Nikita was Reid’s gym crush for a while before he worked up the courage to make a move. “Reid was too shy to come over and say hello, so he found me on social media and noticed I was single, so he sent me a few messages then asked me out to dinner, and it just took off from there.

“For the proposal, we went away for Reid’s birthday/our anniversary to Pouto up North, where there was a beautiful Air BnB that came with a 4WD to take to the lighthouse. We planned a late picnic & some drinks to celebrate, but I didn’t realise how hard the hike up the sand dunes was to get to the lighthouse (where Reid planned to propose). So, I had had enough, made it halfway, and just said it doesn’t matter; we’ll just sit here. Little did I know that I was ruining my own proposal, and I’m quite stubborn, so plan B was just there and then! Makes for a laugh now.”

The couple married on December 9th to avoid worrying about wedding plans over the holiday season. “We wanted to get married before Christmas and just enjoy the summer holiday not having to organise anything and be with friends and family as a married couple. We looked at 1-2 venues, but I always loved the idea of a marquee wedding so you could create your own look. Reid loves the farm with how quiet and picturesque it is, so we combined both and had Reid’s parent’s rural property as our venue.

“We decided to have our marquee right in the middle of a maise field, so we began getting the grass area ready four months before the date, fertilising and watering it constantly and then the maise was planted around it,” Nikita says they chose an elegant, minimalist theme for a simple and timeless aesthetic.

When it came to the attire, Nikita knew exactly what she wanted. “I always knew I wanted a simple, plain dress without lace or beading. I chose to put the bridesmaids in white because it looks so beautiful and clean, and I’m so happy with how stunning they all looked. The boys were always going to be in black suits to keep with our theme.

“We are both absolute foodies, so we wanted catering that also reflected us, and Little Wolf had such an amazing selection to choose from. The food was incredible. For our cake, we both don’t really eat sweets, so we went for something a bit fun with a vintage heart cake and cupcakes. Usually, there’s a bit of dessert left over, but to my surprise, it all vanished within minutes, so thanks to JJBB for that!

“Sitting back at dinner and looking around the room to see everyone laughing, smiling and enjoying themselves and what we had put on was such a good feeling.”

Nikita’s advice to other couples is to try to relax on the day. “Whatever attitude you and your partner have on that day will reflect on everyone else. If you’re having an amazing time, everyone else will follow suit! So, enjoy it as much as you can; it goes so quickly!”