Mia and Max’s wedding at Longfords was a heartfelt garden-party celebration that moved effortlessly from emotional vows to a high-energy dance floor. Married on the lawn overlooking Lake Okareka, their ceremony was intimate and deeply personal, anchored by vows that felt natural and true to their long history together.
Thoughtful details were woven throughout the day, from handwritten letters for every guest and a family-made meringue in place of a traditional cake, to florals sourced from both a local florist and the groom’s mum’s garden. Even their cat Percy made an appearance at the bar.
The result was a day that felt relaxed, meaningful, and entirely reflective of who they are, capped off by a DJ and sax combination that ensured the celebration ended exactly as they’d imagined, on a very full dance floor.
Venue: Longfords Estate
Celebrant: Married By Jaimee
Photographer: Swift & Click & Dot.Wed
Videographer: In The Frame
Florist: Kanuka Boutique Florist
Hair & Makeup: Desiree Osterman & Tamara Mac Artistry
Catering: Leopard Boy Pizza
Music: New Zealand DJ Collective
Bar: Blume & Darling
How would you describe the overall vibe or feeling of your wedding day?
The day began with an intimate, emotional ceremony centred around our personalised vows. There were moments of laughter and plenty of tears, and it felt like everyone was truly present with us. We were married on the lawn at Longfords, Lake Okareka, in front of the brick house overlooking the lake, a setting that established the tone for the day ahead.
We always imagined the wedding as a garden party, with a real emphasis on the party. While it was about us and our love, it mattered just as much that everyone genuinely enjoyed being part of it. The day naturally moved from emotional and tender into a fun, high‑energy celebration.
Where did you get married, and what made you choose this venue?
We were married at Longfords, Lake Okareka. Although we now live in Melbourne, it was really important to us to get married in the Bay of Plenty. It’s where we both grew up, where we met, and where so many of our friends and family are based. As we weren’t able to visit venues ourselves, both of our mums kindly viewed a number of locations on our behalf. They were instantly drawn to Longfords, they loved the view, the feeling of the place, and the warmth and friendliness of Steph (Venue Manager) and Fenella, who owns the venue and lives in the brick house. Fenella even handpicked all of the petals that were thrown down the aisle. Once our mums returned from the viewings with very high praises, we locked in Longfords that very week.
How did you meet, and when did you know this was your person?
We met in high school. For both of us, there was never a single defining moment where we knew, everything has always felt easy and effortless, and being happy together has come very naturally. Instead of one big realisation, it was the quiet consistency of choosing each other every day that made it clear this was our person. (reframed from vows)
What did you enjoy most about planning your wedding?
One of the things we enjoyed most was the relationships we built along the way. Finding really great vendors and getting to know the people behind them made the process feel personal and genuinely enjoyable. We also loved the creative side of planning, designing our own invitations, signage, and website, scouring op shops for silver decorations and watching our ideas come to life. As everything started to come together towards the end, the stress slowly turned into a real feeling of accomplishment and excitement. Seeing all individual pieces come together on the day was incredibly satisfying, and writing our vows was a particularly special moment in the process. Getting to think and understand why you love this person so much.
Was there anything that surprised you along the way?
We were surprised by how calm the day felt. Even with all the moving parts, once everything was underway it felt effortless, and we were able to be completely present and really enjoy it. We didn’t feel stressed at all, the speeches felt relaxed and easy, and it was so natural just being there and part of it all. We were also very surprised by how late Max left getting his suit, but somehow it all worked out perfectly. Of course, he found one that practically fit him perfectly at the second shop he went to, which felt Max.
What elements of your wedding mattered most to you both?
Laughter mattered most to us. We wanted the day to feel like a true reflection of who we are, full of moments people will remember. More than anything, we wanted everyone to feel comfortable, present, and to just really enjoy celebrating with us.
Were there any standout vendors you’d recommend in a heartbeat? Why?
We truly felt like we had the absolute dream team of vendors. Every one of them was phenomenal and exceeded our expectations in ways we never anticipated. A special shout‑out has to go to Married By Jaimee, who was our celebrant and MC. She went above and beyond from start to finish, from the meetings in the lead‑up, to helping coordinate the day itself and making sure we were relaxed and having the best time possible. By the end of it all, she genuinely felt more like a friend than a vendor, and she played such a huge role in making the day feel seamless. Also Leopard Boy Pizzas sling some crazzzzzzy pizzas.
What were the one or two things you were happiest to invest in?
One of the things we were happiest to invest in was the music. Having a DJ and sax felt like a no‑brainer for us, we knew it would lift the atmosphere and really set the tone for the celebration. NZ DJ Collective absolutely smashed it and created the kind of energy we were hoping for all night. We were also more than happy to invest in capturing the day. It was important to us to be able to look back on both photos and video, especially because the day went by so quickly. Rach from Swift & Click and Thomas from In the Frame have such incredible portfolios, and we knew from the beginning that we were in more than capable hands with them.
What were the biggest highlights of your wedding day?
There were so many highlights, honestly, everything. Entering the reception stands out as a really memorable moment. The energy in the room was incredible, everyone was excited, and the music was pumping. It felt like the perfect way to kick off the celebration. Writing a letter to each guest as part of the seating plan was also incredibly special. We received such lovely comments about them, and it meant so much seeing how genuinely appreciated they were. It was really cool knowing that something so personal resonated with our people.
Was there a favourite moment you’ll always remember?
For Max, it was seeing Mia for the first time walking through the gardens, and then walking back down the aisle together with flowers being thrown in the air. For Mia, it was walking into the ceremony surrounded by so many of our friends and family and seeing Max waiting at the end of the aisle. Walking into the reception was also a favourite, the atmosphere was so good, it just felt super exciting and we had all of our people with us!
What advice would you give couples currently planning their wedding?
Start a mood board early and give yourselves time to sit with it. Your ideas will evolve, and that’s a good thing. Set up a shared wedding email address if you can. We wish we had done this, as it would have made keeping track of everything so much easier. And don’t feel tied to tradition. Focus on creating a day that feels like you, something memorable, meaningful, and a real reflection of who you are as a couple.
