Wedding season 2022: A guide

For the perfect wedding you simply must have it in a decorated cathedral with a white veil and flower girls in pink… just kidding! It’s time for the 2022 wedding season and you can do anything you like for a kickarse wedding. Cityscape has some awesome inspo, and ultimately it’s up to you!

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY 101

You’ve probably got a cousin with a decent Canon who might shoot the wedding for a song, but you’ll be better off going with a pro. You want your photographer to be comfortable bossing you around for the perfect shot, and your relationship may never be the same after. It’s also hard work shooting a wedding, and your cousin probably wants to sit down and chat over a glass of bubbles.

When selecting a photographer, you’re not trying to decide between ‘good’ and ‘bad’. You’re trying to find one who suits your style. Photography is an art, and every artist has an individual expression. Also give them a call or meet in person to make sure you like them.

Google what time the sun goes down in your location on the date of your wedding (you can find this out months or years in advance). Plan proceedings so you’ve got some free time in the hour before sunset – this is the legendary ‘golden hour’ when the light is just magical for photos.

Decide in advance whether it’s legit for guests to post pics of your wedding on Insta, and let them know before the ceremony starts. If social media is your jam, create your own hashtag and get people to use it to share their pics so you’ve got a collection of quirky snaps to browse the next day.

Consider having a photo booth at the reception. This is a great activity people will keep coming back to. It can be run by a photographer, or you can hire automatic booths with a range of accessories and photo styles.

Get a physical album printed. Just do it. It’s pricey but your mums will love it and you can treasure the memories forever.

FLOWER FUN

We’ve got some fresh floral inspo from this year’s trend-setting weddings.

Earthy with red pop You can achieve this standout rustic look by choosing a mixture of dried and fresh flowers with deep, vibrant reds in the mix.

Verdant greens Green is the ‘in’ colour of 2022, and well-balanced foliage can give your floral arrangements a natural and stylish look. We’ve even seen weddings with well-presented succulents on display.

Dry displays Good dried flower arrangements look amazing. They tend to have less vibrant colours but this can really suit the aesthetic of a beach or Canterbury high country wedding.

Local and in season Florists tell us this is what the people are asking for this year. The Garden City is flush with luscious flowers and many boutique florists grow their own blooms, so this is a great idea. Just remember if you’re getting hitched in the cooler months your options will be limited.

Working in shades You may have seen super-modern bouquets that focus on one particular colour – purple, blue, red, yellow. The trick to nailing this look is including subtly different shades of the same colour.

Colour wheel Show your florist a palette of colours you like (take some paint sample cards from a hardware store) and they’ll find flowers that match.

Asymmetry Entire arches, columns or aisles of flowers can seem a bit overdone. Achieve a refined elegance without seeming sparse by distributing bunches asymmetrically on frames and around the ceremony and reception.

10 IRON-CLAD STEPS TO PLANNING THE PERFECT MODERN WEDDING

1. Agree to have a small, minimalist, affordable wedding. 2. Immediately compromise on a very expensive bouquet. 3. Write a short guest list. 4. Add unwanted relatives. Add partners and kids. Add old friends who have come out of the woodwork. Add awkward workmates who ask for invites. Remove ones you really don’t want. 5. Agree Granny wouldn’t approve of the caterer. Upgrade. 6. Tables look bare. Add more flowers. 7. “We want to upcycle and reuse.” 8. Buy a bunch of stuff on Trade Me. 9. Put the Trade Me junk in the garage. Buy and rent new stuff. 10. Enjoy your day!

SUSTAINAWEDDING

God forbid you have a wedding and somebody comment under their breath that it “wasn’t particularly sustainable”. The statistics say if you’re getting married in the 2020s you probably care about sustainability, or your guests do. Here are some Cityscape tips for environment-friendly nuptials.

Rings Look for a jeweller who uses recycled gold instead of newly mined metals. Most manufacturing jewellers can also recast heirloom jewellery into modern designs.

Getup Many dresses get worn once and never again. Ask around friends and family members, hit up Trade Me, or head to high-end second-hand fashion stores (see page 58) to give beautiful dresses another day in the sun. Men’s clothes, too! And remember: you can always get clothes altered.

Crockery This is easy: buy secondhand or rent. Probably rent, unless you’re keeping things small. You can check out auction houses for collections of cool plates, glasses and cutlery.

Decorations Choose a beautiful venue and you’ll need fewer decorations to create your look. Minimalism is in anyway, right? Avoid disposables and remember you can resell basically everything after the big event.

