Pearls & French Champagne- The Wonderful Wedding of Anna & Peter at Larnach Castle
Tell us about yourselves and how you met? What is your love story?
Peter and I met via Tinder and had a whirlwind fairytale romance of sorts. Peter was living in Germany but back to NZ for a couple of months on holiday to see his family and in isolation for 14 days. We matched on Day 2 and talked every day, every possible minute for 12 days before we met in person the day he got out. I think I had an inkling before we met in person that he was special and we knew very quickly that this was it (he moved in with me on our 3rd date, we meet each other’s families in the first week). Peter was meant to go back to Germany but COVID meant that NZ was pretty locked down and we didn’t know how soon he would be able to get back - so he made the decision to stay and got friends to pack his life up in Germany and ship it over for him!
“I think I had an inkling before we met in person that he was special and we knew very quickly that this was it”
— ANNA
Would you share with us how the engagement proposal went? Did Peter get down on bended knee?
We knew we wanted to get married so had discussed buying a ring. We spent a really fun afternoon at Partridge Jewelers trying on rings and that was when Peter cut me out of the process. The jeweler had said the ring would take 6 weeks but 8-10 weeks later I still hadn’t heard anything so I started wondering if maybe he had changed his mind. Then one day Peter came home and I KNEW he had gotten the ring - he asked me if I wanted to try it on and once it was on my finger I wasn’t taking it off! He knew I wanted my parents to be in town when we got engaged and they were leaving the day off so we decided we were engaged and drove around to their house where we celebrated with French champagne! Not romantic in the slightest but perfect nonetheless!
Larnach Castle is such a timeless venue -what made you choose the castle for your wedding and what is it you love about this place?
I am a Dunedin girl and was a flower girl at Larnach Castle when I was 7 where I told my parents -I’m going to get married here one day (I think they were like - “Yes dear” with an accompanying eye roll). I think Larnach Castle always represented the epitome of that fairy tale - girl meets a handsome prince and gets married at a castle. It’s such a beautiful, timeless and elegant location and the grounds are just stunning. It was never about where I was going to get married - I just had to find the man! I was just lucky that Peter knew it was my dream venue and was happy to get married there.
Vendors:
Wedding Venue: Larnach Castle
Florals: Estelle Flowers
Photographer: Acorn Studio
Videographer: AV Videography
Celebrant: Tania Bishop
Brides Dress: Chosen by Kyha from Paperswan Bride
Brides Accessories: Gucci Earrings, Pearl necklaces from Brent Weatherall Jeweller. 3 sets of sleeves - custom, Chosen by Khya and Hera Couture, Pearl cape + Faux fur Coat -Jessica Couture Bridal, Shoes - Kathryn Wilson
Hair: Bride - Morgan Manson, Bridesmaids - Zaibatsu Hair Art
Makeup: Bride - Morgan Manson (friend of the bride); Bridesmaids - Jade Brett
Grooms attire: Hugo Boss
Graphics & styling: Bride, We Do Hire and Nicholls & Co
Cake: Gabrielle Lowe (friend of the Bride)
Band: Charma
16 October 2023