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  • Writer's pictureHannah Lind

Real Weddings: Kyle and Melissa's lakeside Wanaka Wedding


bride and groom silhouette outdoors Wanaka

What has meaning and relevance is different in every relationship. It meant a lot to Kyle and Melissa that they share their wedding day with their immediate families, but that it also be an adventure.

bride and groom in vintage car Wanaka
This car was the cutest!! Thanks to https://funnyfrenchcars.co.nz/ Photo courtesy of: https://alpineimages.co.nz/
bride and groom arrive at their Lake Wanaka ceremony together
Kyle and Melissa arriving together. Yes, you can do that, and I think it’s lovely!

And so Kyle and Melissa brought their families with them to Wanaka, where they tied the knot on the lake shore at Waterfall Creek just out of Wanaka.

witnesses signing the marriage licence
Their Mums (or Moms) were their witnesses.

Their first date (which wasn’t intended to be a date at all, just two friends doing a thing) was a road trip to a Lucero concert (they’re a pretty cool US band, check them out here https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChru-wiHb36_lNzGuPmddew).

bride groom and guests during lakeside ceremony Wanaka
Usually I’m a fan of no phones please… But when not everyone can travel all the way across the world with you, getting someone to Facetime someone special while you tie the knot is pretty amazing!

The day Kyle proposed was at another Lucero concert. I couldn’t convince Lucero to come to Wanaka to give a very small unpaid concert…. But I could bring along my speaker with a beautiful Lucero song cued up ready to play as they walked into their ceremony together (link to song), so what had been a big part of their relationship, could continue. They didn’t know it was coming, as playing secret squirrel is one of my favourite things to do.

groom putting bride's ring on during ceremony

Kyle and Melissa also wanted to build a future celebration into their ceremony. So they incorporated a wine box ceremony. As part of their ceremony they locked a bottle of delicious Central Otago wine (one that ages well) into a box with their wedding vows with the intention that they open the box, share the wine and relive how they felt on their wedding day on their tenth wedding anniversary. I know making a decision about which wine to choose, even picking up the wine is difficult when you don’t live in the area, when you don’t even live in the country! So I went and had a chat to the very knowledgeable wine guys at Henry’s in Cromwell, got a few recommendations, let Kyle and Melissa make the final call and then picked up for them and took with me to their wedding day.


winebox being sealed during lakeside ceremony
Store your wine well and in 1 or 5 or 10 years you’ll have a delicious bottle of wine to share and reminisce.
wedding rings and winebox in front of Lake Wanaka
I just love this photo. It’s everything! The location, the commitment, the wine!

Kyle and Melissa looked gorgeous, but more importantly looked so happy, because they had done their wedding their way, including a gorgeous wedding car, a helicopter flight after the ceremony for some amazing photos and shared it all with their families who mean so much to them.

couple and guests getting on helicopter
Everybody going for a flight!
excited bride and groom in helicopter Wanaka
You know how much excitement is contained in this shot! They’re in a helicopter! They’re newly married! They’re sharing it all with their families! They’re in NZ! This is what love looks like!

Want to know who made Kyle and Melissa’s day everything they wanted it to be? Here’s the full list

Celebrant: Me!

Hair: Absolutely Fabulous Hair https://www.mobileweddinghairstylist.com/ (guests’ hair was done by Sharp Hair https://www.facebook.com/Sharp-Hair-539353702862306/)

Dress: https://www.jlynnbridal.com/(Lawrence, Kansas, US)

Suit: https://www.josbank.com/(Lawrence, Kansas, US)

Wine Box: Made by my delightful husband https://www.instagram.com/cardockdesign/

If you’re after a fun young celebrant anywhere in Central Otago or beyond and you want to have a chat (over coffee, in person or via Zoom) get in touch, you'll find all of my contact details below and we'll make a date. I’m always up for a challenge, so hit me with your ideas and we’ll go from there.

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