An outrageously fun celebration of love at the beautiful Baylys Farm wedding of Carlie + Paddy, amidst Paihia and Waitangi in stunning Northland.
WHAT A DAY, you couple of LEGENDS! This really was a day like no other for me and I was sad when I had to leave at the end of the night! Grateful to have couples like you two – it’s what makes this job do dang fun!
Have a geeze at what Carlie + Pat had to say about their day followed by a gallery I just couldnt cull to any less images ❤️
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love, what is unique about you and your relationship…
We are Carlie and Paddy. Paddy works in Trades Recruitment and Carlie is an Account Manager at Trade Me. We live in Birkenhead in Auckland in our tropical paradise we call home. We are both absolutely besotted by our big pooch Bert – he is the absolute best. We both love the outdoors and adventures. Before Covid we were always travelling overseas and never in one place for too long.
Carlie loves to learn and read about weird and interesting things and Pat loves his sports and food. We are both are hugely into our food and love to cook together or go out to new places to feast. What we love most about our relationship is that we are such good friends and team mates. We both love to be pretty impulsive and would support anything the other person drummed up as an idea. We love a cocktail, or just a drink in general and are always laughing and not taking ourselves too seriously.
How/where/when did you meet?
We met down at the Christchurch races at a work event – my (Carlie’s) company held a client event and Pat was one of the clients (ha) – was FUN at first sight thats for sure. Pat told the drawn out version of the story at the wedding but basically we were both KEEN and after a few more ‘work’ trips and a random trip over to Samoa it was all on. Pat moved up to Auckland and we moved into a place in Auckland together. Another tropical trip later and Pat popped the question over in Aitutaki … best few years ever!
What’s special about your relationship? What do you love most about each other?
LOVE that we are just buds – we help each other out always, have each others backs, Pat will listen to me go on about the meaning of life and let me talk about the in’s and out’s of the cosmos without batting an eyelid and I let Pat be his big bold self – always there when he needs advice about work or wants to talk about who won the UFC last night.
“Pat is forever positive, a shoulder to cry on and the best mate I could ask for. Just feels like home”
“I love Carlie’s beauty, her intellect and her view on life. Her humour is probably my favourite though. Very funny”.
What is your favourite memory or moment from your wedding day?
MAN this is a tough question. WE LOVED OUR WEDDING – absolute best day of our lives. Having all of our friends and family together – which is soooo hard for us as no one lives in the same spot. Hard to think about any one particular part being the best. We did love the dance floor! We watched the speeches back and wow they were awesome, but at the time we were overwhelmed – so was epic to watch again. Loved the bridal party times; getting ready and photos. And I think the most magical part was when our amazing band played our aisle song and we saw each other for the first time waaaaa.
Why did you choose your wedding venue? What was special about it?
A friend who also helped us on the day, Jess at Boheme Events recommended the Baylys Farm wedding venue in Paihia and WOW – we booked without visiting it. We never looked at another venue. We looooved the Farm and marquee set up but what we really wanted was to have an amazing view and overlook the water and Bayly’s Farm was just bloody beeeautiful!!!!!! Exceeded all expectations. Loved it. I think what was special was all guests arriving on busses and being a wee retreat like space, where everything was in one spot and surrounded by nature.
Fave Details:
Pat got his groomsmen socks with his head all over them – def a fave!
Loved our florals so much – still have them at home as they were dried.
Loved my Zoe and Morgan earrings, as I love a big statement earring.
Us and Pat’s mum collected all our amber jars for tables, gold/brass vases and vintage napkins – loved them
Loved all our boho furniture and games on the lawn
My bridesmaids got us a champagne magnum for photos – LOVED THIS – epic pics
LOVED IT ALL
The Dress
I really had no idea when we got engaged – had never been one to dream of a wedding or even consider what I would have at one. So I had a wee look online, was overwhelmed and hated everything. I decided I wanted to support a local business in Taranaki (where I’m from). I loved a friends dress from a few years back and asked her where she had it made – then that’s how I found Liah at Liah Roebuck Bridal. Best decision ever.
