Engaged Wedding Magazine by Hamilton Media Limited

REAL WEDDINGS

Two fantastic real weddings to feast your eyes on

VENICE

Water, water everywhere

BOOT CAMP

All the motivation you need to get fit

WIN TICKETS TO THE WEDDING SHOW

04/ 2010

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over 100 exhibitors fashion shows free seminars

Return Flights for three to Nadi, Fiji (Economy flights includng all transfers for couple and wedding planner) 5 x nights accommodation at Shangri La Beach Resort or Sonaisali Island Resort 3 x nights Luxury Honeymoon Cruise Personal Wedding Planner Wedding Ceremony (including legal certification) Wedding Supper, Cake & Wine Photographer, Floral arrangements (includes a bouquet & button holes) Hair & Makeup, Spa Treatments Fijian Choir, Fiji Warriors...to accompany bride & a Decorated Canoe Sightseeing Tour & Hot Air Balloon Ride

seminars starting at 10am and running all day no seminars to be repeated so stay all day...

Our Place, Your Event Just 45 minutes south of Auckland you will find a little piece of the Mediterranean. Nestled in the northern slopes of the Bombay hills on more than 86 hectares and surrounded by 40,000 olive trees is the tranquil and beautiful Bracu. Your wedding is a personal and intimate Occasion. The decision on your venue is often the first and most important one you will make as it becomes the heart of the celebration. Simunovich Olive Estate provides privacy and seclusion which makes the property exceptional. The options for delivering your perfect day are endless and we will work with you to ensure all your dreams are fulfilled. There are a number of locations on the estate for you to choose from when it comes to having your ceremony and exchanging your vows. Bracu Restaurant is a dining destination that ignites the senses and captivates the palate. This excellence is carried through in every aspect of our food delivery. Our Head Chef and Restaurant Manager lead a talented team who deliver culinary delights that will leave your guests talking about the experience long after your big day. Modern, European cuisine with a hint of New Zealand influence uses the best of fresh, seasonal, local produce and products from the estate. We invite you to join in our relaxing atmosphere of casual sophistication.

WEDDINGS ON THE ESTATE 49 Main Road, R D 1 B ombay, Auckland 2675, New Zealand Telephone +6 4 9 236 10 30, reservations@bracu.co.nz

Notes from the Editors...

April is the month of wedding shows and we have four double passes to give away to each of the Auckland and Christchurch Wedding Wonderland Expos. You can also win cufflinks and CDs so make sure you check out our giveaways page. Cover Credits: Photography: VisionWorks Photography Couple: Angela and Richard

Advertising Enquiries: Email: info@engaged.co.nz Phone: 09 8455925 Post: PO Box 137101, Parnell Auckland 1151 Hamilton Media Limited accepts no responsibility for material provided by readers or advertisers. All material supplied is assumed to have been provided with the consent of the appropriate copyright holders Engaged is subject to copyright in its entirety. All rights reserved in material accepted for publication unless initially specified otherwise.

We also have some amazing inspiration for you in the form of two real wedding stories. As you will see, these weddings were quite different from one another, but each fabulous in its own way. Now that many of you may have just had your own wedding, make sure you send in your own real wedding story and share it with others! With the New Zealand dollar looking quite strong against the Euro, now is not a bad time to be heading to Europe for your honeymoon and we have some tips on what to see and do in the floating city of Venice.

Happy reading!

Tim & Deborah

table of GIVEAWAYS & SPECIALS

We have some great giveaways this month, including four double passes to the Wedding Wonderland Expo and five pairs of cufflinks!

NATHAN & DANIELLEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WEDDING

Nathan and Danielle had an amazing wedding day. Danielle tells us in her own words all about it!

BOOT CAMP

Need motivation to get fit? Boot camp could be the answer! We talk with Danny from Fitness Evolved and find out what it is all about.

IN THE MOMENT One of our very own editors showcases three of his recent weddings. Enjoy!

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contents table of contents

GEORDIE & NATALIE’S WEDDING

Natalie tells us about Geordie’s amazing proposal, as well as their beautiful wedding day.

PHOTOGRAPHERS’ SHOWCASE

Find the perfect photographer for your wedding - we have a great selection for you to look at.

VENICE

Water, water everywhere.... We visit Venice and give you some tips on what to see.