Paper-free It’s perfectly OK to email invites. E-invites can look stunning and even include animations, sound and video. Get all the wedding info up on a website people can check for live updates.

Buy local Remember Cityscape’s motto: every time you buy from a local business, a real person does a happy dance.

MODERN ETIQUETTE

Honestly, it’s your day so you define the rules. Here are a few things to consider, one way or the other.

Dress code If you leave it up to the guests, most of them will dress appropriately. You can also declare that it’s a formal or semi-formal wedding, or go the opposite way and specify it’s a barefoot ceremony! Either way, we still live in New Zealand so you’ve just got to accept there’ll be an old guy in a suit and sneakers, and some dude in the unironed black shirt he wears to the casino on Saturday nights.

Wedding party Bridesmen and groomsmaids – mix up the bridal party with the people you want, regardless of gender. And plenty of modern weddings don’t have groomsmen, bridesmaids, best man or maid of honour at all.

Ceremony seating Reserve some seats at the front for close family and friends, and let the rest figure out their places. Unless you want to split guests by family – we’re not going to stop you.

Music With several millennia of music to call on, why settle for a wedding march written in 1842? Walk down the aisle to whatever suits your style.

Readings You don’t need these at all, especially if you’re not religious. But do consider readings of poetry, lyrics and literature that are important to you.

Turn it on its head If you don’t like a tradition, throw it out. Have the groom walk down the aisle instead of the bride. See each other for a special moment before the ceremony. Forgo the cake. Have your honeymoon before the wedding. Do what you want!

PLACES

Wine country Beautiful landscapes, literal barrels of wine, and amazing chefs. Get up to Waipara and check out the venues on offer, including the always-stunning Pegasus Bay Winery.

Beer city Not wine people? Get yourself to a brewery. Three Boys Brewery in Woolston has an awesome mezzanine floor above the bar, overlooking all the brewing apparatus.

Get outdoors Have your ceremony on the beach, in the Port Hills, or in your favourite park. There’ll be some photobombs but that’s part of the charm. If it’s going to be a big event you’ll need to let the council know in advance.

Poppin’ like it’s hot Pop-up weddings give you a short-and-sweet time slot for a ceremony, photos, canapés and drinks. It’s affordable, low-fuss, and the venue can organise everything from setup to Champagne and photography. Pop in, get hitched, pop out.

Put on a show If you’ve a penchant for the dramatic, consider tying the knot in The Court Theatre or Isaac Theatre Royal. There’s plenty of space, elevated stage, thematic surroundings, and they’re often available for hire during the day.

The Takapō pilgrimage The Church of the Good Shepherd in Tekapo is one of the most stunning traditional wedding locations in the country. It’s a bit of a drive, but it’s worth it.

Heritage marriage For some old-skool charm, look to one of Christchurch’s heritage buildings. The Ilam Homestead and Mona Vale Homestead are both beautiful wedding venues with large lawns and extensive gardens.

DRESSING UP

If flowing veils and black three-piece suits aren’t your thing, here are some ideas for non-traditional and glorious getups.

Pants for the ladies For something a bit different that nonetheless screams ‘classy wedding’, consider eschewing the dress for white pants and a feminine shirt, or even a jumpsuit. Some same-sex weddings will have one bride in a suit and one in a dress, but you can both wear similar styles or mix it up as you please.

Show your colours Perhaps you feel like white and the outdated ideas of purity it symbolises don’t belong in your 21st Century wedding, or perhaps you just like a more vibrant palette. We’ve seen stunning wedding dresses in pinks, blues, and even patterns.

Same goes for the men For just a splash of colour, consider a patterned waistcoat, or go whole hog with a coloured or checked suit. You can mix and match, too. A great combo that beats the heat is white linen pants combined with a light jacket. You could even flag the jacket and wear just a classy shirt on top.

Ditch the uniform It is very normal for bridesmaids and groomsmen to mix styles. This means you don’t have to buy identical getups for each of them (or force them to buy their own) and gives a modern look to the ceremony. They’re friends, not soldiers.

QUICK TIPS

1. Instagram is your friend. All your photographers and florists are on there. 2. Start a Pinterest board with all the wedding stuff you like. Show it to your florist, your photographer, and everyone else involved. 3. Book everything early. Like, a year in advance if you can. You’d be amazed at how every little thing fills up. Even your hairdresser who always manages to find a slot for you at the last minute will absolutely be unavailable on the day of your wedding. 4. Men, don’t be afraid of beauty treatments. Get a facial and a manicure – you’ll feel and look amazing. And a touch of subtle makeup from a pro will ensure you don’t look shiny in the wedding photos.