Today’s bride Emma has waited patiently since March for me her to post her wedding, and finally it is up. This bee inspired wedding by Joe Hitchcock is very sweet indeed (pun intended!) Enjoy.
How did your love story begin?
Well, my cousin took me to a party and I must of caught Bevan’s eye, cause he asked (my cousin) for my number. A few days later I get a text asking to meet up,I hastily admit I don’t remember who this dude was but, being young and free, I took him up on the offer and boy was I happy I did! A striking lad with a charming smile who took me off my feet. That was some 8 years ago now – and the rest, as they say, is history!
Why did you say ‘YES’?
Well to start, he is the honey to my bee (ho ho ho!). He is such a gentleman, honest with traditional values, which I think is very rare these days. We are a good ying/yang mix. Besides that we still get each other giggly and giddy so many years after meeting, so I was only to keen to take the next step together.
What was your inspiration or theme for the day?
Getting the big overall look was one of the harder things for me – It’s one of the first things to decide that then determines everything else. So after wracking my brain of a gagillion options it came to us! One day he (a beekeeper) was showing me (a vintage admirer) how to check the beehives when it came to me … D’uh – of course it should ‘bee’ a bee themed vintage wedding! After that was sorted the rest quickly fell into place.
What were your Save & Splurge items?
Splurge items was the guest lists – at 140 odd people any little piece becomes expensive but our friends and family mean everything to us, they have helped shaped us as individuals and nurtured our relationship, so they just had to be there! Save items was, believe it or not, my dress. I wanted something second hand as so much work goes into those beautiful dresses I hate seeing them be wasted. I had a fluke find on a trade me find and scored mine for $150 (It costed more to get it altered to fit!) What’s more I totally adore it – your dream dress does not have to cost the earth ladies!
What music did you play for those special moments?
We searched for a honey bee theme entrance song and found a perfect match “All I want is you” by Barry Louis Polisar (you may know it as the opening song on Juno) with the perfect start “If I was a flower growing wild and free, all I’d want is you to be my sweet honey bee”.
We were honored to have our gifted friend Jocee Tuck who sang us down the aisle equipped with her gorgeous vibraphone which made for great ambiance in the garden ceremony For our first dance, we wanted to do something special, so Bevan and I took some rock n roll dance lessons.
We then fittingly fell in love with a super catchy tune by the king of rock n roll himself – Elvis Presley. Bevan flung me over his shoulders and I twirled about to ‘Finders keepers, losers weepers’. We were blown away by the reception we got after and it was so worth putting in the extra effort to learn a special dance for it.
In hindsight, is there anything that you would have done differently?
We were extremely blessed to find so many amazing, talented people who we approached and used their different skill sets to help us with certain aspects of the day. We told them the big ideas and anything specific we wanted and just said go nuts. They were so brilliant at what they they do, that everything just ended up perfect. We wouldn’t trade in our day for anything!
What advice would you give to future brides to be?
There’s so many options out there for weddings it’s hard to pick one path or theme – but I think as long as the man of your dreams and anyone else you want to share it with is there, the rest is just a bonus. So in saying that – start with what you both love, make it your own and try not to sweat the small stuff xx (Also as a side note make sure someone near you has tissues, and lots of them, so many happy tears!)
What do you love most about being a MRS?
I love being his wife, and calling him my husband. We both have traditional values so to make it official and to share our names really strengthened our unity together.
Photography // Joe Hitchcock Photobooth Photography // Sugar Design
Videography //Luke McPake Reception Styling & Photobooth Set // Teacup & Saucer
Reception Venue // WINTEC, The Atrium, Hamilton Ceremony Venue // Earth & Clay
Wedding stationery // Paper Pixels Bride’s Hair, Make Up & Nails // Tanya Barlow
Flower Girl & Page Boy Outfits // Mallory Xavier Flowers // Kerry Gibbs
Bridesmaid’s & Mother Of Bride’s Hair // Brigette Baker (Honey L’Amour)
Mother Of Bride Make Up // Debonaire Do’s Vintage Hair & Makeup Styling
Groom & Groomsman Styling // The Barber’s Club Catering // Hazel Hayes
Bridesmaid’s Dresses & Bride’s Reception Dress // Love Lucy
Reception Band // Tracy Hopewell Band Ceremony Band // Jocee Tuck
First Dance // Gary & Donna From Drifters Rock N Roll Club
Cake // Cakes By Kylie Beer // Crafty Trout Brewing Co.
And a special thank you for the love and support of our gorgeous bridal party…
Parents of the Bride Graham and Lorraine Dudfied // Parents of the Groom Jim Pike, Linda and Dennis Howard // Maid of Honor Mallory Allen // Best Man Sven Langdon De Keersmaecker // Bridesmaids Emma Pavlovich, Katherine McKellar // Groomsmen James Pike, Shane Dudfield // Flower Girls Coco Cullen, Ella Pike // Page Boy Elijah Neeley // Leading Ladies Liana McPherson, Lisa Peden // Celebrant Debbie Gibbeson // Ceremony Host Erikka Griffiths Keam // MC Caleb Dent