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Wedding Shows The Grand Wedding Show - Auckland Sunday 11 April 2010 - Show time: 9am-4pm www.weddingshow.co.nz Wedding Wonderland Expo - Auckland Sunday 11 April 2010 - ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane, Auckland - Show Time: 9am to 4pm www.bridalshows.co.nz Wedding Wonderland Expo - Christchurch Sunday 18 April 2010 - Christchurch Convention Centre www.bridalshows.co.nz The Great NZ Bridal Show - Christchurch Sunday 18 April 2010 - Addington Convention Centre Show time: 9:30am - 4pm www. robyncliffe.co.nz

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THE PREMIER WEDDING EXPO HAS EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR YOUR FAIRYTALE WEDDING

Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inspirational ideas, exquisite fashion shows, decadent cakes, stylish bouquets or fantastic prizes, you will find them all and more under one roof. Purchase your tickets online and save. www.weddingwonderland.co.nz. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE NOW Auckland - ASB Showgrounds Sunday 11 th April Christchurch - Convention Centre Sunday 18 th April Hamilton - Claudelands Event Centre Sunday 16th May Rotorua - Energy Event Centre Sunday 11 th July Nelson - Trafalgar Square Sunday 18 th July

BROUGHT BROU R GHT TO ROU T YOU Y BY Y

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RECEIVE A FREE PHOTOBOOTH SESSION! sansimages are offering this fantastic deal - sign up for their Gold Package before 30 April 2010, for your wedding between November 2010 and April 2011 and you will receive a one hour ‘Photobooth’ session absolutely free. They even provide the photobooth photos on a CD. Their Photobooth is great because, unlike some others, there is space for a lot more people and lots more fun! You can check out some samples of their Photobooth session here: http://www.sansimages.com/photobooth.html

WIN ONE OF TWO CDS FROM THE CACHACA DUO! The Cachaca Duo is a versatile violin and guitar combination performing beautiful selection of bossanova, tango, milonga, bolero and latin jazz perfect for weddings! For those who aren’t able to book the Cachaca Duo to perform live at their wedding, we have the next best thing: a CD of their most popular music. This CD is available to purchase from their website www.cachacaduo.com. We have two copies to give away - all you need to do is go here to enter!

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SPECIALS

Go here to find out more!

WIN TICKETS TO THE WEDDING WONDERLAND EXPO! We have four double passes to each of the Auckland and Christchurch Wedding Wonderland Expos to give away. To go in the draw for the tickets click here.

GIVEAWAYS WIN UP TO FIVE PAIRS OF CUFFLINKS! The Cheeki Shop have generously given us up to five pairs of cufflinks for one lucky reader to win. You can choose from the designs on thecheekishop.co.nz and you can even mix and match designs! Click here to enter!

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Photographs by Helen Bankers www.helenbankers.com

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Simply

Beautiful Danielle and Nathan had a beautiful wedding at Sarnia Park. Danielle tells us all about her day (and the lead up to it) in her own words...

planned my wedding from London and, with the time difference, I employed the tools of Skype to keep in touch, and Google documents to set up all my spreadsheets and share them with my Mum and Bridesmaid (Kylie). Mum and Dad were also contributing to the cost of the wedding so they wanted to be kept informed of all our plans for budget and guests! We got married in Cambridge, next to my hometown of Hamilton, and Mum shortlisted most of my vendors for me which made choosing much easier. Sarnia Park I had seen before I came to London, so I knew that would be the location, and luckily Dad agreed! 13

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The biggest planning hurdle was trying to find a bridesmaid dress that fit with my chosen colour of peony pink. I had already arranged (with the help of Mum) to have some late-blooming varieties of peonies picked and chill-freighted up from the South Island where they would stay in cold-storage until the wedding. There weren’t many new season dresses coming out that were the right colour so Kylie didn’t get her dress ordered until December. I had only seen an online photo of the colours and had to purchase two flower girl dresses that were similar which I ordered online as well and had them sent to NZ. In the end I didn’t get to see my complete bridal party until the morning of the wedding when we all put our dresses on, but the girls all matched perfectly and the photos look fantastic! The best part of my planning was the menu-tasting which I arranged for when I arrived back in NZ. I had put together a sample menu of dishes I’d had in different