Liah was amazing – my friend Claire (style guru) also helped me find some inspo and pics I liked. Liah helped me recreate a dress I had found from an American designer and the result was beyond what I’d imagined, and ended up quite different but MUCH better than the photo. LOVED my experience heading to New Plymouth for fittings with my bestie Amelia. Liah was a dream. Can’t get over how much I loved my dress – felt so special and SO me. We got it finished quite early and when I put it on close to the wedding I cried – just perfect!
Describe the ‘vibe’ or feeling you were going for when planning your wedding day
We wanted a luxe boho vibe – festival type feel, where you were away on holiday and heading somewhere unknown on a bus. We wanted it to be fun and lots of bubbles, cocktails and food. We really wanted a band and for everyone to have an absolute blast on the dance floor. We definitely got that!!!!
Were there any mishaps on the day that you look back and laugh at now?
We were surprisingly chilled on the day – nothing could have spoilt our mood I don’t think! Pat called me freaking out that he’d left his bow tie in Auckland in the morning but someone drove and got him one from a shop. Last minute vows and speeches seemed a bit stressful, but was really quite hilarious and perfect.
Also feel like we had such a good crew of vendors etc that everyone kind of just figured any mishaps out (I will add here that Kate; your calming but organised presence is so perfect for a wedding – you get sh*t done but also calm the energy when needed).
Was there a certain moment during the ceremony you want to keep close forever?
When our band Pat for President started playing Falling by Chumpy and the Sunsetaroonies it all of a sudden felt so real. That first time we saw each other was the absolute best thing ever. The whole ceremony was so perfect. It really does go so quickly but we soaked it all up.
If you were to describe your wedding day in three words what would they be?
(our) Unforgettable perfect party
Is there something you would have done differently (or something you would do more of) if you could do it again?
Nope – loved it. Epic – wish we could do it again.
If you are willing to share, what was your favourite line from your vows to each other? Or if you did traditional vows, a letter you might have written to one another?
Carlie to Pat ” I promise to hug you when it’s hard, and hug you when it’s easy. I promise to always understand that no matter what life throws at us – that together we can get through it. I promise to be consistent when I can and be loyal no matter what.”
OR ” I promise not to look when you put hooks in the wall”
Pat to Carlie ” I promise to work with you to foster and cherish a relationship of equality knowing that together we will build a life far better than either of us could imagine alone.”
OR “I promise to stop eating with my mouth open”.
If you could pick a song to match the feels of your wedding day what would it be?
I think Texas Sun reminds us the most of our wedding – it was playing while we signed the register and its just so summery and fun – we randomly picked it for the wedding when we heard it playing at a cafe, and so we only really liken it to the wedding. Brings back all the mems.
What are you most looking forward to know that you are married?
Not having to plan a wedding or pay invoices hahaha – we are just loving life with our dog and enjoying every moment. We are super grateful for what we have and are looking forward to making more memories together and with our family and friends.
What is one piece of advice you would give to future couples planning their wedding?
Do what you wanna do, ask for help if you need it, don’t sweat the intricate details unless thats your thing. Guests are there to have fun and celebrate a special time with you! We are so stoked we embraced the day and didn’t have a care in the world – because it really does go so quickly. One thing we loved was a catch up with some guests for drinks at a bar the arvo/eve beforehand – it’s hard to talk to everyone on the day!
If you are willing, I would love some of your feedback! What was your experience like working with me?
WE LOVED YOU KATE. Absolutely stoked to have chosen you as our photographer. You always went ABOVE AND BEYOND. Super rad, I felt like we were friends the whole way along and nothing was hard. We LOVE our photos – too hard to choose which ones to print our or frame. I would HIGHLY HIGHLY reccomend you to absolutely everyone. You worked out who we were and what we wanted and you smashed it. You are magic. We feel forever grateful to have met you and to have had you as our photographer for our wedding. A beautiful talented soul xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Incredible vendors:
Wedding Venue: Baylys Farm, Paihia, Waitangi
Videography: Winters Collective
Dress: Liah Roebuck Bridal
Planning + Styling: Boheme Events
Band: Pat for President
Bar: Kindred Spirits
Florals: Bronze Fig Floral
Make Up: Claudia Louis Marie
Hair Styling: Amanda Preston
Cake: Cake In A Box
Catering: With Bells On
