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