“So, I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you.” – Paulo Coelho
We all wonder and dream about how we will meet our partners, our soulmates. Do we know them already, have we passed them on the street, or are we yet to meet them? Will we meet them through friends, online, or maybe even travelling overseas? For Lauren and Joel their happenstance was way back in 2010, whilst they were both travelling in Greece. Lauren was on holidays from Australia, and Joel was living in London, holidaying in Greece. A meeting that was destined to happen.
Time flies when you spend it with the one you love, sometimes it can feel like you only just met. Fast forward 10 years to a family weekend away to the Scenic Rim,
which provided the perfect opportunity for Joel to propose. Surrounded by the
campfire, Lauren, Joel, and their beautiful little girls were making smores, chatting
about when in the future they will get married, and then to Laurens astonishment he proposed. Joel had timed it perfectly! After 10 years together, his proposal still cameas a huge surprise to Lauren.
Beginning their wedding planning at the start of 2021 meant that Lauren and Joel
could take their time planning and truly enjoy implementing their wedding vision. When starting their wedding preparation in 2021 they contemplated and finally decided to have their wedding in 2023, because "covid would surely be over by then!"
Their picturesque wedding took place near Lake Okareka in New Zealand. From
early on, this was the place they absolutely wanted to tie the knot. This specific location wasn’t chosen at random, it was chosen because of the significance and meaning it holds. Joel grew up near the area and its close to where the couple first lived when they were living in New Zealand. Venues can be very limited in that area, fortunately The Black Barn was exactly what the Bride and Groom were looking and hoping for.
Nothing beats the moment when you find *the* dress. Lauren knew what she
wanted, she had three things on her checklist to be comfy, to be able to dance in it, and to be able to go to the loo solo! A checklist covering all the most essential and important things. Lauren found her wedding dress when she tried on the Halo Gown at our little bridal shop in Brisbane, When Freddie Met Lilly and fell in love for the second time, knowing all three things on her checklist were satisfied. Her bespoke gown was completely made to measure. The groom was left to his devices with his brides only instructions for him to find attire that fit in with their colour scheme, but he also had to be comfortable and feel himself.
Getting married and planning a wedding is a journey. Watching all the planning come together can be a wonderful experience! Lauren “loved organising things that reflected ‘us’ within the wedding; the pre-dinner ouzo shots to take Greece to our friends, the confetti cannons on the dance floor and the Māori language touches to reflect the country's culture. I also LOVED our floral hanging installation. I adored sitting at our wedding and just taking it all in.”
Small touches are what make a wedding more unique, special, and memorable for the couple and their family. As a celebration of love and commitment to each other, weddings that incorporate personal touches are more meaningful and emotional, as guests can see the couples love story come to life through their personal details and touches. Lauren and Joel added the sweetest personal touch to their big day. Their two little girls had flower girl charms on their bouquet’s that will be their 'something old' for them when/if they get married.
Lauren couldn’t sugar coat that she had difficulty planning an overseas wedding, in the middle of covid. Thankfully the couple booked their major vendors very early and everyone in the industry was happy to share recommendations if they were already booked. Lauren and Joel’s wedding was a complete reflection of them as a couple and a family.
Future brides, “Enjoy the process, you will miss it! Make your wedding personal.”
Vendor Tags:
Bride: @shes_sew_lauren
As Lauren and Joel were married in New Zealand, all their vendors were from there.
Venue: @theblackbarnlaketarawera
Catering/ Bar: @terracecatering_nz
Photographer: @natalie_murdoch_photography
Florals: @flourand_bloom
DJ: @DJ4younz
Make Up: @joannajohnsonmakeup
Flower girl’s dress: @tutudumonde
