Wedding | Maxine & Michael

Tell us a little about yourselves!

We met in 2013 as neighbours during our second year of university, and eleven years later, we were married. 

We’re opposites in nearly every way: height, pace of life, and our natural wiring - he’s tall, calm and instinctively relaxed; I'm short, never sitting still, and like to have things in order. And yet, it somehow really works. 

We live in Wellington, New Zealand and have a pretty easy way of life. Michael is a professional cricketer, and I work in public relations. I also have co-founded ROTATE, a furniture and interiors marketplace launching later this year. 

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

It took us nearly two years to decide if and what a wedding would look like. We were never drawn to a traditional format and wanted something that felt more unconventional. This made the early planning stages a bit tricky.

Europe was on the table for a while, but ultimately it didn't feel like it made sense for us. One day we asked ourselves - why not look at what’s right around our home? And then - 500 metres down the road - we found The Public Trust Building.

My parents married in winter which we had always liked the idea of, and with the Southern Hemisphere’s wedding calendar filling fast, August made sense. Having the wedding close to home also made it easier for my 92-year-old grandma to attend - this was especially important as we're both very close to her, and she was speaking at the wedding. 

The building’s character and the winter season became the starting point for everything that followed.

How many guests did you have?

Just over 110. 

What was your budget? 

The budget will forever remain a mystery to Michael! What I will say is that it's important to have open conversations early to get on the same page. Weddings are expensive and can become overwhelming. Before planning began, we sat down with our families and talked through expectations. If everyone’s not aligned, on board, and enjoying the process, then what’s the point? 

Tell us about your outfits.

We wanted the day to feel elevated. A black-tie dress code set the tone and gave people a reason to get a bit glam during the New Zealand winter.

I bought my dress before we’d even locked in the venue - this meant we suddenly had decisions to make. The dress process started when a friend booked a wedding dress outing in London. I didn’t find the dress there, but it was such a fun experience to try on a wide range of styles - from classic corsetry to blush florals.

I chose a dress from Danielle Frankel, sourced through Bloom Australia. If you’d told me I’d wear a pleated lace dress, I would’ve laughed. But there was something in the fabric detail and style that felt very me. I was originally against having a second dress, but when Danielle Frankel released a short version of the dress I had been torn over, I quickly changed my mind.

Michael was pretty relaxed when it came to what he wore but he did want to feel more formal than usual. He ended up getting a custom double-breasted tux made from Working Style in New Zealand, with accessories from PJ Johnson.The cummerbund that accompanied the tux was his favourite part.

What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?

Enjoying the process was really important to us - we wanted it to feel exciting, not stressful. We both love throwing a party: I love the planning, Michael more from the party itself. Michael had a lot of fun winding me up through the process - undertaking a few pranks and keeping me on my toes. 

We were realistic that our own wedding might not feel as relaxed as being a guest, but we both took a lot of enjoyment from the anticipation, build-up, and creative process. Funnily enough, on the day, our personalities almost reversed - I was surprisingly calm, while Michael was the one with the big day jitters. 

Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?

Very early on, our planner asked, "How do you want the day to feel?" We came back to that question constantly. We wanted to feel part of it - not removed. High energy. Excitement. Some surprise. Michael was determined to make sure it was a good party. 

The architecture of the Public Trust Building did a lot of the heavy lifting. Its heritage feel, scale, and natural ambience helped us keep the styling refined.I had to remind myself not to get caught up with the detail - good food, drinks, and music will always carry the day.

Any tips for couples getting married?

Don’t lose sight of how meaningful this day is for your family and close friends. We underestimated just how special it would feel to look around and see our parents beaming - it’s just as much their day as it is yours.

Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?

Everything began with Laice and Doug from Place of LB. We had worked with Laice on our engagement party, and this was their first New Zealand wedding. There aren’t enough words to capture how thankful we were to have them as part of our day. Beyond their creativity and meticulous organisation, they created an environment where everyone could truly relax - allowing us to be fully present and enjoy every moment.

Steve and Shaun from Logan Brown, a Wellington institution, catered the day. During canapé hour, we had a raw bar, followed by a dinner menu designed around all our favourites, and finished with roaming desserts. Guests are still talking about it! It was also special to have a personal connection - Steve is the uncle of one of my best friends - and funnily enough, when I was about 16, I actually catered at his wedding. So it felt like the tables had well and truly turned.

Our creative team really understood us and we trusted them completely to take the lead creatively. Vanessa from By V is brilliant - always thinking outside the box and indulging my love of a good event touchpoint. Mel from Cecilia Fox drove eight hours with a van full of flowers to build arrangements that completely brought the space to life. She is incredibly talented and we still can’t believe she managed to source so many beautiful orchids. 

We also had wonderful support from Royal Laboratorie, Lucy’s Events, and Tble Linen. Place of LB even flew in their trusted drapery specialist from Sydney.

I got ready with my mum and mother-in-law, along with Daniel Cooke (hair) and Kate Keogh (makeup) - two people I’ve known and trusted for over a decade. 

We had two contrasting styles of entertainment, which gave the day a clear shift in mood and energy. For music, we had a string quartet and a pianist from Vivid Strings play through the ceremony and early evening, and Sweet Mix Kids to take us into the night - they always know how to read the room.  

And finally, the exceptionally talented Keryn Sweeney and Grey Area Production captured the whole day. Now that it's over, all we're left with are the memories - and they documented not just the moments, but the atmosphere too. This is a true skill. We feel incredibly lucky to have the day shot so beautifully.

Photographer: Keryn Sweeney @kerynsweeneyphotographer | Planning & Styling: Place of LB @placeoflb | Flora: Cecilia Fox @ceciliafox | Videographer: Grey Area Productions

@greyareaproduction |  | Reception Location: The Public Trust Building @publictrusthall | Celebrant: Fi Becker @fibeckercelebrant | Hire: Royal Laboratorie @royallaboratorie, Lucy’s Events @lucyseventhire & Tble Linen @tble__linen__hire | Makeup: Kate Keogh @katekeogh_mua | Hair: Daniel Cooke @danieljcooke | Catering, Cake & Beverages: Logan Brown @loganbrownrestaurant | Stationery: By V @byv____ | Entertainment: Vivid Strings & Sweet Mix Kids | Dress: Danielle Frankel @daniellefrankelbride

 from Bloom Australia @bloom_australia_ | Suit: Working Style @workingstylenz | Wedding Rings: Jessica McCormack @jessica_mccormack | Shoes: (Maxine) Manolo Blahnik  @manoloblahnik &

Amina Muaddi @aminamuaddiofficial, (Michael) Gucci @gucci