The Kiwi Wedding Podcast

In this episode, I'm joined by the incredible Natalie Rose from Natalie Rose Bridal. You might know her iconic “Pink Palace” boutique on Parnell Road, Auckland, or have seen some of her gorgeous brides featured in past episodes. Natalie is known for her beautifully structured gowns, honest advice, and the unforgettable experience she creates for every bride who walks through her door.This was a special one- my first-ever in-person podcast recording, right in Natalie's boutique. We dive into her journey from a childhood filled with pride in her mum's dressmaking skills, to a career in finance, and then making the bold (and chaotic) leap to open her own bridal shop during the middle of a pandemic.We chat about:

This week on the podcast, I'm joined by the radiant Anika-Skye, a makeup artist, owner of Skye Beauty and newlywed who planned a beautiful wedding at Black Walnut in Tauranga. From meeting her now-husband as teenagers to creating Pinterest boards and Canva slideshows to bring her vision to life, Anika shares practical tips and thoughtful insights from her wedding planning journey.We chat about:

In this episode, I'm joined by the incredibly warm and talented makeup artist Kate Solley. With 18 years in the industry, including 10 years at MAC Cosmetics, Kate brings so much experience, wisdom, and calm to every wedding morning.Whether you're a makeup lover or someone who barely wears mascara, this episode is packed with practical, stress-free advice you'll actually want to follow.We chat about:

In this episode, I chat with the lovely Abby, a recent bride and wedding vendor who shares an honest, funny and super relatable look at planning her wedding while juggling two kids, and working in the industry herself.We chat about: 

In this episode, I chat with the lovely Liv Clarke about her sweet supermarket romance with Leighton, their surprise Fiji proposal, and how they pulled off a fun, relaxed Tree Church wedding that truly felt like them. 

In this episode, I'm chatting with the lovely Johanna about how she planned her warm and rustic wedding at Church Road Winery, stayed organised, and made the most of every moment with her friends and family.

In this episode, I sat down with the creative soulmates behind one of the coolest bridal boutiques in Aotearoa, Lauren and Jacque from LVR. These two are fashion lovers, besties, and the brains behind a bridal space that's anything but traditional. We chatted all about how their love for design (and each other!) turned into a one-of-a-kind wedding dress destination for modern, stylish brides.We chat about:

In this special bonus episode, it's just me - no guest, just your host, Lydia answering all your questions! I'm chatting about the podcast, my photography business, and all things weddings. From how it all began, to episode recommendations and some surprises coming up.

We've hit a big milestone - episode 100 of The Kiwi Wedding Podcast. Whether you've been here since the early days or recently discovered the show, thank you for listening. It's been such a privilege to share real wedding stories, advice, and inspiration with you… Cheers to the next 100!To celebrate this episode, I'm joined by someone extra special, my lovely friend Kristie. I had the honour of photographing her Nelson wedding, and in this conversation, she shares how she and her husband planned their gorgeous day on a realistic budget, while still making space for creativity, personality, and connection.We chat about: 

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by wedding planning, today's episode is exactly what you need. I chat with the lovely and incredibly down-to-earth Julz from Dream Events - a wedding planner, on-the-day coordinator, and all-round calming presence in the chaos that can be planning a wedding.Julz brings a wealth of practical experience and heartfelt advice to the table, whether you're just getting started or need support pulling everything together on the day. Her range of services is designed to support couples at any stage of the planning journey - from timeline creation and vendor sourcing to set-up, pack-down, and full planning.In this episode, we cover:

In this episode, I'm joined by Johnelle, recently married and also a celebrant, MC, and on-the-day coordinator at I Do Ceremonies. She shares her honest and thoughtful perspective on both planning her own wedding and working behind the scenes at dozens of others.A few things we cover:

In today's episode, I'm sharing my chat with beautiful Clara, recent bride and wedding dress designer, we love to hear both perspectives!A few things we cover:

In today's episode, I'm sharing my lovely chat with Chloe, a recent bride, married at Stoneridge Estate in Queenstown.A few things we cover:

In today's episode, I'm chatting with the lovely Steph. Recent bride and the founder of Bridal Fusion, where she offers a beautiful collection of bridal dresses, veils, accessories, and traditional Asian wedding attire. Follow Steph: ⁠@bridalfusionbysteph⁠⁠Steph's Wedding Budget & Forecast TemplateIn this episode, she shares her own love story, how she and her husband Nick blended their Kiwi, Chinese, Vietnamese, and British cultures on their big day, and how wedding planning inspired her to start her own bridal business!Steph takes us behind the scenes of her rustic, nature-inspired wedding at Flaxmere House and shares some super practical advice, from managing cultural expectations to tracking your wedding budget like an absolute boss (hello, Excel spreadsheets!). She also spills her best wedding planning tips, the trends she's loving right now, and what it's really like starting a small business alongside a full-time job.In this episode, we chat about:

