Connor & Kevin
Photos by:
Tim and Nadine
R&S: Your engagement story
C&K: Connor popped the question to Kevin on Iceland’s black sand beach, known as Reynisfjara. He had bought a ring from Cartier months beforehand, and decided he would pop the question on that trip. Though the weather was less than ideal, he got down on one knee, and ended up crying so much he couldn’t get out the words! It was overwhelming, but magical, and Iceland will always have a special place in our hearts because of that moment.
R&S: When planning your wedding what was most important to you?
C&K: In all honesty – the food! Both of us love to eat, and when we think back to the weddings we have attended, what’s on the menu can often be the ‘make or break’ moment. Neither of us wanted to compromise on the food – it was actually one of the main reasons why we ended up selecting Rose & Smith as our venue. Dale is extremely talented, and runs a tight ship – when we attended the menu tasting, we knew we had made the right decision.
Paula timing in the bridesmaids
R&S: What have your guests commented on the most since your wedding?
C&K: For lack of a better word, we’re really pleased that our wedding had good “vibes”. Our guests reflected on how everything went so smoothly, that the surroundings and venue were so unique, and that they felt part of something intimate, genuine, and special. No matter how much you plan or spend, that “vibe” is either something that either happens or it doesn’t. We were fortunate that with Paula’s help, our wedding was truly one to remember.
R&S: Who was the vendor you are glad you invested in?
C&K: Our photographer, Tim of Tim and Nadine, was incredible. Neither of us are natural in front of the camera, but Tim was fantastic at making us feel at ease and capturing those organic moments. There are lots of amazing photo opportunities dotted around Rose & Smith, and he captured them perfectly. Tim even took some polaroid photos without us realising, which was a lovely surprise on the night. We look back at those photos often, and knew we made the right choice in having Tim capture our special day.
Pure joy!
R&S: What went into or what was important to you when choosing your menu?
C&K: We recruited our foodiest friends to help us pick our menu during Rose & Smith’s infamous menu tasting, all of whom were absolutely useless, as everything was delicious and they wanted us to have it all. In the end, as we had a number of guests visiting from overseas, we decided that showing them quality New Zealand food and wine, and local produce, was a priority. Dave came to the party and then some, even managing to source us some of the best whitebait fritters we’ve ever had.
R&S: Was there anything unique you incorporated into your day that made it extra special?
C&K: We DIY’ed some elements to give our wedding a personal touch, including hand making a dried floral archway for our ceremony and floral installation for the reception. We’re also proud that our wedding had a signature scent – we developed a fragrance together and made candles to fill the venue with that smell. It matched the atmosphere perfectly, and we even gave each guest a mini version of the candle to take home as a wedding favour. Little touches like that really made the difference on the day.
The boys opted for a more intimate round table dinner, linen tablecloths, and candelight.
R&S: What is the one piece of advice you would give to future R&S couples?
C&K: Your wedding will be the most important, happiest, and potentially, one of the most stressful days of your life. Looking back, we are so relieved we decided to go with a venue like Rose & Smith, where everything was already taken care of. From the enormous styling cupboard, to Paula’s expert coordination and guidance, friendly waitstaff, furniture variety, free BYO corkage, multiple ceremony and reception alternatives, and custom menu options – having all of this sorted meant we could relax on the day and focus on more important things. Also – pick the Cedar Plank Salmon. It’s life changing.
R&S: What initially drew you to Rose & Smith and what made you book?
C&K: Rumours of a venue that served late night smashburgers to their guests was enough motivation for us to check out Rose & Smith, but it was our meeting with Paula which led us to make a booking. There is something so reassuring knowing that there is someone so experienced, who has your best interests at heart, and has a “can do” attitude, that is looking after your wedding day. This translated right through the planning process and into the day itself – Paula truly was our ‘fairy godmother’ who turned our Pinterest dreams into a reality!
R&S: Anything else you would like to add about your Rose & Smith experience
C&K: Embarking on a wedding journey as a queer couple was a slightly daunting process, and not necessarily a straightforward one. Paula and the team made us feel welcome from day one, and we are so grateful for their love and support. We can’t thank them enough.
END NOTE
Connor and Kevin, it really was such an honour to work with you both on your wedding. I loved your vision, the attention to detail and your genuine care and love for each other.
Together we made the best team and I really loved getting to know you both throughout your planning journey. And what better way to end our season of 76 weddings with you two and your guests! It was such a special (slightly emotional!) day for me – and to top it off you made me a special scented candle that I absolutely adored.
Sending lots of love from your “wedding fairy godmother”,
Px