The Kiwi Wedding Podcast

This week, I’m joined by Katie, who shares the story of her timeless Italian-inspired Waiheke wedding at Poderi Crisci. From a mountain-top proposal in Queenstown to planning from London, it’s such a beautiful conversation about creating a wedding that felt elegant, relaxed, and completely true to them.

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.

We chat about:
💜 Meeting at an Otago uni party dressed as a cat and an astronaut
💜 A surprise helicopter proposal on Vanguard Peak in Queenstown
💜 Planning a New Zealand wedding while living in London
💜 Having to completely pivot venues after a tragic fire
💜 Falling in love with the Italian feel of Poderi Crisci on Waiheke Island
💜 Why guest experience, food, wine, and live music were their biggest priorities
💜 Choosing a timeless and elegant wedding style over trends
💜 Finding her dream dress with Kenny & Harlow after planning to shop overseas
💜 Designing a second party dress in Turkey during their travels
💜 Keeping their guest list to 85 people and navigating the challenges of narrowing it down
💜 Having her sister marry them and writing personalised vows
💜 The little wedding details that felt stressful at the time but didn’t matter on the day

…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: @podericrisci
Photographer: @jonnyscottphoto
Celebrant: @leoniesimecelebrant
On-the-day Coordinator: Madeleine Corbett - @theislandcollection
Florals: @wildflowerwaiheke
Entertainment: @twomanychiefsband
Hire: @lucyseventhire
Cake: @lilithwaiheke
Bridal Dress & Veil: @kennyandharlowbridal
Makeup: @katesolleymakeup
Hair: @boutiquebride
Tan: @esperanza_nz
Groom’s Suit & Groomsmen Suits: @rembrandt1946
Bridesmaids Dresses: @shonajoy


See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, I’m joined by Emma, who shares the story of her intimate Queenstown elopement, and why it was the perfect choice for their love story.

We chat about:
💜A beach proposal with a very excited dog and a ring box nearly lost in the sand
💜 Planning a wedding from Adelaide and navigating big decisions from afar
💜 Feeling overwhelmed by endless inspiration and how they found clarity
💜 Exploring multiple wedding ideas before choosing a Queenstown elopement
💜 Why an all-inclusive elopement package made the whole process easier
💜 Letting go of people pleasing and focusing on what actually mattered
💜 Keeping their guest list to just 13 people and making it meaningful
💜 Dress regret, comfort, and what she would do differently
💜 Helicopter photos on the Remarkables and creating a truly unique experience
💜 Choosing a relaxed dinner party over a traditional reception
💜 Their full budget breakdown and keeping the day under 20K
💜 Post-wedding blues and the reality of a honeymoon that didn’t go to plan

…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:
Suit: @ignitionformen
Dress: @madilanebridal @luvbridal
Photographer: @carlamitchellphotography
Elopement Planner: @queenstownelopementsnz
Celebrant: @tess.kelly_celebrant

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 Ella, who shares the story of her incredibly memorable wedding day, from a chaotic proposal journey in South Africa to getting married in the middle of a cyclone at Kauri Bay.

We chat about:
💜 A proposal that didn’t go to plan and why letting go of expectations made it even more meaningful
💜 Planning a wedding in under a year and locking in key vendors quickly
💜 Navigating years of long distance and starting married life that way
💜 Decision fatigue and how to block out the noise of constant wedding content
💜 Keeping your wedding intimate and intentional with your guest list
💜 Budgeting realistically and where to prioritise your spend
💜 Leaning on your friends and family to help bring the day together
💜 What to do when the weather completely changes your plans
💜 Pivoting to plan B early and making the most of a wet weather option
💜 Letting go of control and embracing what the day actually becomes

…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.

Episode Mentioned: 24: Omaha Wedding with Bride Siobhan Knox

Vendors:
Dress: @natalierosebridal
Photographer: @idophotographynz
Hair: @rougeandscout
Flowers: @two_girls_farm
DJ: @nzdjcollective
Celebrant: @natashabowen4u
Cake: @clairessecretkitchen
Videographer: @lits.media

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 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.