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restaurants that truly blended great kiwi dishes with asian flavours. I then gave this to my caterers to work on and come back to me with a unique menu that blended East and West. I was very specific on portion size and am a bit of a fussy foodie but the caterers had done a fantastic job and the presentation and portions were spot on. We only had minor tweaks to make to the finished menu and ended up with some really yummy dishes which we had alternatively placed amongst our guests. I love dessert, so the dessert was a platter of 3 mini choices for each guest. The dinner was plated service, and guests were seated at their table by our ushers and caterers rather than have a table seating chart. We felt this was more personal than having to wander around looking for your name, as we also didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have set table seatings. You could sit next to whom you liked at your table. Our MC also did a great job of explaining the dinner service, and introducing the speeches between

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courses, which flowed really well and with enough time for everyone to eat. Then again, I had planned out a run sheet for the whole day accounting for every 15 minutes throughout the day, and this was supplied to all my vendors and MC! Our menu: Entree Roasted Duck Breast Crispy skin, five spice served on a lemon & cherry cous cous w a smoked havarti crĂ¨me sauce OR Crispy Pork Belly On soba noodle salad w a macadamia nut & lemongrass vinaigrette Mains Rare Roasted Eye Fillet On a kumara & ginger rosti with a tomato chilli pickle & Grilled Hapuka Fillet Marinated in coriander and lime w a tomato, lychee & cardamom relish & served on black and white rice Trio of Desserts Lemongrass & white chocolate pannacotta Mango curd tartlet with a chilli & kaffir lime mascarpone Wasabi & chocolate cheesecake w a raspberry coulis

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My Mum was great in making sure that everything looked perfect on the day and she went around the venue making sure that all the lawns were set up and that the ceremony arch and flowers were out. I wanted a rose petal aisle which was kindly provided by a family friend’s large rose garden, and the petals were laid out just before I was due to walk down from the house. I hadn’t seen this lawn set up in the morning when I arrived and since then, I’d been busy having my hair and make-up and photos done, so when I stepped out with Dad, that was the first time I saw everything. I was completely blown away by how perfectly Mum had made my sketch and ideas come to life, and how perfect everything looked. I could also see Nath’s bottom lip quivering as he tried to hold in his tears (of happiness!) and I had to concentrate on walking slowly down the aisle because I couldn’t wait to stand next to him. We wrote our own vows as a surprise to each other, and Nath went first, when he went to take the ring from the Best Man, he picked up his OWN ring, which was miles too large for my finger. I tried to whisper ‘wrong one’ and when he still looked confused, I said a bit louder

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‘WRONG RING’ which the microphone picked up so everyone heard! It was the perfect laugh in the middle of our ceremony and is captured by the photographer! I continued the laughs in my vows by quoting ‘Kung Fu Panda’ - when I put the ring on Nath’s finger I said ‘I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and promises to you and as a constant reminder that together, we are PURE AWESOMENESS’ I have lots of younger cousins in my family and they all got the reference, as well as my friends and Aunties and Uncles. There are lots of mentions in our guest books of our vows being the highlight of the day for people. The highlight of the day was playing with the girls in the leftover petals of the aisle. We had been having bridal party photos in that area and the flower girls weren’t required so they were throwing petals at each other. When our photographer started on the Groom and Best Man photos, Kylie and I kicked off our shoes and joined the girls in piling petals together and throwing them at each other, resulting in some of the best candid pictures of the day. My biggest tip to other brides would be to appoint someone your mirror for the day! They’re in charge of telling you if you need lippie, when you have something on your face, and when you need to fix your hair! In some of my photos you can see a piece of hair hanging down that has come loose, and I feel it ruins all the shots where it’s really obvious.

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at ow us S h it vis om to ro re G su e & Be rid B

e Th

... making your wedding dreams come true Just 50 minutes from Auckland’s CBD you’ll find magical Castaways. Castaways provides the ultimate wedding experience you and your guests will rave about for years to come. • Coastal cliff top ceremonies • Stunning sunset wedding receptions • Fabulous food • Award winning service • Guest accommodation • Honeymoon packages • Onsite activities Click here to download our new >online weddings pack<

Our team are available to meet with you onsite at Castaways. So contact us now and let’s start making your wedding dreams come true.

Castaways Karioitahi Beach, Waiuku Ph 09 236 5161 Email marie@castaways.co.nz Web www.castaways.co.nz * New & Exclusive to Castaways * Castaways is the only wedding venue in NZ to have its own “Little Black Photobooth”. Huge overseas, this is a great addition to your wedding, making it even more memorable.