In today's episode, I'm chatting with Lana about her gorgeous Southland wedding!A few things we cover:

In today's episode, I'm chatting with the lovely Greta about her gorgeous Hawke's Bay wedding, and it's such a good story!Greta shares how she and her husband Sam met at ballroom dancing when they were teenagers, their surprise proposal after twelve years together, and the journey of planning a beautiful alfresco-style wedding, with a few wild weather curveballs thrown in!A few things we cover:

On today's episode I'm chatting with the lovely Kirsten. All about her wedding(s) in 2019 and her business Amplified Cosmetica.A few things we cover:

On today's episode I share my chat with the gorgeous Rebecca, all about her love story and destination wedding in Bali.A few things we cover:

The beautiful Kaitlyn joins us on the podcast today! Recent bride, married at Te Miro Woolshed.A few things we cover:

Lovely Georgia joins us on the podcast today! Recent bride, owner of Something Special Events, and Co-host of Your Wedding Besties Podcast.A few things we cover:

Recent bride Tyler, founder of New & Nui joins us on the podcast today!A few things we cover:

Recent bride Cat joins us on the podcast today! Married at the beautiful Black Walnut Venue, she shares her wisdom.A few things we cover:

The lovely Maia joins us on the podcast today. Married at Woodlands Estate in the Waikato, she shares her experience.A few things we cover:

The lovely Hilary joins us on the podcast today to chat about having two weddings and planning from across the world in London.A few things we cover:

Recent bride and gorgeous human, Laura joins us on the podcast today! This is one of those big, juicy ones you will get a lot out of! A few things we cover:

Lovely Melinda joins us on the podcast today to chat about her love story and wedding celebration at Ātaahua.A few things we cover:

The beautiful, talented Jade joins us on the podcast today. Recent bride, and wedding vendor herself being a makeup artist and hairdresser. An absolutely stunning Rippon wedding in Wanaka.A few things we cover:

The beautiful Grace joins us on the podcast today. Recently married at Papamoa's newest wedding venue: Te Tumu Estate. A few things we cover:

I had a beautiful chat with Jessica-Belle on the podcast today. Recent bride, married at Craggy Range in Hawkes Bay. Editor and writer of For All Seasons. A few things we cover:

A lovely chat with Emma on the podcast today. Recent bride, married at Mantells Mt Eden. We hear all about her experience and advice.  A few things we cover:

The lovely Renee joins us on the podcast today. Recent bride, and beauty therapist. We hear all about her experience and some amazing pre-wedding skin tips too! A few things we cover:

The lovely Taryn joins us on the podcast today. Recent bride, and wedding vendor herself being a hairdresser and bridal stylist. A few things we cover:

Surprise! Popping in to your feeds today with a bonus episode, a recording from our live in-person event back in November. This includes my conversations with wedding planner and celebrant Lisa Langsford from With Love Weddings and Events, makeup artist Gabrielle Houghton, and Bridal Designers Fritz and Sarah. Also, some of the Q&A we had with all of them. I hope this gives you a taste of what TKWP live event is like, and I look forward to planning a few more in 2025. Come and tell me your thoughts, I would love to hear! Listen to Gabby's full episode here, episode 39. Listen to Sarah's full episode here, episode 13. Huge thank you to all our event sponsors and supporting vendors, I could not have pulled off this event without you! @tble__linen__hire @the.flowereditnz @thebakerbee.co.nz @bondisandsskincare @sobercurious_af @drinkarepa @carolinaherrera @virtual.tash @inkberry_calligraphy @togetherjournal @thebrowstatus_ @_skinbychelsea @skintopianz @thesandcandlesnz @wearetheuncommon_nz @drinkdaeli @goodbettyco @therevelry_ @sarah.airey.co @brijanacatoweddings

Follow @the.flowereditnz and contact Anna here to get 15% off your flowers when you book before the end of Jan 2025. The lovely Kate joins us on the podcast today. Christchurch wedding and event planner, she shares her experience and wisdom with us. A few things we cover:

The lovely, talented Keren joins us on the podcast today. Recent bride, and brand designer. Loved this chat! A few things we cover:

