Lucy and James’s celebration unfolded across a wedding weekend in Wānaka, New Zealand. We sat down with Lucy to hear how it all came together, from planning across the Tasman to the moments neither of them will forget.

HOW IT BEGAN

“James and I met back in 2015 while we were both at university. He happened to be my best friend’s younger brother – whoops! We met at a college dinner, and the rest is history.”

Their relationship has always been built on simplicity – good company, a shared love of a fun activity, and time spent together, extravagant or not. “We genuinely just love being together. Whether it’s mini golf, bowling, go-karting, or weekends on the Central Coast, our favourite thing is simply spending time in each other’s company.”

WHY NEW ZEALAND?

“I’m from Australia, James is from Wellington, and from the very beginning we knew we wanted to marry in New Zealand. The scenery is incredible, and it holds such a special place in James’s heart. Living in Sydney, it also felt really special to bring our friends and family over to experience it with us.”

Beyond the setting, their brief was simple: beautiful views, exceptional food and drinks, and a dance floor worth remembering. Everything else, they were happy to leave in Harriet’s hands.

On working with a planner from across the Tasman

“Because we live in Australia, it made sense to have someone on the ground in New Zealand who knew the best vendors and could bring it all together seamlessly. Hiring Harriet was genuinely one of the best decisions we made throughout the entire process.

She made the lead-up to the wedding – and our whole wedding weekend in Wānaka – feel so relaxed and enjoyable. Nothing was ever too difficult, and she constantly came to us with the most amazing ideas for the design, styling, food and drinks.

We really trusted Harriet creatively – we told her we wanted green and white florals and let her run with it. Seeing everything come together on the day was such a special surprise. The band kept the dance floor packed all night, the food and drinks were spectacular, and our photographer and videographer captured it more beautifully than we could have imagined.”

Their advice for other couples?

“If you hire a planner, trust them. This is what they do, and they genuinely know how to bring everything together beautifully. We never once doubted Harriet’s decisions, and that trust made the entire process so much more enjoyable. Start planning early so you can lock in the details you really want – and most importantly, have fun with it. It all goes so quickly.”

The moment they won’t forget

“Our ceremony setup was absolutely incredible – we chose to have everyone seated, which looked so beautiful against the scenery. But seeing the reception for the first time was another unforgettable moment. We had trusted Harriet completely, so walking in and seeing everything come to life was honestly overwhelming, in the best way.

And then there was our secret dance floor. Guests walked from the reception through a draped hallway filled with desserts, espresso martinis and a live negroni station, before it opened onto this huge circular dance floor. It created such an incredible atmosphere and ended up being one of the most memorable parts of the night.”


Full planning + styling:  Alexandra Kate Creative
Photography: Kate Roberge Photography
Videography: Woven Images 
Venue: Rippon Hall
Hair: Beautiful Bridal Hair
Makeup: Alarna Taylor / Liv King
Florist: Little Botanica
Helicopter: Alpine Helicopters
Hire: Royal Laboratorie
Entertainment: Mountains Beats 
Catering: Moreish Kitchen