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.