Tell us a little about yourselves!
Some 16 years ago, a 14 and 15 year old met at a cricket game in Hawke’s Bay—and the rest is history!
After studying, working, traveling and briefly living abroad, we’ve returned to where we first met and now call Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand home. We feel so lucky to have spent over half of our lives together, sharing countless memories—from learning to drive, graduating university, and landing our first jobs, to now buying our own home and of course Gigi our Golden Retriever. Michael works in finance, and I am in private equity, this keeps us busy but in our spare time we love to travel and there is nothing we love more than throwing a good party with our friends.
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
Michael’s family is Italian, and some of our favourite memories together have been spent around a big table, surrounded by friends and family, enjoying recipes passed down from Nonna. There’s always lots of laughter, hand gestures, and plenty of wine — a lively atmosphere, full of life. We really wanted to emulate this feeling on our big day, so Italy just felt right.
We also wanted to do something unique, so as soon as we saw La Tonnara Di Scopello online there was no looking back.
How many guests did you have?
We had just over 80. This truly blew us away considering the distance people had to travel, we are still pinching ourselves!
What was your budget?
We had a rough budget in mind, but, as with most weddings, that quickly shifted as we went along. Our wedding planner, LaLindi, was incredible at guiding us and helping us focus on what was truly important and what could be scaled back. In the end, we made the decision that if we were asking people to travel from New Zealand, Europe, the UK, Australia, and Dubai, we wanted to make it an unforgettable celebration. It was all about creating a unique experience and having one hell of a party for our loved ones who had travelled so far to be with us.
Tell us about your outfits.
I never had a clear vision of exactly what I wanted, nothing I tried on truly excited me — they were all "close, but not quite right." So, I decided to have my dress made.
At the time, I was living in London while Michael was in New Zealand, so we were flying back and forth to see each other. We knew I would be moving to New Zealand a few months before the wedding, which gave me the perfect opportunity to create the dress locally at home.
A dear friend of mine had recommended Olivia from OBriasco Studio years ago for alterations, and I’d worked with her before, so I knew she was the person I could trust. Since I’d be designing my dress remotely, I needed someone who could understand my vision and guide me through the process. Olivia was absolutely incredible — countless calls, sketches, and some thoughtful advice like, "Maybe sleep on that decision."
I flew home over Christmas for two weeks, and by the time I officially moved back to New Zealand, we had the dress almost ready for final alterations.
My ceremony dress was simple with a touch of drama, enhanced by a chapel-length veil. For the reception, I wanted something fun and flirty, so we created a second dress that I could dance the night away in — complete with a short veil and gloves. My pearl necklace was my grandmother's, and we re-designed some other family pearls into my wedding earrings. This was a super special touch and really grounded me on the day.
For Michael, we knew from the start that he’d be wearing a tux. We felt it perfectly captured the moody Southern Italian vibe we wanted for the wedding. He tried one on, and that was it — no second thoughts. The team at Rembrandt Napier were fantastic in making sure everything was perfect.
What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?
From the very beginning, we knew we wanted to have a stress-free lead-up to the wedding. We wanted to be able to look back and think ‘that was fun’. That’s where La Lindi came in.
LaLindi was worth her weight in gold. Her elegant approach to both planning and styling made everything feel seamless. She knew exactly what needed to be done and when. Her presence on the day was relaxed, fun and calming. She also helped us find like-minded vendors who truly understood our vision. We can’t thank her enough!
Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?
It was really important to us that everything reflected who we are as a couple and showed our appreciation for the incredible friends and family who were with us. We wanted to involve as many people as possible in meaningful ways. Thankfully, we had a three-day celebration, which allowed us to have all of our siblings speak, my Dad, as well as some close friends. We were also fortunate to have Michael’s uncle as our celebrant, which made the ceremony even more special.
We also knew we wanted to capture the beauty and mood of Southern Italy, so that was reflected in everything from the venue to the decor and even the food. LaLindi curated the design to include traditional local ingredients and produce.
Beyond that, our main priorities were good food, lots of drinks, and music. We had live music throughout the day, including an acoustic version of our aisle song. One of our favourite moments was when we "cut" our tiramisu and everyone spontaneously started singing "That's Amore by Dean Martin. It was one of those unplanned, magical moments!
Any tips for couples getting married?
Our biggest piece of advice is to really enjoy your engagement. Take time to soak in all the love and excitement that surrounds you before diving into wedding planning.
And honestly, beyond that, if you have good food, great music, and your loved ones by your side, nothing else really matters. Those are the ingredients to make the day unforgettable.
Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?
LaLindi – we cannot thank her enough; she executed our vision even better than we could have dreamed. Her exceptional style, effortless ease of organization, calmness, and kindness made the entire planning process seamless. La Lindi’s attention to detail and ability to anticipate our needs truly set her apart. We feel so lucky to have had her by our side every step of the way.
LATO – They captured the essence of our wedding day perfectly – the photos are filled with emotion, allowing us to relive those precious moments every time we look at them. Tommy felt like an old friend, it was an honour to work with him.
Unknown Films– Nailed the vibe; sexy, sophisticated, and full of confidence. From start to finish, Jam made us feel at ease, his artistry made every moment feel cinematic and timeless.
Frascati Fiori @frascatifiori | Videographer: Unknown Films @unknown__films | Ceremony & Reception Location: Tonnara Di Scopello @tonnaradiscopello | Celebrant: Michaels Uncle | Hair Stylist: Ashleigh Hornell @peach___stories | Catering + Beverages: Rosanero @catering_rosanero | Stationery: Tawo Studios @tawostudio | Entertainment: Stardust @stardustbandpuglia | Dresses, Veils & Gloves: OBriasco Studio @obriasco_studio | Tuxedo & Shirt: Rembrandt @rembrandt1946 | Bow Tie: Barkers @barkersclothing | Wedding Rings: McClurgs Jewellers @mcclurgsjewellers | Shoes: RM Williams (Michael) & (Claire) Loeffler Randall | Necklace: from Clasire's Grandmother | Earrings: Custom with heirloom pearls Monique Therese Jewellers | Cufflinks: Richard Baubridge | Bridesmaids Getting Ready Outfits: Piyama @piyama_co | Wedding Party Attire: COOSH Dresses @coosh.wear & Bobbies Heels @bobbies, Rembrandt @rembrandt1946 Tuxedos and Shorts, Barkers @barkersclothing Bow Ties & Italian Flag Socks from Palermo