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An Intimate Rustic Matamata Farm Wedding

Today’s Matamata farm wedding is rustic, chic and a little bohemian (the perfect wedding trifecta!), with lovebirds April + Adam holding an intimate ceremony with an awesome after party idea that is totally worth stealing!…

We really wanted a small, intimate ceremony but also wanted to have a big party and celebrate with everyone! So that’s what we did. We invited immediate family to our ceremony (about 20 people) and while we were getting our photos down the farm all of our other guests arrived for our ‘Happily Ever After Party’ (an extra 80 people).

A big congrats to the gorgeous couple + a very special thank you to Keryn Sweeny for sharing your always inspiring work. xox

Who April & Adam Thorne-George
Where Adam’s family farm just outside of Matamata
Guests 100

Our love story began…

We met in early 2008 and were pretty full on for about a month then I got a new job as a flight attendant which required pretty extensive training and we mutually drifted apart. Later in the year we randomly bumped into each other again and have been inseparable since! We’ve done a lot together in that time including living overseas for five years before moving home and working together on Adam’s family farm. We also welcomed our beautiful little girl Sadie in 2015.

Our wedding inspiration was

Rustic, laid back and loads of fun! We really wanted a small, intimate ceremony but also wanted to have a big party and celebrate with everyone! So that’s what we did. We invited immediate family to our ceremony (about 20 people) and while we were getting our photos down the farm all of our other guests arrived for our ‘Happily Ever After Party’ (an extra 80 people).

We saved on…

We definitely saved on decorations. My sister-in-law made us an amazing entrance archway for the guests and some awesome hand-made signs. My mum also made the cutest little confetti cones and candles for the tables and we were able to pick all of the hydrangeas we used on the tables out of Adam’s mum’s garden and also from my aunty and uncle’s place.

We also saved a lot by being able to purchase all of our alcohol from the supermarket, my mum’s friend did all of our catering and we had a great celebrant who Adam knew and she gave us an awesome rate. I was also lucky to Adam’s sister as my personal shopper – she knew my budget and style and nailed anything I asked for!

We splurged on…

Our photographer, band and stretch tent – all important aspects of the day and worth every cent!

Our advice to engaged couples…

Stick to the kind of wedding you feel completely comfortable with! After all it is your special day and you want to have an amazing one. P.S If you decide to throw your bouquet make sure you have lots of room for the girls! We had a bit of an unfortunate bouquet brawl (accident) that resulted in one of my bridesmaids having to have surgery on her wrist the week after the wedding, she did get the bouquet though so I suppose it was all worth it!

Photographer Captured by Keryn
Hair + Makeup Mary Estelle’s Makeup + Hair Styling
Planning + Styling Myself, with lots of help from my beautiful sister-in-laws.
Flowers Pippins
Venue Adam’s family home and farm (The garden looked absolutely beautiful – Adam’s parents spent hours in there)
Catering Tracy Fuller
Hire Company Stretch Tents + Blakes
Stationery & Signage Lucy Design
Cake The Girl on the Swing
Celebrant Sue Smith
Brides Dress Rue De Seine
Brides Accessories + Shoes Earrings from Simply Italian + Shoes from Ruby
Bridesmaid Dresses Merge Fashion
Grooms Suit + Accessories Suit + tie from Hallenstein Brothers + Tie bar from Barkers
Rings Engagement ring from CTJ Jewellery + Wedding rings from Midas Jewellers
Band The Wingmen


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