The lovely Annie joins us on the podcast today. Recent bride, and founder of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff, the ultimate digital planning package for your day. Listen to hear all about her wedding story and how DSTSS came to be. Sign up to be the first to hear about Don't Sweat the Small Stuff. A few things we cover:

Greta Kenyon, the talented woman who founded Together Journal, joins us on the podcast today. She is on the pulse of fashion-forward, modern, authentic weddings. Listen to hear wisdom from her own experience and years in the industry. Use code: WEDDING20 at checkout to get 20% off The Uncommon Wines for a limited time. A few things we cover:

The lovely Briar joins us on the podcast today. We chat about her recent wedding at her family bach in Huia as well as Pah Homestead. A few things we cover:

The lovely Kim joins us on the podcast today. Recent bride, and wedding planner herself at One Fine Day Weddings. This is a goodie! A few things we cover:

The lovely, talented Stacey Banfield joins us on the podcast today. Recent-ish bride, and wedding vendor herself being a makeup artist. This is one of those juicy ones full of great advice, you will get a lot out of! A few things we cover: 

Get $5 off your ticket to The Kiwi Wedding Podcast LIVE ⁠⁠here⁠⁠, or use code: KIWIWED5 Sunday 3rd September 2024 at 10 AM, Mackenzie Studio, Auckland. See you there! The lovely Petra joins us on the podcast today. Recent bride, married at Red Barn in the Waikato, we hear all about her story. A few things we cover:

Get $5 off your ticket to The Kiwi Wedding Podcast LIVE ⁠here⁠, or use code: KIWIWED5 Sunday 3rd September 2024 at 10 AM, Mackenzie Studio, Auckland. See you there! A lovely couple, good friends of mine (and clients) on the podcast today. Couple Trudi and James join me to share all about their love story and wedding planning experience. A few things we cover:  

The lovely, talented Rose Kennedy joins us on the podcast today. Recent bride, and colourful, creative supperclub host. Her wedding and her business are full of joy and all about being bold!  A few things we cover:  

Get tickets to The Kiwi Wedding Podcast LIVE in Auckland, Sunday 3rd November 2024 NOW. The lovely Ruby joins us on the podcast today. Recent bride, married in Nelson. We hear all about her journey. A few things we cover:  

The lovely Amy joins us on the podcast today. Recent bride, who opted for a destination wedding in Bali, we hear all the details!  A few things we cover:

The lovely Claudia Ryan joins us on the podcast today. She and Quinn recently married in Hawkes Bay and she shares all her experience and wisdom. A few things we cover: How they met through social media and both having relatable experiences on reality TV. A bit of their story, having their beautiful daughter, and getting engaged. Feeling a bit disconnected with finding “the one” while dress shopping, and how it is worth persisting until you feel your absolute best in the right dress. Prioritising fun on their day and how this helped them choose their vendors, decide on a big bridal party, good music, alcohol and an afterparty. How the whole day went down and some of the highlights. The process of navigating the budget, how it kept increasing and how they managed it by spreading payments out during the lead-up. Some great advice on prioritising a wedding planner/coordinator and not rushing into making decisions. Losing sleep with so much on her mind while wedding planning. A honeymoon in the USA. Married life and how nothing much has changed but adjusting to her new last name. ...and so much more! Below you can find the handles for all C & Q's vendors. Be sure to check out some of their photos on IG at @thekiwiweddingpodcast + give us a follow. Vendors: @theriverhouse_hb @jacksonbrightweddings @flatrocfilms @botanical.lane @shonajoy @rubytakessnaps @micki_makeupetc @hoskins6452 @debbiepearcehair @felicitysbridalnz @madewithlovebridal @saint_valentine_jewellery @flockevents @harloau @goldmansax_ @lucyseventhire @socialhirenz @blackbarnnz @justmytype_nz @pjyama_co @ortonshawkesbay @milkbooks

The lovely Shania joins us on the podcast today. We chat through her love story and Darjon Vineyard Christchurch wedding. A few things we cover: How volunteering might just be the new way to date. Finding the perfect winery wedding venue. The journey to finding her dream dress, from trying on over 30 dresses to hunting down the dream dress from her original moodboard. Navigating the guest list and why they chose to split it evenly inviting the same amount of people each. All the DIY elements of their day and what they chose to do themselves. Some savvy budgeting advice and things you may not have thought of. How to delegate to ensure you are present and enjoying your day. Being really intentional with making your wedding YOU and not seeking validation from trying to impress others. ...and so much more! Below you can find the handles for all S & C's vendors. Be sure to check out some of their photos on IG at ⁠@thekiwiweddingpodcast⁠ + give us a follow. Vendors: Photographer: ⁠@zayd_images⁠ Dress: ⁠@kaiaellebridal⁠ Venue: ⁠@darjonvineyard⁠ Arch Florals: ⁠@lorelle.botanicals⁠ Food: ⁠@countryfeasts⁠ Hair: ⁠@caitlin_does_hair⁠

