A Memorable Wedding at Ohariu Farm

Kawai and Daniel celebrated their love surrounded by friends and family at the beautiful Ohariu Farm. Their day was filled with joy, laughter, and heartfelt moments, perfectly captured in photos showing the couple savouring every second together.

Kawai looked stunning in Coventry by Forget Me Knot, a Mikado A-line gown featuring a sweetheart ruched bodice and a split in the full skirt. She added a lace up back to the gown for flexibility during her pregnancy, combining elegance with comfort.

We hope you enjoy reliving these beautiful moments from their special day as much as we did. Congratulations, Kawai and Daniel!

What was it that made this particular wedding dress catch your eye and fall in love?

I really loved how it reflected in the sun, how slimming it looked on me, and how easily the shape could be adjusted to suit my pregnancy (I was 30 weeks pregnant at my wedding).

Tell us about your search for the dress and the experience at Astra Bridal.

I had a lovely experience with Astra Bridal. Initially, I was planning on renting a dress and just wanted to know what would be the best look for me. Once I tried on “the” dress, I never looked back. Emma was looking after us, and she was fantastic.

Tell us your story, how you both met, and the proposal.

My cousin introduced us in 2020. However, prior to this meet cute, I had seen him before and was smitten with him. Moving forward to 2024, we sadly lost our first baby as a stillborn at 33 weeks. The night before her burial, Daniel’s father initiated a betrothal for the two of us to be married. In our Māori culture, it is called a Taumau. Both fathers, our families, and our tribes agreed, and therefore we were married that night. We still wanted a party, so we planned a wedding to celebrate.

What was your favourite part of the day?

My favourite part of my day was our own little time together while taking photos, away from the party and away from everyone.

Tell us about your wedding day as a whole.

We were blessed with a perfect day. The sun was out, the skies were clear and blue, and there was hardly any wind (very rare in Wellington).

My bridesmaids and I all got ready at my auntie’s house, while the men were helping my cousins set up the venue and add the final touches.

We arrived at the perfect time (15 minutes fashionably late), and everybody was there. My dad walked me down the aisle, and I had a photo of my baby, who passed away under a year ago, and my mum clipped onto my bouquet. I had my cousin and uncle sing me down the aisle to the song “When I First Saw You” by Jamie Foxx, which set everyone off.

We knew everyone was enjoying the day because our $6,000 bar tab had run out from post ceremony to just before the reception, so in happy fashion we added another $2000, something for tomorrow to worry about.

The rest of the night was history <3

Finally, what is your biggest piece of advice for brides to be?

The smallest things really don’t matter. What is most important is your smile and your presence. Secondly, make sure to be present and take in each and every moment of your wedding. It goes so fast. Look around, listen, and people watch throughout the day.