Join THE LOVE LETTER BY LYDIA RACHEL, a fortnightly note from me with wedding inspiration, podcast highlights, real weddings I’m capturing, and a few things I’ve been loving lately.

This week, I’m joined by Laura Mohi Ryan, founder of Wild Pilates, and recent bride. We’re chatting all about her somewhat unconventional wedding-planning journey.

Laura and her husband Liam had been together for 14 years. Instead of planning a big wedding straight away, they ended up doing something that suited them perfectly, an epic Indonesian elopement on Sumba Island, just the two of them, plus a photographer and videographer who flew over from Bali.

We chat about:

💜 How Laura and Liam met, and the Italy proposal that totally shocked her (in the best way)

💜 Why they stayed engaged for a couple of years and how that shaped their wedding choices

💜 The “write your list separately” exercise that helped them figure out what actually mattered

💜 Deciding to elope, not inviting anyone, and why they didn’t tell family and friends until afterwards

💜 What their wedding day looked like on Sumba Island, from ocean swims to vows on the sand

💜 Finding her dream two-piece outfit at LVR Bridal, plus the veil moment she didn’t see coming

💜 Doing her own hair and makeup, and the one thing she recommends if you have to DIY it

💜 The best way to tell friends and family afterwards (and why a few sneak peek photos helped)

💜 Budgeting for an elopement without it quietly turning into the cost of a small wedding anyway

💜 Laura’s advice for couples planning right now, especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed

💜 A little intro to Wild Pilates and her healthy, realistic approach to feeling good in your body leading up to a wedding

…and so much more!

Follow Laura:

@wildpilates

@lauramohiryan

Let me know what you think of this episode!

You can check out photos from Laura and Liam’s wedding over on Instagram - and make sure you are following ⁠⁠@thekiwiweddingpodcast ⁠⁠

Follow Lydia ⁠⁠@lydiarachelphoto⁠⁠

Find all L & L’s amazing vendors:

Location, Celebrant & Catering: @thesanubari

Photographer: @imanperdana

Videographer: @alokjosaphat

Bride’s Outfit: @lvr_bridal

Bride’s Shoes: @paris__georgia

Groom’s Outfit: @porterjamessports

Groom’s Shoes: @drmartensnewzealand

Rings: @colinbartlett

Makeup & Hair: Bride @lauramohiryan

Pre-wedding makeup lesson: @katesolleymakeup

Also featured on Together Journal.

This week, I’m joined by Tess and Hayley, the founders behind Slay My Day, a brand-new, all-in-one platform built to make wedding planning easier for couples and more transparent, inclusive, and accessible for vendors across Aotearoa.

Between them (and co-founder Carla), they bring years of experience across digital marketing, tourism, elopements, photography, and hands-on wedding work. After seeing first-hand how overwhelming planning can be, and how limited or expensive existing directories often are, they decided to build something better.

We chat about:

💜 How Slay My Day came to life and the gaps it’s designed to fill

💜 Why wedding planning can feel so overwhelming, and how having everything in one place helps

💜 Supporting couples to plan their day their way, without pressure or outdated expectations

💜 What makes Slay My Day different from traditional wedding directories

💜 The vendor dashboard, analytics, and why transparency matters

💜 Regional searching and helping couples find the right vendors at the right time

💜 The upcoming recycle marketplace and the importance of sustainability in weddings

💜 Current wedding trends, from smaller, more personal celebrations to doing things differently

💜 Advice for couples planning their wedding right now

💜 Their big-picture vision for the future of weddings and events in New Zealand

…and so much more!

Follow Slay My Day:

Online: slaymyday.com

On Instagram: @slaymyday.nz

Let me know what you think of this episode!

Follow on IG: ⁠@thekiwiweddingpodcast⁠ and ⁠@lydiarachelphoto⁠ 🤍