Wedding of the Week: Richard and Kelly Drake

JAM Photography
JAM Photography
JAM Photography
JAM Photography
JAM Photography
JAM Photography
JAM Photography
JAM Photography
JAM Photography
JAM Photography
JAM Photography
JAM Photography
JAM Photography
JAM Photography
JAM Photography
JAM Photography
JAM Photography
JAM Photography
JAM Photography
JAM Photography
JAM Photography
JAM Photography
JAM Photography
JAM Photography
JAM Photography
JAM Photography
JAM Photography
JAM Photography

We met through friends and after two years of Richard chasing me we finally got together and fell in love. We got engaged two years ago when he finally sold his pride and joy, his KTM 750 motorbike, so some of the money was spent on my engagement ring.

We had our ceremony up at Poolburn dam where his brother's ashes are buried. Richard's family has had a fishing hut up there for more than 25 years.

My dress I bought for $80 on Trademe and my best friend from high school altered it. The bridesmaids' and flower girls' dresses were also bought on Trademe and altered. I decided not to have flowers as such for all of us, I went with silk flowers and modified them to my liking for the bridesmaids. The flower girls held balloons which they released when we kissed. The balloons represented those who had passed.

We catered the wedding ourselves, making nibbles for after the ceremony of crumbed camembert, trout-spread crostini and asparagus rolls. We had a buffet-style reception with a choice of six of my signature salads: mutton ham, venison ham, crayfish, spit-roasted wild pork, goat and chicken, and finger food for dessert. We had lots of help from friends and family to prepare this, and help from the community to serve the food.

Our highlight was when I managed to surprise Richard by arriving in his work truck. Drama occurred when I had arrived at the ceremony as it started to rain. As I headed down the hill the rain got harder and it got chillier. I believe this was a spiritual blessing from Richard's brother. My mum quoted to me: "with the piper playing, and us walking down the hill set the perfect scene of a true Scottish wedding", which is the heritage of both families. As we arrived around at the fishing hut to sign the registry (which was not planned), the sun shone brightly over us, great for photos with family and friends.

Our photographer was Jennifer Maititis from JAM Photography.

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