TWO WEDDINGS, ONE LOVE STORY
After celebrating with friends amid the wild beauty of Western Australia, Nakita & Kane returned to New Zealand for an intimate celebration surrounded by nature, family and old friends.

Nakita and Kane planned two weddings less than three months apart so their friends in Perth and family and friends back home in New Zealand could celebrate with them. For their second celebration, the nature-loving couple found the dreamiest spot to say ‘I do’ and planned a meaningful, relaxed wedding that perfectly reflected who they are. Nakita shares their story…

Our New Zealand wedding brought together both sides of our family. Most of Kane’s family are in Motueka, while mine are spread between Richmond and Canterbury, with my aunty, uncle and a couple of cousins even making the trip from Melbourne. Kane still has lots of close friends in Nelson too, so it was really special to have them there with us.

We wanted our wedding to be held somewhere lush, sacred, and quintessentially Kiwi. Thanks to some local scouting from my cousin and a close friend, we discovered Riwaka Resurgence — it felt instantly magical. Surrounded by ferns and flowing spring water, it was everything we’d dreamed of and more.

We reached out to the Department of Conservation, who helped us secure the blessing of the local Iwi, a gesture that meant so much to us. Kane’s best friend’s father officiated the ceremony, and the whole event had a deeply grounded, soulful energy. Just like in Perth, we included a handfasting ritual, using different cords to reflect the distinctive essence of each setting. It was a grounding, symbolic moment that tied both experiences together — quite literally.

One of the most meaningful aspects of the wedding was my dress. I wore mum’s wedding gown from the 1970s, reimagined for me by my friend Hayley. We kept the beautiful original pleated sleeves and flowing skirt, and even used lace from the dress to create my hairpiece. My dad walking me up the aisle while wearing my mum’s dress is a moment I’ll never forget.

I also sourced the flowers and foliage and made my bridal bouquet myself, adding another personal touch to the day.

To complete the vintage vibe, I arrived in my bright orange 1978 Datsun Sunny, unintentionally echoing the burnt orange of Kane’s blazer. That happy accident tied the colour palette of both our weddings together beautifully.

Paul, our officiant, delivered a heartfelt and hilarious speech that resonated deeply due to his role as a second father to Kane. His speech included long-running inside jokes with a skateboard and doorknob. The doorknob joke stemmed from Paul's past teasing about Kane's spending habits, culminating in Kane's triumphant text, "I did it — I finally own my own door knobs," upon buying his Perth home. Paul also reminisced about Kane's skateboarding days, including an unsuccessful attempt to teach me, and Kane's habit of leaving belongings at Paul's house.

Both of our weddings were reflections of who we are: laid-back, nature-loving, a little unconventional, and deeply in love. Our Perth and Nelson celebrations both ended with casual, fun receptions — grazing tables, pizzas, sliders and drinks flowing freely. No assigned seats, no long speeches, just connection and celebration.

During our photo session, we were tempted to jump into the spring water for a spontaneous shot. But the water is sacred so not meant for swimming, so I took off my heels and climbed over rocks for some of the most breathtaking images.

In the end, two weddings meant twice the celebration, but for us it came down to one beautifully simple thing — being surrounded by the people and places we love most.

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Photographer: Drew Logan Photography

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