The lovely Gemma joins us on the podcast today. She was recently married at the stunning Waiheke winery Man O' War. We hear all about her experience.  A few things we cover: One night out and crossing paths before an overseas trip. Planning a Waiheke Island wedding from Melbourne. A beautiful mountaintop proposal. Choosing a dress by a New Zealand designer and the importance of traceability and sustainability when it comes to weddings. Being upfront and honest with her bridal party and understanding if they did not have the capacity for that role in their lives at that time. Navigating the guest list and some guiding principles they used. Special moments and surprises throughout their day. A few things she would change and one vendor she wishes she'd hired. How easy it is to get caught up in the details and worry too much about if everyone else is having a good time. A bit of a stressful pivot for their day-after celebrations. A blissful honeymoon. Setting boundaries throughout the wedding planning process. Where to find some amazing inspiration. Intentionally building in moments to be present into your timeline. ...and so much more! Below you can find the handles for all G & A's vendors. Be sure to check out some of their photos on IG at ⁠@thekiwiweddingpodcast⁠ + give us a follow. Vendors: Photographer: ⁠@beksmithimages⁠ Venue: ⁠@manowarwine⁠ Dress: ⁠@karenwalkeratelier⁠ Flowers: ⁠@wildly.madly.deeply⁠ Hair & Makeup: ⁠@thepeach_club⁠ Stationery/Signage/Tambourines: ⁠@heyloladesign⁠ Celebrant: ⁠@sayyeswithness⁠ Music: ⁠@twomanychiefsband⁠ Rings: ⁠@culetjewellery⁠ Suit: ⁠@hugo_official⁠ Shoes, Bag & Bow: ⁠@prada⁠ Bridesmaids: ⁠@_aje_⁠ Candles: ⁠@flortdesigns⁠ Earrings: ⁠@meadowlarkjewellery⁠ Hire: ⁠@mywaiheke⁠ Also recently ⁠featured⁠ on The Future Wife blog.

The beautiful, talented Tasha Meys joins us on the podcast today. Recent bride, and wedding vendor herself being a photographer. This is one is full of incredible advice and perspective, it is one you will get a lot out of!  A few things we cover: Her background in photography, resisting doing weddings for a while and eventually falling in love with them as soon as she photographed one. How she met her husband, crossing paths in their careers and then eventually socially. Their off-the-grid proposal and how they soaked up their just-engaged bubble. Finding the perfect venue that reflects them as a couple. Being intentional with planning to enjoy every part and make tasks an experience and memory with others. Choosing her bridal party and considering how much involvement they had in the leadup, not putting expectations or pressure on people. Their pre-wedding events and how that gave them so much more quality time with their guests. How the energy of everyone around you really sets your day and how to intentionally set the tone. Having a moment alone on her wedding day and how grounding that was. The importance of an on-the-day coordinator. Choosing quality over excess. Post-wedding blues and the actual chemicals in your brain that have a part to play in it. How communication is so important for vendors and how you can tell someone's vibe even through their emails. ...and so much more! Below you can find the handles for all T & R's vendors. Be sure to check out some of their photos on IG at ⁠@thekiwiweddingpodcast⁠ + give us a follow. Follow Tash: @tashameys @tastefullytash @tastefully_studios Vendors: ⁠@coromandelweddings⁠ ⁠@orua_beachhouse⁠ ⁠@cassandraladru⁠ ⁠@leroexmedia⁠ ⁠@asterandbloom⁠ ⁠@_sugarfish_⁠ ⁠@paperdarlingnz⁠ ⁠@trishpeng⁠ ⁠@samhartsam⁠ ⁠@boutiquebride⁠ ⁠@sayi_do⁠

The lovely, talented Ciara Verhees joins us on the podcast today. Married a few years ago, and a wedding vendor herself as owner of The White Wedding Club. This is one of those big, juicy ones you will get a lot out of!  A few things we cover:

The lovely Catherine joins us on the podcast today. Recently married at Red Barn in the Waikato, she shares her story.  A few things we cover: