New Zealand Weddings September 2006

Southern Charm

Nicola King and Miles Harrison were married on March 9, 2006, at Stoneridge Estate, Queenstown.

An Office Romance
I'm English and Miles is from New Zealand. We met at work and although he propositioned me almost within the first week of us knowing each other, it took us a year of being friends and him fixing all my IT problems for us to finally realize we were meant to be together. Miles proposed in Venice after an evening filled with fine food and champagne to the orchestral music in St Mark's Square.

Our Wedding Style
We wanted a simple and classical wedding. We loved Stoneridge Estate. The chapel was perfect for an intimate service with 36 of our friends and family. Plus being at a vineyard suited my father who loves his wine!

Something Special
As we got engaged in Venice, our favours were Murano glass paperweights for the ladies and wine stoppers for the men. We wanted something that would be a keepsake for everyone but also had some sentimental value for us too.

My Gown
I found my Vera Wang while I was visiting my parents in Toronto. After deciding it was perfect, I ordered it from the store there. I managed one fitting at Christmas and then didn't see my actual dress until one week before the wedding which was nerve-wracking as I had to trust them to do a fantastic job. Thankfully it fitted perfectly!

Rain and Snow
The weather had been lousy all week - we'd had rain and snow - but on the morning of the wedding there was beautiful sunshine. We'd organized informal dinners the nights before the get everyone together and lots of people were already starting to form friendships. So on the day there was sunshine, champagne, fine food and some music on a hilltop overlooking a lake. Everyone relaxed and enjoyed themselves. They were certainly relaxed by the time we got back from the photos!

A Moment to Remember
The most memorable moment for us was when we went to Skippers Canyon for the wedding photos. It was important that our photos showed the heart of New Zealand.  Queenstown will always represent epic scenery, a fantastic location and a sense of fun for us.

My Advice to Brides-to-be
The most difficult thing for us was planning a wedding half-way across the world. Most of the initial planning was done over the internet and was very stressful because we didn't know what we were booking. Then we decided a wedding planner would help ensure that everything came together for us in the month leading up to the day. Jacqui Spice from Touch of Spice was a godsend. No problem was too big to solve and we could relax on the day knowing that she'd ensure everything would come together. I know a lot of people might not be able to afford a wedding planner, but if you can, they really help with the relaxation in the run-up to the big day.