“We’ve had such great feedback about our wedding at Castaways – amazing food, spectacular setting and outstanding service” (Castaways Bride, 2009)

~ unique ~

~ memorable ~

engaged ~ affordable ~

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Bagsto Riches

BOOT CAMP

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s get real, we all have trouble getting

motivated when it comes to exercising. So why not give yourself a hand and enrol in a boot camp! Boot camps are a great way to get the benefits of a personal trainer while having fellow boot-camp participants to share the experience with. We talk with Danny Kettoola, one of the trainers at Fitness Evolved and find out what boot camp is all about (and find out that is is not as scary as you think!).

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So give us quick run down on what boot camp is.

DK: We say bootcamp is about fun and fitness. You train in a goup situation, part of the exercise program you’re working out in partners, playing strength/ fitness games and we do a mission (like the amazing race) during the course. Also ofcourse our celebration at the end of the course where we go out for a drink/catch up with the group and acknowledge special achievements like most improved and bootcamper of the month (that is voted by the goup as the most inspiring and motivating individual) E:

What should people expect to get out of it?

DK: Most people join to loose weight and/or get fit. These are very good reasons and you’ll get results in both if you attend and do the work. However those are not the only things you’ll get. Most people report having extra energy, motivation, determination, commitment plus friends, exercise techniques, ideas, healthy habits, discounts at places like Sterling Sports and massage therapists.

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Is there more of a focus on weight-loss or fitness?

DK: You choose your focus. We give you tips on how to make the training program more focused on weight loss like not eating before training and for up to an hour after training (your body will use stored energy during the session and after while metabolism is at it’s highest) or alternatively have some liquid energy before session (to allow your body to have readily available energy during the workout) and eat/ drink a mix of protein and carbs after (to replenish the body’s reserves and aid with recovery). E:

Do people need to be any level of fitness or can you cater to any fitness level?

DK: In my years of training I’ve seen people who have not trained for 4 years and athletes who want to step their training to the next level. How can two such different people get to work out at 100% you ask? well that’s where the skill of the trainer and experience comes in :)

People might have the impression that if you go to bootcamp you will get yelled at by mean military-type trainers. Is this a true reflection of a bootcamp session? Are you mean?

DK: YOU LITTLE MAGGOTS DROP DOWN AND GIVE ME 20!!! lol. My philosophy is motivating and encouraging recruits comes through caring for them. Being connected with them. Treating them the way I want to be treated. Knowing them by name. Finding out what they want to achieve and why helps me know them personally and be able to assist them in achieving their health and fitness goals. E:

getting back to bad habits again.

I want the ladies to learn good habits and get to change their lifestyles to be healthier and hence more satisfied with the shape of their bodies and looks. It’s about learning good habits for healthy lifestyle. It’s about being inspiring role-models to their husbands, kids, friends and themselves.

Can you give a brief outline of the type of things that you do during a typical bootcamp session.

DK: General cardio exercises like jogging, sprints, high knees and star jumps.

How long before the wedding should a bride look at doing a bootcamp?

Strength exercises like push ups, sit ups, bridge holds, squats and lunges.

DK: I’ll ask you a question. If I had a million dollars available for you when would you like me to give it to you? Bet you’ll say ASAP!! so same thing with Bootcamps; the earlier the better. Reason why is because it’s not about having a quick fix, losing weight and looking good for an event then stopping, getting lazy and

All these get combined in different ways so no session will be repeated throughout the course.

I can imagine people becoming addicted to the bootcamp sessions. Can people continue doing bootcamp sessions after they’ve done a full course?

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DK: I’ve had many people re-enrol and do several bootcamps consecutively. I think the most was a whole two years with maybe one course break and that was because she went away. I wanted her to be an instructor :)

that stage. Got into personal training soon after I graduated in 2004 and have enjoyed making a difference with people across the health and personal motivation spectrum. E:

E: How many people are there to each trainer? DK: We try to have about 10-15 recruits per instructor. So technique will be observed and corrected if necessary and one-on-one time will be available. E:

DK: We all know what foods to eat and what to avoid. But it is hard to be good! However it is not impossible if you adopt ONE healthy habit per week and implement that. Focus on changing your lifestyle slowly one habit at a time so you ensure maximum success. Try any of these in any order:

What made you start running bootcamps?

DK: Well being a pharmacist I was already a health professional however pharmacy I found helps people at the reactive end of the spectrum. ie things have gotten to such a stage that people have been ingrained in bad habits and have developed many health conditions like obesity, diabetes, heart conditions, etc and I found most of those people are not very proactive about their health. So I was really interested in trying to help people before they get to

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Exercise is obviously only part of the weight-loss equation - are you able to give any advice about nutrition to help our brides?

