by Johanna Osborne.

Honeymoon Destinations

Pack your bikini and grab your sarong, we have some fabulous romantic honeymoon ideas for you! And who isn’t ready for some Vitamin D after our stolen summer!? We might be stating the obvious with some of our destinations, for usually sun seekers know where’s it at pretty much the same way a bee always finds the flower… but, no harm in sharing the joy and a few tips along the way…

1. Fiji – You just can’t beat the tropical atmosphere to really bring romance alive. Flowy dresses, bare feet, sandals, sunhats – life is beautifully simple in paradise. Warm sunshine to greet you every morning, tepid waters, amazing multi-coloured fish…it all screams romantic holiday. The Fijian mainland offers some great specials and a vast array of resorts for various budgets. But if it’s a true tropical island experience you are after, you can’t look past the actual islands. These are something else altogether! With so many to choose from, it’s hard to decide whether to pick a child-free island like Tokoriki or Matamanoa for a quiet, subdued couples retreat, or whether to go somewhere like Castaway for its hustle and bustle and array of activities. Having been to many, we would rate Castaway our favourite getaway by far. Even pre-children we just loved the vibrancy of the island.

2. Rarotonga – Besides Fiji, Rarotonga rates as one of our top destinations. Depending on what hotel you pick, your experience will either be good or out of this world. We can’t recommend ‘Rumours of Romance’ highly enough. It’s simply ideal as a honeymoon spot. Private, gorgeous and totally luxurious. We’ve never stayed anywhere more fabulous than the beachfront villas. And not only that, a quick 20 minutes from there takes you to Aitutaki, an escape from civilisation and totally back to basics, with some of the most pristine beaches and clearest water you can find. Survivor filmed a series there, and the beach is still as unmarked now as it was then. You can stay at Pacific Resort Aitutaki and receive the same VIP treatment that Jeff Probst did! Having stayed there ourselves, we can vouch it has the luxury + factor.

3. The Gold Coast – You can’t beat the golden sand, gorgeous bays and beautiful little towns dotted along the coastline. Not to mention the multitude of fun parks that bring out the inner child in all of us! If you are not into the plastic fantastic vibe of Surfers Paradise, there are plenty of alternatives and it’s so easy to get to. Jump on a plane for 3 hours and suddenly it’s “hello summer”. If you grab a special well in advance this jaunt needn’t cost you an arm or a leg either.

4. Taupo – Good old Taupo is and always will be a NZ favourite. Who wouldn’t want to wake up next to the crystal waters of the grand lake, and while the day away in the many cafes and cool little spots? Mini golf, hot pools and renting a boat are all part of the Taupo experience. We rate Manuels on the waterfront as a top destination.

5. Europe – Now we’re going big. Why not make your honeymoon your OE? Couples that travel together stay together, because it’s a well known fact that travel brings out the best and worst in us. If you are going to Europe then you really can’t pass Santorini or Mykonos – the 2 most stunning Greek islands ever. Our tip? After a bit of island hopping visit gaye Paris, spend a few love-drunk days sightseeing and munching on croissants, and then catch the train to Marseille, rent a car and drive down the French coastline all the way along to the Italian border. You can visit all the gorgeous little towns dotted along the way – St Tropez, Cannes, Cap D’Antibes, Nice, then hop over to Monaco, Portofino, Cinque Terre… the list goes on. The best journey of a lifetime lies on the French/Italian coastline. Trust us! It’s heavenly! But really Europe is a treasure-trove of places to discover and see… there aren’t enough superlatives for me to go on…

PS; Honeymoons are best in 2s or 3s. That is, once you have your first honeymoon, plan your second and then your third. It keeps the fun alive, and why let that beautiful time ever come to an end?! We are about to go on our 7th honeymoon – and proud of it!

PPS; Make your wedding register a honeymoon fund! Most travel agencies are happy to set these up and your guests can make a contribution directly into it. Bellissimo!

