The Kiwi Wedding Podcast

This week, I’m joined by Amelia, who shares the story of her and Jack’s incredible marquee wedding in Mangawhai, set on private property with nearly 200 guests, beautiful styling, and a day that didn’t exactly go to plan but ended up being even better because of it.

We chat about:
💜 How they met and why you shouldn’t write off a bad first date
💜 A dreamy Fiji proposal, featuring a stray cat named Chris
💜 Planning a marquee wedding from scratch on private property
💜 What it’s really like hosting a wedding with nearly 200 guests
💜 Why great food, drinks, and guest experience were top priorities
💜 The reality of things not going to plan, rain, humidity, and last minute changes
💜 Pivoting the ceremony on the day and embracing the chaos
💜 Dress shopping with Hera Couture and finding something that actually fits and flatters
💜 The magic of having all your favourite people in one place
💜 Letting go of the small details and focusing on what actually matters

…and so much more!

Follow Amelia (Melie): @melies_kitchen

Let me know what you think of this episode!

If you’d like to see more from this wedding, check out the photos over on Instagram and make sure you’re following ⁠⁠⁠@thekiwiweddingpodcast⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠@lydiarachelphoto⁠⁠⁠ for more real weddings and inspiration.

Vendors:
Photographer: @kerynsweeneyphotographer
On the Day Coordinator: @sophpol
Dress: @heracouture
Second Dress: @lovejamesstore & @re_______studio
Suit: @workingstylenz
Flowers: @handsinthedirt_
Food: @sourcekitchennz
Hire & Marquee: @lucyseventhire
Drinks: @drinkalba @moabeer & @eurovintage_nz
Makeup: @rae_makeup
Hair: @penton.andco
Cake: @mor__bakery
Stationery: @broganscottstudio
Rings: @thevillagegoldsmith
Venue: Private Property
Celebrant: @nzcelebrant

Get tickets to ⁠That’s Amore⁠ this Thursday (23 April 2026) in Papamoa. See you there!

Sign up for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE LOVE LETTER BY LYDIA RACHEL⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a fortnightly note from me with wedding inspiration, podcast highlights, real weddings I’m capturing, and a few things I’ve been loving.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’ve teamed up with ⁠Tauranga Weddings⁠ to give away a double pass to their brand new Italian-inspired event, ⁠That’s Amore⁠. Head to ⁠@thekiwiweddingpodcast⁠ on Instagram to enter, and you can find tickets and all the ⁠details here⁠.

This week, I’m joined by Renee, who takes us inside her stunning Wanaka wedding at Rippon, from a full circle proposal at the venue itself to a beautifully simple black and white vision that let the landscape do the talking.

We chat about:
💜 Getting engaged and married in the same place and why it made the moment even more special
💜 Planning a wedding with a short turnaround and what that actually felt like behind the scenes
💜 Choosing your top priorities and why photo + video were non negotiables
💜 DJ vs band and how they made the call, plus why it was one of their best decisions
💜 Wedding dress shopping solo and trusting your own opinion
💜 Keeping the bridal party small and the day feeling intimate
💜 Guest list decisions and why they chose not to overthink it
💜 A perfectly timed run sheet that got everyone on the dance floor early
💜 Cutting the cake straight after the ceremony and why it worked so well
💜 Honest reflections on budget, spending, and letting go of the spreadsheet
💜 Why not everything has to go to plan and why your guests won’t even notice

…and so much more!

Let me know what you think of this episode!

If you’d like to see more from this wedding, check out the photos over on Instagram and make sure you’re following ⁠⁠⁠@thekiwiweddingpodcast⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠@lydiarachelphoto⁠⁠⁠ for more real weddings and inspiration.

Vendors:
Venue: @ripponhall
Photography: @amour.weddings_
Celebrant: @caitlinmarett
Catering: @raspberrycreek
Video: @flatrocfilms
Furniture: @trulyyours_events + @majorandminorhire
Flowers: @flowerroomqueenstown
Dress: @paperswanbride @kyhastudios
Suit: @sergios.menswear
Cake: @whiterabbitcakesnz
Music: @mountainbeatsdjco
Makeup: @alarnataylor_hair_mua + @paigeshipstonemakeup
Hair: @sarahlouisehair.bridal
Steaming: @wanakapristinesteaming

Sign up for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE LOVE LETTER BY LYDIA RACHEL⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a fortnightly note from me with wedding inspiration, podcast highlights, real weddings I’m capturing, and a few things I’ve been loving.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’ve teamed up with Tauranga Weddings to give away a double pass to their brand new Italian-inspired event, That’s Amore. Head to @thekiwiweddingpodcast on Instagram to enter, and you can find tickets and all the details here.
This week, I’m joined by Paige to chat about her stunning McCallum Residence wedding, and the whirlwind journey from almost eloping in Italy to planning a full wedding in just a few months.
We chat about:
💜 Almost eloping overseas and the moment everything changed
💜 Planning a wedding in just four and a half months (and why it actually worked)
💜 Choosing The McCallum Residence and creating a full weekend experience
💜 Budget expectations and the reality of investing in a full weekend wedding
💜 Guest experience vs what actually matters on the day
💜 The value of a wedding planner (and why Paige would do it again in a heartbeat)
💜 Making quick decisions and avoiding second guessing
💜 Wedding outfits, custom details and working with the right vendors
💜 Staying present on the day and not getting caught up in everything
💜 What she would do differently (and what she wouldn’t change at all)

…and so much more!

Let me know what you think of this episode!

If you’d like to see more from this wedding, check out the photos over on Instagram and make sure you’re following ⁠⁠@thekiwiweddingpodcast⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠@lydiarachelphoto⁠⁠ for more real weddings and inspiration.