• Drink plenty of water and have in moderation sugary drinks, coffee, energy drinks and alcohol.

• Moderation is like the 80:20

rule or 90:10 rule that is 80-90% of the time you are disciplined with your food and 10-20% you allow yourself to indulge.

• Let half of your meals be salad, especially lunch and dinner.

• Eat breakfast regularly (very

important so your body doesn’t breakdown muscle which you work so hard to build)

• Exercise regularly 3-5 times per week.

• Seek to be active every opportunity you can

• Read food labels; if it has more

than 20g of sugar per 100g it’s a treat. If it has more than 10g of saturated fat per 100g it’s a treat.

• Have plenty of fruit and veggies. • Sleep well., • Breath deep breaths (abdominal breathing: breath over five seconds in from your nose, hold for five seconds and out from mouth over seconds) for five minutes three times per day.

Fitness Evolved run boot camps throughout the year. Each boot camp runs for six weeks, with three sessions per week. The sessions are based at the Auckland Domain.

If you want more come see me :) .

Visit their website to find out more about their boot camps and sign up to the net intake!

www.fitnessevolved.co.nz 29

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Real Wedding Photos

Andrew & Grace engaged

In the

MOMENT

This month we have one of our very own editors, Tim from VisionWorks Photography, showcasing three of his recent weddings. We absolutely love his classic style with a twist of romance. Enjoy! 31

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Matthew & Bronwyn

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Richard & Angela

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nadia couture Redefining bridesmaids. nadia couture is Aucklandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier bridesmaid shop. Timeless design, quality fabrics and meticulous craftsmanship for the bride and your bridesmaids needs. nadiacouture garments range from soft silk chiffon to elegant formal satin, available in a wide range of colours and sizes. To compliment the dresses, nadia couture has exquisite jewellery and beautiful evening bags, guaranteeing nadia remains a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;must-seeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; destination for your entire bridal party and every evening occasion.

271a Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland customerservices@nadiacouture.co.nz

Phone: 09 361 1205 www.nadiacouture.co.nz

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Geordie & Natalie

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REAL WEDDING

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GEORDIE AND NATALIE MEADE’S ENGAGEMENT AND WEDDING DAY Geordie and I met about 8 years ago through mutual friends. A strong bond started from day one and our friendship quickly grew. However, it wasn’t until 3 years ago when our friendship turned into strong feelings for each other.

After dating for 2 years, Geordie decided it was time we took things further. So the proposal… Geordie told me in December of 2008 he had won a prize through his work for getting the highest revenue in 2008, and the prize was a trip to Queenstown with a scenic helicopter ride over the mountains. And I believed his story. On 21 February 2009 at 8.30am whilst waiting for our flight to Queenstown, it was announced that the flight was delayed due to bad weather. After four hours in the airport, we boarded our plane and set out for Queenstown. The weather prevented us from landing in Queenstown, so we landed in Invercargill only to realise we had a two and a half hour bus trip ahead of us. So, we finally arrive in Queenstown at 4pm. During the course of our travels, Geordie was constantly on the phone to his “boss” sorting through the weekend events. He had to cancel the helicopter ride because of the weather, and his boss organised a dinner up at Skyline Restaurant instead. So this is the story Geordie was telling me at the time. We book into our hotel and head to dinner. We get seated in the restaurant in the middle of the room (when Geordie’s boss had requested a window seat). Poor Geordie – nothing was working to his plan.

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So we get moved to somewhere more private. After dinner, we head up to the balcony to check out the views and have a wine up there. It was freezing, and so windy. I was about to walk inside, when Geordie pulled me back to the seat and said “wait here, I want to talk to you about something”. He starts talking about our time together, the way he feels about me – then before I knew it, he was down on one knee! He reaches behind himself and pulls out the most beautiful ring! I was speechless! In fact, I sat there in silence as it was so overwhelming – our glasses of wine then blew over from the wind and went all over us. After a few moments after the feeling of excitement had passed, I said yes! We then headed back inside for dessert. This is when Geordie tells me he had been planning this weekend for 6 months, and that it wasn’t a prize he won through work. He had thought of everything. Even organised a surprise engagement party when we got back to Auckland. Just amazing! The following day when we had just returned from brunch, there is a knock at the door of our hotel room. SURPRISE there is my sister and her husband. Geordie had paid for them to fly down to Queenstown to share this special occasion with us. More celebrations began!

