After meeting through a mutual friend in Sydney, Genevieve and Philip hit it off immediately, now 7 years later they are enjoying life as newlyweds.
Originally the thought was to be married in her native Australia. However, after Genevieve made the move to New Zealand, the couple have always shared a love for Waiheke Island off the coast of Auckland - reminding them a lot of Tuscany which they visited following their engagement. Providing subtle hints of the Tuscan country-side – laden with vineyards and lush green hills, it seemed like the perfect place to get married.
Through recommendations of friends, Genevieve and Philip got in contact with Sophia at
My Waiheke – a boutique events company based on Waiheke Island. The first venue they saw was the Oakura Bay Villa, which left both Genevieve and Philip speechless. Greeted by the owner and her 2 beautiful dogs Genevieve and Philip were shown around the 5 hectares of lush green grounds, featuring a private vineyard and 1.7km of private coastline, falling in love instantly. The venue offered everything the couple were looking for in a wedding venue. Serendipitously, Philip grew up in the small Taranaki surf town of Oakura, so it seemed even more fitting that they tie the knot at the Oakura Bay Villa.
Reflecting their own style, the couple wanted a very relaxed and casual feel for the ceremony and reception, with subtle Tuscan hints throughout. This was achieved through the use of olive leaves, wood and other natural materials in their decorations, as well as their naked-style cake dressed in olive branches.
Shopping around for her dream dress for a while, Genevieve kept coming back to a bohemian Rue De Seine gown. Drawn to the intricate lace design, the dress was so different to anything else she had seen. To give the dress its own uniqueness, Genevieve had the sleeves removed and the back altered. The bridesmaids wore Dion Lee from Australia, in navy which tied in perfectly with the Groomsmen’s suits.
After finding the most idyllic venue and planning for an outdoor ceremony on the beach, a drizzly morning was trying to put a damper on Genevieve and Philips plans. Much to their relief, as the Bridal party was about to depart for the venue, the skies cleared and their perfect day went ahead as planned.
Testimonial:
Thank you so much to the lovely team at Mildred&Co. We were recommended Mildred&Co by close friends and we couldn't be happier.
The process was so simple from start to finish, and it was really easy for our guests to just go online to purchase a gift. We were able to select so many beautiful things for our home and when it came to receiving them we were like 2 kids on Christmas morning. The hand-written cards, beautiful wrapping and bottle of bubbles was such a nice touch!
We couldn't recommend Mildred&Co more highly!
