewellery & Walker & Hall THE BRIDE Bridal Gown Designer Brooke Tyson Shoes Unisa via eShoesGlobal Accessories H&M Hair Laura Williams – White Salon Makeup Tiffany Johnston – Blush Club NZ Bridesmaid Dresses Selkie, Forever New, Shein, Mon Renn & Showpo Bridesmaid Shoes ASOS Bridesmaid Gifts Conscious Me Candles THE GROOM Suit, Jacket, Shirt, Pants & Shoes Barkers Watch The Horse Groomsmen Suits Barkers