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Now time to plan our wedding. Our ceremony and reception were held at Bridgewater Estate, which is a breathtaking venue. It is located in Kaukapakapa on 6 acres of gardens, ponds, bush and green, green grass. We had four bridesmaids and four groomsmen. My sister (Hayley Marshall) was Maid-of-Honour. Geordie’s brother (Daniel Meade) was Best Man. Our ceremony was scheduled to start at 3.00pm. But due to a road show in Kumeu, only half our guests had arrived by 3.00pm. So we ended up running 30 minutes behind schedule, which in the end worked out perfectly. Everyone was now ready and waiting for the bride to make the grand entrance. Our DJ (from Going Bananas) started the aisle song (I Love You, Always, Forever by Donna Lewis). What an overwhelming feeling - looking out and seeing everyone I cared about all there to celebrate this special occasion. Amazing!

The ceremony was beautiful. It was outside, standing on the deck of a little chapel on the bottom grass at the venue. The sun was streaming down, and the vibe was just incredible. When it came time to exchange rings, I couldn’t get the ring on Geordie’s finger due to his chubby knuckles. Everyone burst into laughter – it was a great moment. After the ceremony, and all our creative photos, it was then time to head to the reception. I just remember so much laughter. The speeches were all short, sweet and hilarious. Then the special moment of our first dance together – wow!! Our MC (Michael Quirke) even commented on the extent Geordie went to with the proposal, and that every other male in the room had competition. We had many compliments on the choice of venue, the vibe of everyone together, the DJ and the general atmosphere of

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the day. And with Liz and Sheryl at Bridgewater being so attentive, the day could not have gone smoother. We enjoyed every single moment. A tip for brides planning their big day would be to never let the small things matter. At the end of the day, it will be amazing no matter what, as you are there to celebrate sharing the rest of your lives together. Never lose sight of that. It really is the most incredible feeling. Soak it up! I also think its important to make sure your day reflects you both as a couple. Guests love you see your personalities coming out in all the planning (venue, table settings, chosen wedding songs, attire). Be yourself, and have fun. Our photographer from Dreamlife was fantastic. They were very professional and captured every moment. With over 1300 photos to choose from, we have ended up with the most beautiful wedding album. What a day!

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R O M A N T I C A L B E RTO N A lovely centrally-located historic Auckland venue for weddings, civil unions, wedding photos and functions. Indoor and outdoor options available. web: www.alberton.co.nz email: alberton@historic.org.nz phone: +64 9 846 7367

Are you looking for a professional hairdresser and makeup artist who can come to you on your wedding day? With over 10 years in the industry, Natalie is working extensively in Fashion, Advertising and Film, as well as creating stunning results for bridal parties. Natalie's work is both versatile and innovative, offering her customers the complete package without compromise. Please go to my website www.natalieshields.com to view my work and prices.

www.natalieshields.com

Stunning freeze dried Rose and Hydrangea petals in 25 colours and blends

Exquisite bouquets for brides and bridesmaids

Personalized petal cones

Beautiful table centerpieces

Gorgeous flower girl petal pails

Complimentary consultation and design

www.foreverpetals.co.nz

Leonie Fisher Mobile Make-up Artist

Coco a Berry invitation by design p

fishyleo@orcon.net.nz 021 389423

WEDDING STATIONERY

Save the date Invitations RSVP Menus Order of service Thank You cards and more www.cocoaberry.co.nz 021 2636 147 info@cocoaberry.co.nz

Create your own unique jewellery. Custom designs with delight. Beads for embellishment. www.beadsgloriousbeads.com 6 Kingsland Tce, Kingsland, Auckland - Phone: 09 815 1177

BEADS

JEWELLERY

CLASSES

Mob: 021 458 687 diana@outside-the-square.co.nz

Through the Lens

Showcasing Photographic Excellence

Photograph by VisionWorks Photography

Page 63 : engaged : May 2009

Amy Schulz Photography

Website: www.amyschulz.co.nz Email: AmySchulzPhotography@gmail.com Mobile: 0211556071 Wellington and Nationwide

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Emma Hughes Photography Website: www.emmahughes.co.nz www.weddingsonwaiheke.co.nz Email: emma@emmahughes.co.nz Phone: 09 372 8729 Mobile: 021 051 3292 Waiheke and Auckland Master NZ Institute of Professional Photography

Amanda Wignell Photography Website: www.awp.co.nz Email: amanda@awp.co.nz Phone: 09 426 2647 Mobile: 027 615 3078 Associate Member NZ Institute of Professional Photography Auckland and Northland

