Today I’m joined by Emma - florist, wedding vendor and recent bride, who shares her relaxed and personal Queenstown wedding. From planning a simple lakeside ceremony to creating her own florals, Emma’s story is full of practical advice and thoughtful inspiration for couples wanting to keep things stress-free and true to themselves.

🎟️ Tickets for The Kiwi Wedding Podcast LIVE Event (August 31st in Auckland) are ⁠⁠⁠on sale now⁠⁠⁠! We’ll have cake, dresses, goodie bags, and an incredible lineup of speakers, including makeup artist Kate Solley, dress designer Trish Peng, and Astrid Braid wedding planner from PS. I Love You. Brides, couples, and vendors alike - come along for a beautiful morning.

⁠⁠⁠⁠GRAB YOUR TICKET FOR THE KIWI WEDDING PODCAST LIVE! ⁠⁠⁠

We chat about:

💜 Meeting Rich on their OE in the UK and building a life together in New Zealand.

💜 The Queenstown proposal at Sunshine Bay, a sentimental spot where they’d spent many evenings.

💜 Planning a small, family-focused wedding with 13 guests, making it intimate and low-key.

💜 Saying “I do” at a DOC carpark overlooking Lake Wakatipu - proof you don’t need a big venue for breathtaking views.

💜 Creating her own flowers as a florist (and why she might recommend having someone else do them instead!).

💜 Emma’s bridal look: a simple cream slip dress paired with an overtop blouse sewn by her mum.

💜 Their son napping through half the ceremony, then joining them mid-vows for the sweetest family moment.

💜 Skipping the traditional reception. Instead sharing bubbles with family, photos at their engagement spot, then dinner at Botswana Butchery.

💜 Budgeting: how they kept it simple and spent around $13k total, including rings, accommodation and dinner.

💜 Vendor advice from a florist’s perspective: where to prioritise your flower budget, repurposing arrangements, and why buttonholes are fading in popularity.

💜 Trends Emma’s noticing in florals this season… less plinths, more lush backdrops, and smaller bouquets.

💜 The importance of leaning into your own style, not just trends, and trusting your florist to refine your vision.

...and so much more!

🎧 Listen in for one of our most relaxed wedding stories yet - an inspiration in keeping it simple, meaningful, and truly you.

Below you can find the handles for all E & R’s incredible vendors. Be sure to check out some photos on IG at ⁠⁠@thekiwiweddingpodcast⁠⁠ + give us a follow. Follow Lydia at ⁠⁠@lydiarachelphoto⁠⁠

Vendors:

Flowers: @lindengrovefloral

Photographer: @who.took.the.picture

Celebrant: @yourbigdayqt @marriedbyemily

Hair: @hairtowedbytina

Makeup: Bride

Nails: @1999houseofnailsnz

Tan: @afterglowbeauty_christchurch

Dress: @vila_official @asos

Silk Organza Blouse: Bride’s Mum  

Blouse Fabric sourced from: @hawesandfreer

Shoes: @merchant1948

Suit: @_3wisemen

Rings: @filigreefinejewels

Accommodation: @toniclodge

Chair hire: @qtweddinghire

Ceremony Location: 7 Mile Point Track @docgovtnz

Dinner Venue: @botswanabutcheryqueenstown

Set up + Babysitter: Bride’s Friend, Cary’s