Photo by One Love Photo.

Today’s photos are by Pobke Photography

A little background from Allison “Mark and I found each other just over 4 years ago on an online dating site, met in person at a coffee shop a week later, and quickly fell head over heels for each other.  Over the years we drove across Canada together, visited Europe, and backpacked around South America and into the Amazon rainforest.  When I finished my PhD a year and a half ago, and got a job in Australia, Mark moved too.  We didn’t know what he would do here but it didn’t matter.  All that mattered was that we would be together, discovering life together halfway across the world.  Then this past Christmas, while in Hong Kong, we bought the engagement ring together, before backpacking with it pinned on the inside of our money belt through Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand for the next 2 ½ weeks.

I didn’t know when the big moment would be.   When Mark suggested a couple’s photo shoot to help out his friend with her portfolio, my spidey-senses were on alert, but then again, he’s a wedding photographer, so it wasn’t too far-fetched.  Each time he mentioned it, I gave him a suspicious look, but wasn’t sure it was anything but a photo  shoot.  But then Mark was so casual that day; I went to the gym, we watched the Olympics…  I thought guys are supposed to act nervous and weird beforehand!  So, I let down my guard and didn’t think anything was going to happen.  I was completely surprised, and absolutely delighted with how he asked me. And now we have these amazing pictures to always remember the moment.”

Photos by Pobke Photography

The wedding reception was held at Jon’s mother’s home. Zilla says  “Margaret Campbell, Jonathan’s mother is a powerhouse and very generously agreed to hosting the wedding at her 7.5 acre property. We had expected her to mow the lawns and mop the floor of the living room but what she undertook was 5 months of hard labour. There isn’t anything Margaret can’t do”

Zilla says “The entire wedding was DIY however most was DIY ring ins. Both Jonathan’s sisters are artists and worked to create the rustic loved look we were after but incapable of DIY ourselves.

Kate lives on K Road and must know everyone in Auckland as she pulled together the most incredible team. She some how managed to sweet talk Renee Coutler who owns Coco’s Cantina to cater the wedding. The food was exceptionally delicious. Hot smoked whole salmon and beef with the best ever horseradish cream I have ever had the pleasure of eating.” Guests also enjoyed a cake from City Cake Company.

Zilla says “Everyone pitched in, but the day could not have run as perfectly as it did without Rachel Turner who performed her role as wedding coordinator with generous gusto!”.

Zilla says of their first dance “Oh dear, this would have to go down in history. We took some lessons from Sally Clarke who is an exceptional choreographer and we had such fun learning the routine.

danced to Angus and Julia Stone’s song “Just a Boy”. Mother of the bride Helen Turner, attempted to steal the brides thunder god love her by cutting in for a dance with ‘oooh my new son in law’. Needless to say said bride was none impressed however Sally taught us well and the dance continued and I didn’t stalk off to my trailer in a huff. Although i did contemplate this for one nanosecond.”

Guests were keep on the dance floor all night says Zilla ” Music was by the brilliant Henry and Amber who also own and run a great bar on K Road called D.O.C”

I could sum up today’s wedding by telling you that the guests partied on all night, or that they lived happily ever after. But Zilla ended her written story so perfectly, I’m going to leave it all to her.

“To sum up the wedding I would have to say that it was a true reflection of our personalities and i think that was the most important thing for us to achieve. We had a ball and and are great advocates for marriage. AND using Jonas Peterson as your wedding photographer. He will capture everything you could have dreamed of and then so many other beautiful and surprising moments that will melt your hearts.”

Congratulations Zlla and Jon on your marriage and thankyou for sharing your words with us today! May you have a lifetime full of laughter together. Thankyou also to Jonas Peterson for sharing this wedding with us today!

Photos by Jonas Peterson.

Zilla and Jon

I was so excited to receive this wedding! I’ve been wanting more New Zealand weddings on Polka Dot Bride for a long time (if you have one to submit, please visit our submissions page) and then this gorgeous celebration landed in my inbox by none other than Jonas Peterson.

ZIlla and Jon met Through Zilla’s friend Glen Cooney who moved into a house with Jonathan. Glen was the best man at the wedding and flew all the way from London.  Jonathan first said I love you to Zilla on a park bench outside the hepatitis centre on Crown Street in Surry Hills.

The wedding took place out on the West Coast of Auckland at Bethells Beach (the same beach where award winning movie The Piano was shot) at the family home where Jonathan grew up. Zilla says ” It is a truly magestic place and we couldn’t have imagined getting married anywhere else.”

There is a lot to love about the land of the long white cloud.

Zilla and Jon’s wedding day was filled with work from family & friends. Their stationery was designed by Zilla’s dear friend Phoebe Glasfurd (who also sent the link of Jonas Peterson to Zilla) and her fiance Aren Walker who own Vancouver design company Glasfurd & Walker.

Zilla wore a gown by Collette Dinnigan and shoes from Kate Spade. The bridesmaids wore gowns by Wayne Cooper.

Zilla’s sister Zoe and brother- in-law Masaru are Pearl Technicians. All the pearls featured were generously on loan from them

The groom wore a suit from Calibre.

The ceremony was held at Jon’s childhood church. Zilla says “Jonathan attended the little Anglican church at St Mark’s in Swanson while he was growing up so it seemed fitting. Plus it was a white weatherboard structure with rosebushes running down one side of it so I didn’t need anymore convincing.”

Zilla walked down the aisle to “Canon in D Major” performed by the Berliner Philharmonic. They walked out to Florence and the Machine’s “You’ve Got the Love”. The flowers were arranged by Jon’s Nanna’s floral Art Club, headed by Lois Gerrad.

Check back this afternoon, I have more beautiful images to show you!

Photos by Jonas Peterson.

I love ribbon wands! They’re always such a fun touch at a wedding and I love how Mel made them her own! Here’s her tutorial for making your own ribbon wands!

What you need:
Dowel cut into 30cm lengths
Acrylic paint
Glue gun
Sandpaper
24mm wide stain backed ribbon in 3 different colours (I used 27 metres of each colour for 65 wands)

What to do:

Cut your dowel into 30cm lengths and sand the edges, then paint the dowels or just leave them as is. I painted mine ivory using kaisercraft acrylic paint.

Cut the ribbon into 40cm lengths and using the glue gun, attach three colours together at one end.

Apply glue to the dowel and wrap the ribbons around and secure with more glue.

To finish, heat-seal the edges of the ribbon so they don’t fray. To do this, carefully wave the edge near a candle flame so that the heat of the flame slightly melts, but doesn’t burn the ribbon.

Flatten with your fingers if it curls up.

For a touch of glam, add a little rhinestone to the top of the wand.

We’ll have even more of Mel’s fantastic Australian DIY projects in a few weeks, but in the mean time you can find our brilliant DIY’er at The Crafty DIY Bride and Paper & Ribbons! Thankyou for sharing your brilliant projects with us Mel!