 
Just had your honeymoon? Want to share your honeymoon tips or story with us? Email us as [email protected]

We are excited to announce a new and ultra cool exhibitor at this year’s rapidly approaching Wellington Wedding Show on Sunday 29th April.

Say hello to the sleek and sexy All Torque Sports Cars. Come along and see for yourself two of the most stylish cars ever made – and just think, you could arrive in one of these on your special day. Talk about making an impact!

Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupe

Hailed as the “world’s most desirable sports car”, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupe is precision car making at its finest. Famous for its athletic silhouette, sophisticated detailing and outstanding performance, the V8 Vantage is a sports car like no other.

Release your inner Bond and experience the thrill of travelling (and arriving) in style. Go on, you know you deserve it…

Honda S2000 Convertible

Praised by critics and loved by owners, the S2000 impresses all those lucky enough to take it for a spin. And it’s not just the cheeky Rio Yellow exterior that has people talking. Admired for its high output engine, balanced handling and smooth gearbox, the S2000 is a sports car that keeps drivers coming back for more.

Wedding planning just got a whole lot more fun for the boys!! Come and take a look!

by Johanna Osborne.

Paula and Johanna take you behind the scenes of our
photo shoot preparations

Ziggurat has been in Cuba Street for as long as I can remember and I’ve always been a huge fan. Stocking boutique items from the 1900s to contemporary designer labels, Ziggurat is a treasure trove of retro, antique and vintage stock. It just doesn’t get much cooler than that! All you have to do is look towards Hollywood to see how vintage-obsessed tinseltown has become, with every 2nd starlet seen shopping in second hand stores and wearing vintage designer gowns to awards shows. And it’s nothing to do with money (or lack thereof) and everything to do with STYLE! There’s just something about the glamour from bygone eras that we can’t recreate no matter how hard we try. So why not wear something original from a time when taste and elegance came easy? Some of my most prized possessions are from Ziggurat and I wear them with total pride.
 

So of course it was Ziggurat we looked towards when it came time to find a vintage wedding outfit for our upcoming magazine photo shoot. Kate Bryant, Ziggurat Owner and Manager, was only too happy to assist. Showing Paula and I a multitude of amazing dresses from the Edwardian era right through to the 90s, it became quite the visual feast and our imaginations went into overdrive. Who knew Ziggurat had so many wedding dresses? Or gorgeous gowns that could be worn as a wedding dress? There was also plenty of selection for the boys too. Which look to go for? So many options, so many possibilities! But then again that’s the beauty of going vintage – you can completely build your look around one piece of clothing, whether it be a dress, a top or a pair of shoes- and just go crazy from there. It’s so much fun to wear something different that no one else will have. And for me personally nothing is more exciting than the fashion from the eras such as the 60s and 70s, where there were no style rules, things were allowed to clash, and freedom and comfort were at the forefront. I always find something in Ziggurat – and this time it was a pale pink velvet cape with crochet detail – perfect for autumn!

And what about the photo shoot? What will our models be wearing?? You’ll just have to keep your eyes and ears open – the next issue of Mr and Mrs will be out in time for the Wellington Wedding Show on April 29th – and you won’t want to miss getting your hands on a copy! It’s gonna be totally amazing!

by Johanna Osborne.

I recently attended my friend’s dazzling wedding. It took place at the very same venue I got married in, and it provided a most nostalgic trip down memory lane for my husband and I. My friend’s wedding was beautiful. She looked stunning in her unique, stylish gown and it was plain to see that this wedding was carefully planned. Everything ran smoothly – amazingly so! The bride was cool, calm and collected and it was her level head and organised approach that allowed her to enjoy her dream day all the more. A true inspiration to other brides!

