NO FUSS POP-UP WEDDINGS

from Wairarapa Weddings 2023

TWO HEARTS, ONE LOVE, & COUNTLESS ADVENTURES

Former Wairarapa College student, Jenna Oakly, and her long-time partner, chose a no-fuss route for their February wedding.

“We decided in January we would get married, we found a pop-up wedding option on the internet, and booked it immediately so we couldn’t change our minds,” Jenna says with a laugh.

She and her partner had been together for nine years and engaged for four, so there’s been a long lead time. Getting married was all about making things official for their children: five-year-old Madison, two-year-old Tyson, and her partner’s 11-year-old daughter Shelby.

“We only wanted a small wedding with about 25 immediate family members,” Jenna says. “When we’ve priced weddings previously, the costs were overwhelming. The pop-up option was $4,500 which, with help from our parents, was manageable.”

Included in this amount was the venue, decorations, music, celebrant, flowers, the cake, food and more. Food at the reception included grazing tables and finger food, both savoury and sweet. Alcohol cost extra but was sourced by the venue. And Jenna’s bridal dress was extra too.

“But you do not need to spend heaps on a wedding dress,” she says. “I bought mine from Shein for only $60. My husband’s grandmother is a wonderful seamstress, and she added a few little touches - it looked amazing.” The groom and his best man bought three-piece suits from Hallenstein Brothers.

Two mobile hair and make-up artists were booked to come to Jenna’s mother-in-law’s house (right next door to where the bride and groom live) to do the hair and make-up of the women in the bridal party, “which removed the stress of driving somewhere and getting back on time”.

The bride and groom had a choice of celebrant, who they met beforehand to agree on the ceremony. The venue was booked for four hours, although people could turn up earlier if they wished. “We had family coming from out of town, so flexibility was helpful.”

The venue was decorated for them with elegant, draped curtains and white chairs looking out over a panorama of bush and sky. The venue also recommended a photographer, who the bride and groom booked for two hours. Did they restrict photos being taken on phones by the attendees? “No, we weren’t that bothered about restricting photos or uploading to social media. We just went with the flow.”

Transport to the venue was low-key. “I hopped into my dad’s ute and everyone else took their own cars,” Jenna says. Her dad is Wairarapa local, Roger Oakly.

Mother-of-the bride, Di Oakly says one of the highlights of the day was “helping Jenna get dressed for the ceremony. I only have one daughter. It was very special.”

“The entire wedding was relaxed. There was nothing for me to do and we all felt pampered,” Di says.

The stress-free approach to getting married, with a month’s turnaround, worked well for this couple. It’s an approach favoured by an increasing number of couples whether it’s a first or second-time wedding or a renewal of vows.