NICOLA & JAI | BRUNTWOOD ESTATE, TAMAHERE

We absolutely loved being involved in this wedding; they risked it all but got lucky with I N C R E D I B L E weather and dined under the stars - literally! It was a no seating plan, casual affair but based on these stunning snaps, I would say there wasn’t much that was casual about it. An incredible day, and we are so honoured to have been a part of it.

Where did you purchase your dress and accessories from?

I got my dress online from Grace Loves Lace. It felt a little risky spending so much without ever trying it on or seeing it in person but it worked out well! Only problem was it arrived about 10cm too long, but my amazing seamstress/mother was able to alter it flawlessly. As I splurged on the dress, I definitely skimped on the accessories and have no regrets about that. My shoes were $30 from Number One Shoes and my hair pins were about 5 bucks from Farmers. The earrings were a bit more and I got them from Lunai Jewellery on Esty – highly recommend!

What were the highlights on the day?

I loved getting ready! It was such a relaxing few hours (for me at least!) and we had a lot of fun. I was lucky with my hair and makeup team, they were the best! And our host Jane put on an unexpected but absolutely epic breakfast spread for the bridal party and our parents.

The reception was another highlight, we were surprised at how we could just float around our guests without feeling like we were being pulled in a hundred different directions. We were so happy we chose a food truck (Chur Bowl) for catering which negated a lot of clean up and the food was fantastic. My two lovely sisters made us not one but three beautiful cakes, and we danced the night away with our family and friends.

Our photographer Ash is so gifted in her craft and she made us feel like so comfortable in front of the camera. The guests all loved her too!

We saved on…

The venue was super affordable, as was our amazing celebrant Roxanna.

We splurged on…

A great photographer, catering, and drinks.

Tell us about the proposal…

We went for a stroll through the Taitua Arboretum after work and Nicola was very surprised to turn around and see Jai on one knee! The proposal itself wasn’t a surprise as we had been dating for 5 years at this point, but it was unexpected timing! Jai had been arranging the ring for months and had just gotten it that morning.

Where did you find your inspiration for your wedding day?

Pinterest and Instagram! I make a Pinterest board for everything in life and the wedding was no exception! It’s the best place to find inspiration. Instagram was also a great source and the best way to find local vendors.

Do you have any tips for other brides & grooms?

Do your research on your vendors! Having companies/people who have excellent communication and a great product or service will make planning and executing so much easier. Our plan felt like it really fell into place once we had confirmed all our vendors. And make sure to book early as the good ones will get snapped up fast!

Our love story began…

We were introduced by a mutual friend and went to a few parties and beach trips together before we started dating.

Love Club’s birch dining tables

Tell us about your venue and why did you choose it

We found Bruntwood Homestead by word of mouth, and we couldn’t have been happier with it! It’s a beautifully restored farmhouse with gardens, a barn and paddocks just outside of Cambridge. As it’s not set up as a wedding venue all year round, and people live there, we had to start from scratch.

The owners, Gary and Jane, are the nicest people you’ll ever meet and they were so accommodating! They worked hard in the months leading up to our date to clean up the property and remove a lot of equipment form the shed so we could use it for our drinks area.

We wanted a rustic and casual wedding, and the venue was the perfect blank canvas for us to create our vision.

Vendors

Ceremony + Reception venue: Bruntwood Homestead

Photographer: Ash Muir Photography

Hire: Love Club, Hirepool (Portaloos), Brewaucracy (Keg)

Celebrant: Roxanna Holdsworth

Caterer: Chur Bowl

Florist: DIY bouquets and table decoration, Ruby Garland Flowers for the ceremony backdrop garland

Cake: My amazing sisters!

Hair and makeup: Hannah Stechman and Gabrielle Houghton

Dress: Grace Loves Lace

Accessories: Earrings from Lunai Jewelry (Esty), Hair pins from Farmers, shoes from Number One Shoes, Boys tie clips from ASOS, Ties made by Nicola’s Mum with fabric to match the dresses from Evolution Bridesmaids