Anna & James
Today’s wedding takes place in New Zealand. The beautiful wedding of Anna & James. Anna was born and raised in New Zealand but met her husband to be (a born and bred Californian) in New York City in 2004. Anna moved to San Francisco with James three months after they met.
Having been raised on a vineyard, Anna knew the value behind great food and wine and soon opened South Food + Wine Bar with Liz O’Connell and Luke Mangan– the first US restaurant dedicated to the culinary culture and wines of Australia & New Zealand, in San Francisco.
James proposed to Anna on their first trip to Paris together in 2007. The intent of the trip was to spend a few days in Paris together before meeting Anna’s family to watch the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team play in the Rugby World Cup in Provence. While in Paris, the couple took a stroll in the gardens of the Louvre where James finally popped the question. They celebrated at Restaurant “Les Deux Magots” at 6 place Saint-Germain-des-Présmargot and to drank Billicart Salmon rose champagne (Anna’s favorite!) with Foie Gras and oysters.
The trip only got more perfect when on the train to Provence they were seated next to Anna’s idol, Gourmet Magazine’s Editor in Chief Ruth Reichl, who gave the couple fabulous advice on the best restaurants and cafes in Provence!
Photographs today are by Lauri Levenfield of Zoom Photography – a San Francisco photographer who Anna & James bribed into making the 12 hour flight to New Zealand to capture their wedding day!
Love the green rolling hills of New Zealand in this pre wedding shoot! Anna’s aesthetic has always been “fresh. clean and green” and wanted the wedding to be intimate and relaxed. She knew she wanted to marry on Waiheke Island where she was raised as a child.
Many of the guests stayed in an eight bedroom home the couple rented for the week to enjoy the events they’d planned. each night, they planned an event at a different home centering around New Zealand wine and food. Meals included NZ “Fish ‘n Chips” (local Red Snapper), Waiheke grass fed beef (provided by the Waiheke Butcher), and so on.
The couples friends (a lot of whom happen to work in the industry!) took turns cooking with the couple. Anna and James held their rehearsal luncheon at Cable Bay vineyards. Guests were able to mingle and get to know one another and Anna and James were able to spend quality time with each of their guests.
Anna’s wedding dress was designed by Amy Kuschel and evoked the feeling she wanted for her dress- simple, soft flowing and 60’s goddess style.
Anna’s oldest friend Vicky Morgan did her makeup.
Anna was unable to find earrings that matched her look, Lauri had bought along earrings from Bing Bang which had the bohemian glam look Anna wanted.
Anna and James had a “first look” before the ceremony.
The first look also allowed Anna and James time for their formal portraits.
Check back soon to see Anna and James marry!
Photographs by Zoom Photography
This is the exact kind of wedding Pacific Wedding Guide is all about! Love off-the-beaten-path venues, renting a vacation home for your friends and family and just enjoying a lovely wedding weekend with those closest to you. I’m so excited to see this post!!