Weddings

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Your wedding day can be the stuff of dreams, a fantastic day which expresses the love you share with your partner and reflects your own personal taste and style. Planning a New Zealand wedding ranks as a stressful task, but it needn't be. Find out how to plan a wedding in New Zealand, either going it alone or enlisting the services of a New Zealand wedding planner.

Your engagement
Under New Zealand law, a person can get engaged at any age. Engagement is a social custom rather than a binding agreement, however a de facto couple who have been together for at least three years are subject to the same equal-share laws as married couples.

Romantically, your engagement is a special time in your relationship, when you prepare for life as a fully committed married couple and take time to plan a wonderful wedding in New Zealand. Whether the question is popped in the loved-up city of Paris, at your favourite restaurant, or at the spot where you first met, your engagement is an emotional time. Many couples celebrate with an engagement party before their wedding day.

Your big day
Whether your wedding is a catered event for 200 or an intimate ceremony for close friends and family, there will be some organisation involved. Aim to create the day for yourselves. For a New Zealand wedding, you'll want to think about:

• Wedding venues: it's all about location for a New Zealand wedding; couples from around the world come here to wed against the backdrop of a spectacular New Zealand landscape. You may consider holding your wedding on a beach, in a park, on a mountain top, in your local church, at a chapel, at a historical site, in a vineyard setting or aboard a boat. The possibilities are endless. Select from a range of New Zealand wedding venues.
• Wedding photography: your wedding day may pass in a whirl, but professional New Zealand wedding photography is an ideal way to capture the emotion of the day and create a visual record of your day. It's vital that you'connect' with your photographer and check that their photographic style, technique and personality is a match with your own. NZ wedding photographers can capture formal or candid shots, or a combo of both.
• Wedding dresses: finding a wedding dress can be stressful. New Zealand wedding dresses can be brocade, chiffon, damask, linen, satin, organza, silk, a-line, empire, mermaid, designer or custom made. The options can seem endless, but ideally your choice should be a dress which makes you feel comfortable, stylish and beautiful on your wedding day. For men, there is a range of formal attire available to hire. Your selection will depend on the style of the bride's and bridesmaids' dresses. Find NZ wedding dresses in the NZS.com directory.
• Wedding cakes: a caterer or bakery can supply your wedding cake, but a bakery with expertise in wedding cakes will offer a more specialised service. When browsing online or reading wedding magazines, cut out cakes which appeal to you and take these along when approaching your chosen cake supplier. It's worthwhile shopping around to make sure you get good value and quality for your wedding cake. Browse a range of NZ wedding cakes for inspiration.
• Wedding decorations: decorating your chosen venue can be expensive, but companies offering hire of party and event supplies provide an affordable way to decorate the area in the way you desire. For outdoor weddings, a hired marquee can create an elegant and stylish setting. Party rental companies can supply everything from marquees to linen, tableware, candles, wedding arches and even a dance floor where partygoers can dance the night away after your wedding ceremony. Remember to ask about any additional set-up costs. Browse providers of NZ wedding decorations in the NZS.com directory.
• Wedding flowers: the task of finding the perfect florist to create beautiful wedding flowers is a difficult one. Ask friends and family for their recommendations, or approach florists and request a portfolio of their work. You will need to make it clear what you want and how much you are able to spend. As with all other aspects of your wedding, ensure your florist's style is in keeping with your own. You will need to decide on types of flowers, colours and the number of arrangements you require. Browse NZ florists for the perfect wedding flowers.
• Wedding jewellery: diamonds may be a girl's best friend, but if you choose a diamond ring, it's important to pay attention to the clarity rather than the size of the rock. As a general rule, you should follow the four C's: carat, clarity, cut and colour. Refer online or visit a New Zealand jeweller for more information.
• Wedding food and drink: dining and drinking are key parts of any wedding celebration, so choose a caterer carefully, asking for menu selections, references and payment details. You'll have to choose whether to have a sit down dinner or buffet, but your caterer should be able to advise you on menu choices that are in fitting with the time of day, your tastes and your budget. Traditionally, celebratory champagne is used to toast the newly wed couple. This can be supplemented with other alooholic and non-alcoholic beverages, either served at the venue's bar or offered on a self-serve basis. Browse our selection of NZ caterers to find a match for your needs.
• Wedding music and entertainment: deciding on the music for your reception is often a choice between hiring a DJ or enlisting the services of a band for the night. A DJ will often cost less, but live music may provide more of an atmosphere. Once again, it's all about your preference. Perhaps the evening could reflect the musical tastes of you and your partner – those first songs you shared, the music you are currently listening to, plus some tried and true classics. Select from some of the best NZ musicians for hire.

Your honeymoon
Once the wedding day is over, your New Zealand honeymoon offers a chance to relax away from the stresses of planning your wedding and entertaining friends and family. Make sure you plan well in advance so you can book your ideal accommodation and take advantage of discount airfares and other special deals. Whether you choose to spend a few days or a couple of weeks on honeymoon, it's a great chance to enjoy one another's company and mark the beginning of your married life with a trip to a new and exciting destination or a favourite holiday spot.

Looking for more information? Find advice on planning New Zealand weddings in the NZS.com directory.

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Family images from Flickr: Baby Boots, Kids Classroom and Hands.