Hi, this Blog was written by my wife Sarah,
Christchurch professional award winning photographer Dean Norrie {NZIPP} at Star Photographers has photographed hundreds of weddings and the million dollar question asked by many who is going to photograph your wedding? Lucky we have on staff two excellent photographers that captured all our special day to a very high standard that would satisfy any perfectionist photographer ( especially the most important day of his life his own wedding ).
Sarah Johnson and Dean Norrie’s Wedding September 25th 2010
Married at St Barnabas Church Christchurch followed by a Reception at Ilam Homestead where Heavenly Creatures was filmed directed by Peter Jackson with Kate Winslet. A Beautiful spring wedding with gardens of rhododendrons and azaleas.
The Proposal:
Our first holiday together was Hanmer Springs thermal pools & spa. We continued to go there for holidays as really loved to soak in the hot thermal pools. To my huge surprise while in the pool Dean produced a very large blue sapphire diamond cluster ring and asked me to marry him reminding us of our first holiday together, close by there was a photographer who captured this moment and the photos were for sale as post cards which were sent to both parents with our great news.
The location:
It was the beautiful St Barnabas Church in Fendalton was were both our parents got married and we both got christened at; therefore really significant to us both. The bride and bridesmaids (Neighbours} all lived around the corner from the Ilam homestead, we use to play there and fish for eels in the avon river there. Both Dean and Sarah spent many years working around the world but were often homesick for their garden city Christchuch. Our photo tour was at our favourite locations, The Christchurch Gothic arts centre, tram ride around the city loop, and punting on the avon river.
The Wedding Style:
We both share a love for birds and especially white doves which symbolize love, peace, they pair up for life and are totally committed to each other. Our theme for our wedding was 2 Doves, feathers, bird cages and the colour duck egg blue. The bridemaids dresses, grooms mens ties, flower girl, our Miniature schnauzers tie,
the cake, chocolate place names, menus and invites, church order of service was this beautiful soft colour. We had white dove biscuits and Cadbury mini eggs at the tables along with bird cage candel holders, and one big bird cage that lit up behind the bride and groom’s table. At the Church we had 2 bird cages on roman pillers with a white dove in each cage at the church entrance, after the service we set them free.
Love of Music:
We both really love music which was the highlight to our wedding, Sarah just loves Opera and Dean is mad on Jazz Standards. We hired to amazing sopranos to sing us up the isle Dome epais le jasmine Lakmè (Flower Duet) we sang all things bright and beautiful as a Hymn because we love nature. The sopranos then sang Barcarolle Les Conte d’Hoffman while we lit a unit candle. We then walked out of the church to organ music Arrival of the queen of Sheba then set 2 Doves free to Amazing grace by a Bag Piper and to acknowledge our Scottish heritage and new journey together. At our reception we had a cocktail party down stairs to a 3 piece jazz band trumpet, double base, and piano, they also played up stairs over dinner, For our first dance Dean sang to me with the back up of the band It had to be you. This was so romantic and special to both of us.
Advice to other Brides:
Sarah Johnson's advice for brides to be I took on a mammoth task making my own 3 tied wedding cake made from fruit. The bottom tier was 14 inches followed by 10, and 6 inches for the top tier. My end goal was to achieve an English Wedgwood china look, with carrying the duck egg blue theme. Each cake was cooked, stored and iced to perfection, only to discover that most wedding cakes the bottom tier is the only edible cake and the other cakes can be polystyrene and then iced. With the anticipation of yet another aftershock as a result of our recent earth quake, assembling your top tier is recommended on the day, not the night before your wedding.
The Suppliers Details:
Bride’s gown Venus collection VII 5220 Crystal Taffeta/lace,
Davis Bridal, Bird cage veil Avon Bridal,
Shoes Benjamin Adams London
Girls hair Wairakei hair and beauty.
Make up artist Liza Austin- Clinique
Bridesmaid dresses Staxs.
Shoes moda bella
Mother of the bride outfit Smith and Boston Prebbleton,
accessories Ballantynes
Grooms’s & attire Deans suit hire
Flowers Riccarton Florist
Cake, Biscuits and Macaroons, Sarah Johnson (Bride)
Music Viva Live, Orange studios, Bag piper Stuart wood, Organist Denis Guyan.
Bridal party transport All black classic cars.
Dove release Neil Boswel.
Videographer Geoff Gilfedder,
Photographers Star Photographers.
Reverend Philip Robinson St Barnabas parish,
Reception Ilam Homestead.
Rings Mason & Carter Goldsmiths Ltd Merivale
Catering White tie.
To check out all the Wedding Photos online ........................PLEASE CLICK HERE
HOME