Vendors:
Photographer: @kerynsweeneyphotographer
Videographer: @greyareaproduction
Planning & Styling: @withlove.weddingsandevents
Venue: @themccallumresidence
Catering: @whiskcateringnz
Marquee: @twelve_tables
Lighting & Draping: @lalumiere_nz
Florals: @ruthfionafloral
Furniture: @flockevents
Stationery & Signage: @broganscottstudio
Hair Stylist: @boutiquebride
Makeup Artist: @beautybyblairgamblin
Content Curation: @your.momentsnz
Tableware: @royallaboratorie
Linen: @tble__linen__hire
Candles: @revelandlight
Musicians: @leegraymusic
Illustrator: @esther.illustration
Gown and Custom Mini: @trishpeng
Suit: @t.beggtailoring
Rings: @culetjewellery
Shoes: @gucci & @harloau
Earrings: @ameliegeorgebridal
Tennis Bracelet: @fifthavenuediamondexperts
Bridesmaid Dresses: @becandbridge

Sponsored by ABC Insurance and KiwiSaver. ⁠⁠Book a meeting with Brayden⁠⁠ for a no pressure, no cost chat and make sure to say The Kiwi Wedding Podcast sent you.

Sign up for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE LOVE LETTER BY LYDIA RACHEL⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a fortnightly note from me with wedding inspiration, podcast highlights, real weddings I’m capturing, and a few things I’ve been loving.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, I’m joined by Melissa, and we dive into her incredible destination wedding in Italy, and bringing all their favourite people together for a three-day celebration.

We chat about: 
💜 Meeting online and eventually moving from New Zealand to the UK together
💜 A surprise proposal in Spain overlooking the ocean
💜 Choosing Italy as the perfect fit for their wedding
💜 Accidentally finding their dream venue and instantly knowing it was the one
💜 Planning a destination wedding with 70 guests travelling from all over the world
💜 Why guest experience was their number one priority
💜 Creating a three-day celebration with welcome drinks and a post-wedding event
💜 The realities of planning from overseas and leaning on vendor recommendations
💜 Budgeting for a destination wedding and what that looked like across multiple days
💜 Letting go of control and staying true to what they actually wanted

…and so much more!

Let me know what you think of this episode!

If you’d like to see more from this wedding, check out the photos over on Instagram and make sure you’re following ⁠@thekiwiweddingpodcast⁠ and ⁠@lydiarachelphoto⁠ for more real weddings and inspiration.

Vendors:
Venue, Catering & Cake: @nikisresort
Photographer: @luisaapanui
Florals: @form_floraldesign

Celebrant: @amelia_mcknight_celebrant
Content: @bridediariesuk
Makeup: @paigeshipstonemakeup
Hair: @hairtowedbytina
Music: @partysaxdj

Bride's Dress: @grace_loves_lace
Brides Second Dress: @_aje_
Bridesmaid's Dresses: @billy_j_bridal
Brides Shoe's: @jimmychoo
Rings: @thediamondshop (engagement ring) & @diamondsfactorynewzealand (both wedding bands)
Grooms Suit: Custom Suit from @editsuits
Grooms Shoes: @loakeshoemakers

Sign up for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE LOVE LETTER BY LYDIA RACHEL⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a fortnightly note from me with wedding inspiration, podcast highlights, real weddings I’m capturing, and a few things I’ve been loving. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sponsored by ABC Insurance and KiwiSaver. ⁠Book a meeting with Brayden⁠ for a no pressure, no cost chat and make sure to say The Kiwi Wedding Podcast sent you.

This week, I’m joined by Kalani, and we chat about her beautifully relaxed, heartfelt wedding in Whangamatā, and the intentional way they approached the whole day.

We chat about:💜 Meeting at 20 through mutual friends and never leaving each other’s side since 
💜 A thoughtful scavenger hunt proposal, with letters retracing their relationship 
💜 Planning their entire wedding before officially getting engaged (and having the ring sit on top of the fridge) 
💜 Choosing to get married locally, including getting ready at her nana’s house for sentimental reasons 
💜 Letting the day feel “warm” and focusing on the overall vibe rather than getting caught up in tiny details 
💜 Why photography was a non-negotiable, and choosing their date around their photographer’s availability 
💜 Skipping a bridal party and doing the day in a way that felt true to them as a couple 
💜 Navigating the guest list (including having 17 kids there!) and trusting their gut over obligation 
💜 Creating a day full of meaningful, personal touches, from DIY elements to designing her own wedding signage 
💜 Highlights from the day, including beachside cocktail hour, speeches, and a packed dance floor

…and so much more!

Let me know what you think of this episode!

If you’d like to see more from this wedding, check out the photos over on Instagram and make sure you’re following @thekiwiweddingpodcast and @lydiarachelphoto for more real weddings and inspiration.

Vendors:
Photographer: @kerynsweeneyphotographer
Signage: @byyb___
Reception Venue: @edisonsnz
Dress: @lulujacksonbridal
Second Dress: @dominique_healy
Grooms Attire: @porterjames
Grooms Shoes: @organichandloom
Engagement Ring: @rosepickk
Grooms Ring: @steineratelier
Bridal Bag: @lovejamesstore
Food: @nobiggie.food
Cake: @olivejaycakes
Wedding Planner (Diary): @madeoftomorrow
Ice Cream: @duckislandicecream

Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE LOVE LETTER BY LYDIA RACHEL⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a fortnightly note from me with wedding inspiration, podcast highlights, real weddings I’m capturing, and a few things I’ve been loving. 
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.