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Photography by Marijke Website: www.photographybym.co.nz Email: mail@photographybym.co.nz Phone: 07 572 4085 Mobile: 021 560 509 Bay of Plenty and Nationwide

Victoria Vincent Photography Website: www.victoriavincent.com Mobile: 021 213 5759 Wellington, Nelson, Nationwide

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Email: victoria@victoriavincent.com

VisionWorks Photography

Website: www.visionworks.co.nz Email: tim@visionworks.co.nz Phone: 09 845 5925 Mobile: 021 44 88 17 Auckland

Rob Driessen Photography

Website: www.rdphotography.co.nz Master NZ Institute of Professional Photography

Email: rob@rdphotography.co.nz Phone: 04 479 7769 Wellington

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Brett Lees, Unique Visions Photography Website: www.uniquevisions.co.nz Email: brett@uniquevisions.co.nz Phone: 09 817 7014 Mobile: 0274 913 061 Qualified Member NZ Institute of Professional Photography Auckland

Jan Maree Vodanovich Photography and Art Website: www.janmareeart.co.nz Email: jan@janmareeart.co.nz Phone: 09 236 8553 Mobile: 027 281 5921 Auckland, Franklin, Hamilton

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Where The Heart Is Photography

Website: www.wheretheheartis.co.nz Email: info@wheretheheartis.co.nz Phone: 07 8547933 Mobile: 021 235 7976 Auckland, Waikato, King Country & Bay of Plenty

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Parker Swannell Photography Email: parkerswannell@gmail.com Phone: 09 817 2678 Mobile: 021 257 5355 Auckland

New Regent Studios Website: www.photos.co.nz Email: info@photos.co.nz Phone: 03 355 4448 Mobile: 027 229 2329 Christchurch

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Jeremy Hill Photography Website: www.jeremyhill.co.nz Email: enquiries@jeremyhill.co.nz Phone: (09) 8263394 Mobile: 021 2279196 Auckland

Vicky Broadbent VisionWorks Photography

Website:Website: www.vickybroadbent.co.nz broadbent@xtra.co.nz www.studioname.co.nzEmail: Email: info@studioname.co.nz Phone: 09 123 4567 Phone: Mobile:021 021633 123404 4567 Qualified Member NZ Institute of Professional Photography Coromandel and Auckland Auckland

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Travel

Water,Water

Everywhere...

Ahh, Venice, city of water, of bridges, of masks and, of course, of romance. There is no city in the world like Venice. Stretching across 117 small islands in the Venetian Lagoon, the roads in this city are

made of water, something that has delighted visitors for years. The buildings appear to have grown out of the water in what appears to be an engineering feat beyond reason (see later in the article for how they actually stay standing!).

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Somewhere to walk… As there are no roads in the main part of Venice, there are also no cars. And no buses or taxis. Well, not of the traditional type. To get around, you either use your feet and the 455 bridges that connect the 117 islands of Venice or use a water taxi, waterbus (vaporetti) or gondola. Gondolas are the method of transport everyone associates with the city; however these days gondolas are generally only used for tourists, weddings, funerals or other ceremonies. Interestingly, gondoliers (the gondola ‘driver’) must be on Venetian birth. Aside, from a romantic trip in a gondola, you will most likely use the vaporetti to get around. There are 25 routes that connect the city and passes are sold for hourly or daily travel.

Something to see… Every step you take in Venice brings another delightful view. From the sparkling waterways to the twisting, cobbled streets, beautiful shops to majestic

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bridges, you are constantly surprised when you least expect it. Take some time to wander through the streets and roam the waterways for the best (and free!) views! The main area, San Marco, contains a rich array of tourist sites, including St Mark’s Square and Basilica, the Doge’s Palace and adjoining Bridge of Sighs. Dubbed the ‘drawing room of Europe’ the Piazza San Marco (or St Mark’s Square) is one of very few urban areas where traffic cannot be heard. Originating in the 9th century as a small area in front of the original basilica, the area has always been seen as the centre of Venice, with all important state offices located there, along with the seat of the archbishop. The imposing buildings are a major tourist attraction. And a major pigeon attraction! The square is surrounded by the Grand Canal (Venice’s major waterway), the Doge’s Palace, Mt Mark’s Basilica, St Mark’s Clocktower, St Mark’s Campanile, and several museums and cafes. On the left-hand side of the square you can see the Bridge 74

