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 🤍

This week, I’m popping into your feed with a little bonus episode to share something very special I’ve been planning.

To celebrate summer and over a decade of photographing weddings, I’m giving one couple the chance to win their full wedding photography package with me, Lydia Rachel Photography.

ENTER HERE

This is something I’ve never done before, and I’m so excited to finally share all the details with you.

💜 We chat about:

• What’s included in the wedding photography giveaway
• Who this giveaway is perfect for (and a few important eligibility details)
• How and where to enter
• Key dates, including when entries close and when the winner will be announced

If you’re recently engaged, in the early stages of planning, or know someone who would love this, make sure you listen in and head to the entry form.

ENTER HERE

Follow:@lydiarachelphoto@thekiwiweddingpodcast

Keep an eye on Instagram for updates, reminders, and the winner announcement.

This week, I’m joined by Lisa from With Love Weddings and Events, who planned a beautifully relaxed marquee wedding on family property in Karaka.

Lisa shares both sides of the story – what it was like as a bride navigating last-minute changes and what she’s learned from years as a planner and celebrant in the industry.

We chat about:

💜 Meeting at university, years of friendship and the “eight-hour coffee date” that changed everything

💜 A fairy-light-filled backyard proposal that completely caught her off guard

💜 Losing their original Cambridge venue to pandemic restrictions and replanning a whole new wedding in 12 weeks

💜 Why catering was a non-negotiable and how great food shapes your guests’ entire experience

💜 The power of a day-of coordinator, especially for marquee and private property weddings

💜 Guest list boundaries, COVID caps and using milestone events as a guide for who makes the cut

💜 The DIY florals story she would not repeat, and why she’d leave centrepieces to the pros next time

💜 Lisa’s journey into weddings: Villa Maria, becoming a celebrant, then taking the leap into full-service planning

💜 What it actually looks like to work with With Love from enquiry through to pack down

💜 Styling trends she is loving, from texture and draping to moody palettes and candlelit dinners, and why “timeless” is overrated

…and so much more!

Let me know what you think of this episode!

You can check out photos from Lisa and Nathan’s marquee wedding over on Instagram, as well as some of With Love’s work - and make sure you are following @thekiwiweddingpodcast and @lydiarachelphoto for more from this day and other New Zealand love stories.

Find all L & N’s amazing vendors:

Photographer: @aaronsami

Videographer: @ayshandhamish

Caterer: @whiskcateringnz

Marquee & Furniture Hire: @twelve_tables

Tableware: @royallaboratorie

Linen: @tble__linen__hire

Bouquets & Buttonholes: @frankieandflora

Stationery / Signage: @thesignerynz

Makeup: @claudialouismarie

Hair Stylist: @hannstech_hair

Band: Kid Radio

Cake: @justjessboujeebakery

Dress: @mwlbride from @felicitysbridalnz

Tans: @epsomspraytan

This week, I’m joined by Emily, who works behind the scenes at Little Wolf Catering and brings such a unique industry perspective to her own wedding day.

Emily and her husband Leo were married at the Glasshouse in Morningside back in 2021, and in this episode, she shares the story of planning a beautiful, food-focused celebration during the rollercoaster that was the pandemic era.

We chat about:

💜 Meeting through mutual friends in 2018 and getting engaged on top of the Pinnacles

💜 Planning a six-month wedding while working in the industry and already knowing which vendors she trusted

💜 Choosing the Glasshouse Morningside and why it was perfect for an April wedding

💜 Putting food and guest experience at the very top of their priorities

💜 Creating her custom dress with Kenny and Harlow and Leo’s custom Crane Brothers tux

💜 Skipping the bridal party and spending the morning surrounded by friends instead

💜 How the timing of the day felt and why the morning dragged more than expected

💜 Navigating a wedding during lockdowns and ending up with a beautiful 70-person celebration

💜 Her biggest tips from both a bride and a catering insider

💜 Why people really do remember the food, service, and overall guest experience

…and so much more!

Let me know what you think of this episode!

Head to Instagram to check out some photos from Emily and Leo’s wedding and follow @thekiwiweddingpodcast and @lydiarachelphoto for more real wedding stories.

Find all E & L’s amazing vendors:

Venue: @glasshouse.nz

Photographer: @jesseandjessieweddings

Celebrant: Celebrant Sandy

Entertainment: @kidku

Hire: @foliohire

Florals: @floralstylistco

Catering + Beverages: @littlewolfweddings

Cake: @bluebellscakery

Stationery: @justmytype_nz

Dress: @kennyandharlowbridal

Suit: @cranebrothers @cranebrothers_occasions

Rings: @diamondsonrichmond

Shoes: @mi_piaci

Makeup + Hair: @danifroudemakeup