I often ponder what I would do differently if I could relive my own wedding day again. But the same thought occurs to me each time. On our wedding day in 2006 almost all the people we love most in the world were present. As I looked around the room I saw smiling supportive faces mirroring our joy, and sharing in our happiness. I never once thought that 6 years down the line some of those faces would no longer be with us, and thus rendering our wedding day all the more precious. For the 5th of January 2006 is a moment in time that I hold forever, in my heart and mind, and thankfully also in print and video. I will never lose those memories, and therefore I have managed to hang on to something very dear. My beloved father was present on this day, and many would agree he was very much the star of our wedding. A spotlight I was very happy to share with the most outgoing, gregarious person I have ever met. He calmly accompanied me to the church, proudly walked me down the aisle, smiled for the cameras, squeezed me tight after the ceremony, and entertained our guests all night long. His 3 speeches, enthusiastic attempts at Greek dancing and boundless energy until the wee hours made all our guests fall under his spell. He simply was the most special thing about our wedding. And for those memories I am grateful. My father is no longer with us, and it is a loss none of us have come to terms with. Perhaps we never will. But the point of this is not a depressing one, it is to highlight what a wedding is all about, what it means and what is truly important. Weddings are about love, family and connections – a celebration of all that makes life worth living and all that is important.

The best advice I can give to anyone is to make sure you capture as many images as you can, get a wedding video if possible, and of course a wedding planner/event stylist to minimise your stress. I met Paula Bevege through planning my wedding, and without her we would not have had the magnificent celebration that we ended up with. Paula’s list of tasks was infinite – she worked endlessly with us to find the perfect suppliers, kept us calm, gently suggested creative and wonderful ideas, and took care of so many of the “finer details” (there were candles everywhere, gorgeous beauty products and fresh flowers in the bathroom for all our guests, and our hotel room was covered in rose petals and heart shaped chocolates!). Paula organised our wedding cars, our stationery, the last minute ice sculpture I just had to have, our DJ and everything else in between. She was wonderful! Perhaps too wonderful, or else I wouldn’t have been so relaxed drinking Moet with my bridesmaids prior to walking down the aisle over 30 minutes late! By having someone help me plan my wedding, I was not only calmer in the lead-up, I was also able to relax more on the actual day also. And that is worth more than anything. The latenesss however was not Paula’s fault.

 
To all new brides –it might sound clichéd, but don’t be nervous and do enjoy every moment. Take a leaf out of my friend’s book, who appeared to be genuinely enjoying the day and it turned out just the way she had wanted – perhaps because of that very fact. Delight that it’s your event that you can share with your friends and family, appreciate you have found someone to spend the rest of your life with and ignore any minor hiccups. Perfect is nothing but an opinion, a point of view. If something doesn’t go as you had hoped, chances are no one will notice. More than anything it’s the emotion that will deeply touch your guests and they will walk away feeling they have shared in an intimate event that they were fortunate to witness. We had so many people comment about our wedding, and it was consistently said how amazing and special it is that our family is so close and shares so much love. I was so proud to hear these words again and again, and all these years later that’s what I remember most. We recall who was at our wedding, and how lucky we were that they were there. Make time to say how you feel and tell those you love how much they mean to you – even if you are distracted by lots of other things in the lead up to your big day.

Everyone’s idea of a dream wedding is not the same and we all value different things, but with the people you love most by your side, and the help of the right suppliers, an event planner, and a calm and positive approach there is not much you can’t achieve. Make your wedding day one you will never forget – for all the right reasons!

“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” Albert Einstein

photos of Johanna’s wedding in 2006

Article by Paula Bevege

Blair and I recently attended the gorgeous wedding of our good friends Vanessa Huppert and Sam Green. They were married on the stunning shores of Lake Rotoiti at Sam’s parent’s residence. A fabulous marquee wedding, everything was perfect! Not even a weather bomb could upset this well planned wedding. I won’t tell you too  much as rumour has it Sam and Vanessa will feature in an upcoming issue of Mr and Mrs.

I did want to say how beautiful Vanessa looked, she was a picture perfect bride. She had an amazing team of professionals she took with her from Wellington. Our very own Rebecca Connor – Make Up Artist (who you can meet at our Autumn Show) and Thao from Trois on Allen. Thao has also looked after our famous writer Johanna for years, it must be all gorgeous girls go to the same place!