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of Sighs. The history of the bridge largely comes from the name given to it by Lord Byron: he suggested that prisoners would sign at their final view of the beautiful Venice out the window of the bridge (the bridge connected the interrogation rooms in the Doge’s Palace and the old prison).

tempting yourself with Venetian tapas (cicchetti) or antipasto. Move on to one of the Venetian specialities: risotto with cuttlefish, rice and peas, marinated sardines or eel, or even Venetian-style liver for the more adventurous. For dessert, the choices are endless: cookies with almonds and pistachio nuts, milk pudding, semolina cookies, cake with almonds…mmm… Something to fill your bags with… The shopping in Venice is a treat, even if you aren’t spending money. The cobbled streets meander past shops filled with sumptuous goodies. If you are looking to buy something Venice is famed for, you can’t go past Murano glass or a mask, although there are also fantastic gloves and other leather goods that we could have snapped up!

Across the Grand Canal is San Polo. Take a wander over the well-known Rialto Bridge and through the markets. And if you are still looking for things to see and do, Venice (being part of Rome) has over 30 museums to tempt you!

Something to eat… Being surrounded by water, it is obvious that Venetian cuisine would involve seafood, but there are some other treats on offer…

Something to entertain you…

Start your dining experience with a Belini at Harry’s Bar or an Italian prosecco (similar to sparkling wine), before

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Venice is famous for two festivals: the Carnival of Venice and the Venice Film

The buildings of Venice are constructed on closely spaced wood piles. Under water, in the absence of oxygen, wood does not decay. It is petrified as a result of the constant flow of mineral-rich water around and through it, so that it becomes a stone-like structure. The piles penetrate a softer layer of sand and mud until they reach the much harder layer of compressed clay. The foundations rest on the piles, and buildings of brick or stone sit above these footings. The only water danger to the buildings is when they are threatened by flood tides pushing in from the Adriatic between autumn and early spring. Venice is rumoured to be the world’s 28th most internationally visited city, with an average of 50,000 visitors per day. Some call it the most beautiful city in the world, others…well, they don’t like it so much, perhaps because of all those tourists! But love or hate it, it is definitely worth a visit!

DID YOU KNOW? 77

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Festival. The Carnival is one of the most important events in the arts calendar. Running for about three weeks, the date changes, depending on when Ash Wednesday falls. Masks form a large part of the celebrations and you will see many examples in the shops. Traditionally people were allowed to wear masks from the start of the carnival until the end – given that Venetians were also allowed to wear masks during Ascension and from October 5 until Christmas, people could spend a large part of the year in disguise!

around the world. Locanda Orseolo is regularly voted one of the best places to stay and once you log on and start reading the reviews about it, you know you’re onto a winner. The Locanda Orseolo is a boutique hotel, a beautifully restored Venetian home, located close to St Mark’s Square. You reach it through a charming courtyard – or if arriving by gondola, your luggage can be loaded through a special entrance from the waterways. Our room was painted with stunning mural depicting one of the Carnevale masks and the furniture was gorgeous (and apparently locally made). Comfy bed and great shower, outstanding breakfast – always excellent!

The film festival is held in late August or early September on the island of Lido. You may want to keep these events in mind when booking your honeymoon, as accommodation fills up fast (and is more expensive!).

It is the staff of Locanda Orseolo that make it truly special. Their attention to detail made this one of the best service experiences we have had in our life. Ever. They go out of their way to make you feel special, which, if you are on honeymoon, you most definitely are!

Somewhere to lay your head… Trusty TripAdvisor (www. tripadvisor.com) became our greatest ally when booking accommodation half-way

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NOTES: Rome (and all of Italy) use the Euro. NZD$1 = 0.51EUR. Comparisons are approximates only. Please check with your travel agent. Whilst New Zealand is on daylight savings time, Rome is 12 hours behind New Zealand. Air New Zealand, Qantas, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Lufthansa and KLM all fly to Rome from Auckland. Qantas/BA, Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines fly from Wellington and Air New Zealand, Qantas, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines and Lufthansa fly from Christchurch to Rome. Each airline has different stopovers, so it is best to check with your travel agent when booking. Travel time will vary with stopover numbers and times. www.airnz.co.nz www.emirates.com www.thaiair.com www.malaysiaairlines.com www.klm.com

www.qantas.co.nz www.cathaypacific.com/nz www.singaporeair.com www.lufthansa.com 79

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Next Issue out 1 May

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