This week, I’m joined by Amelia, who shares the story of her and Jack’s incredible marquee wedding in Mangawhai, set on private property with nearly 200 guests, beautiful styling, and a day that didn’t exactly go to plan but ended up being even better because of it.

 

We chat about: 

💜 How they met and why you shouldn’t write off a bad first date

💜 A dreamy Fiji proposal, featuring a stray cat named Chris

💜 Planning a marquee wedding from scratch on private property

💜 What it’s really like hosting a wedding with nearly 200 guests

💜 Why great food, drinks, and guest experience were top priorities

💜 The reality of things not going to plan, rain, humidity, and last minute changes

💜 Pivoting the ceremony on the day and embracing the chaos

💜 Dress shopping with Hera Couture and finding something that actually fits and flatters

💜 The magic of having all your favourite people in one place

💜 Letting go of the small details and focusing on what actually matters

 

…and so much more!

 

Follow Amelia (Melie): @melies_kitchen

 

Let me know what you think of this episode!

 

If you’d like to see more from this wedding, check out the photos over on Instagram and make sure you’re following ⁠⁠⁠@thekiwiweddingpodcast⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠@lydiarachelphoto⁠⁠⁠ for more real weddings and inspiration.

 

Vendors:

Photographer: @kerynsweeneyphotographer

On the Day Coordinator: @sophpol

Dress: @heracouture

Second Dress: @lovejamesstore & @re_______studio

Suit: @workingstylenz

Flowers: @handsinthedirt_

Food: @sourcekitchennz

Hire & Marquee: @lucyseventhire

Drinks: @drinkalba @moabeer & @eurovintage_nz

Makeup: @rae_makeup

Hair: @penton.andco 

Cake: @mor__bakery

Stationery: @broganscottstudio

Rings: @thevillagegoldsmith

Venue: Private Property

Celebrant: @nzcelebrant

 

Get tickets to ⁠That’s Amore⁠ this Thursday (23 April 2026) in Papamoa. See you there!

 

Sign up for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE LOVE LETTER BY LYDIA RACHEL⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a fortnightly note from me with wedding inspiration, podcast highlights, real weddings I’m capturing, and a few things I’ve been loving. 

This week, I&rsquo;m joined by Amelia, who shares the story of her and Jack&rsquo;s incredible marquee wedding in Mangawhai, set on private property with nearly 200 guests, beautiful styling, and a day that didn&rsquo;t exactly go to plan but ended up being even better because of it.
&nbsp;
We chat about:&nbsp;
💜 How they met and why you shouldn&rsquo;t write off a bad first date
💜 A dreamy Fiji proposal, featuring a stray cat named Chris
💜 Planning a marquee wedding from scratch on private property
💜 What it&rsquo;s really like hosting a wedding with nearly 200 guests
💜 Why great food, drinks, and guest experience were top priorities
💜 The reality of things not going to plan, rain, humidity, and last minute changes
💜 Pivoting the ceremony on the day and embracing the chaos
💜 Dress shopping with Hera Couture and finding something that actually fits and flatters
💜 The magic of having all your favourite people in one place
💜 Letting go of the small details and focusing on what actually matters
&nbsp;
&hellip;and so much more!
&nbsp;
Follow Amelia (Melie): <a href="https://www.instagram.com/melies_kitchen/#">@melies_kitchen</a>
&nbsp;
Let me know what you think of this episode!
&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;d like to see more from this wedding, check out the photos over on Instagram and make sure you&rsquo;re following <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thekiwiweddingpodcast/">⁠⁠⁠@thekiwiweddingpodcast⁠⁠⁠</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lydiarachelphoto/">⁠⁠⁠@lydiarachelphoto⁠⁠⁠</a> for more real weddings and inspiration.
&nbsp;
Vendors:
Photographer: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kerynsweeneyphotographer">@kerynsweeneyphotographer</a>
On the Day Coordinator: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sophpol/">@sophpol</a>
Dress:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/heracouture/">@heracouture</a>
Second Dress:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/lovejamesstore/">@lovejamesstore</a>&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/re_______studio/">@re_______studio</a>
Suit:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/workingstylenz/">@workingstylenz</a>
Flowers:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/handsinthedirt_/">@handsinthedirt_</a>
Food:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/sourcekitchennz/">@sourcekitchennz</a>
Hire &amp; Marquee:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/lucyseventhire/">@lucyseventhire</a>
Drinks:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/drinkalba/">@drinkalba</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/moabeer/">@moabeer</a>&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/eurovintage_nz/">@eurovintage_nz</a>
Makeup:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/rae_makeup/">@rae_makeup</a>
Hair:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/penton.andco/">@penton.andco</a>&nbsp;
Cake:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/mor__bakery/">@mor__bakery</a>
Stationery:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/broganscottstudio/">@broganscottstudio</a>
Rings:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/thevillagegoldsmith/">@thevillagegoldsmith</a>
Venue: Private Property
Celebrant:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/nzcelebrant/">@nzcelebrant</a>
&nbsp;
Get tickets to <a href="https://events.humanitix.com/thats-amore-by-tauranga-weddings">⁠That&rsquo;s Amore⁠</a> this Thursday (23 April 2026) in Papamoa. See you there!
&nbsp;
Sign up for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://lydiarachel.myflodesk.com/loveletter">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE LOVE LETTER BY LYDIA RACHEL⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a fortnightly note from me with wedding inspiration, podcast highlights, real weddings I&rsquo;m capturing, and a few things I&rsquo;ve been loving.&nbsp;

A podcast for New Zealand brides and grooms to hear first-hand wedding stories, tips from vendors, and wedding planning advice. Created by Auckland Wedding Photographer Lydia Rachel @lydiarachelphoto

A podcast for New Zealand brides and grooms to hear first-hand wedding stories, tips from vendors, and wedding planning advice. Created by Auckland Wedding Photographer Lydia Rachel <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lydiarachelphoto/">@lydiarachelphoto</a>