When vision meets intention, the result is unforgettable. For Demi and Joel, their wedding was not just a one-day event, it was a curated experience, grounded in emotion and elevated by impeccable style. Against the dramatic backdrop of Queenstown's cinematic landscapes, their celebration unfolded as a heartfelt event, blending style and intimacy seamlessly. The décor reflected a palette of sophisticated restraint, allowing the scenery to take centre stage while incorporating textures, sculptural florals and design-led touches that were both editorial and deeply personal. Lush, refined and intuitively placed floral arrangements mirrored the landscape's natural wildness while nodding to the couple’s timeless taste. Demi and Joel's big day was a true love letter to design, to place, and to each other.
Our Love Story
The Day We Met
We were just 19 and 23. We met at a very Australian kind of party: a bush doof/rave. Even though we went to the same high school, our paths never crossed until that night. At the end of the night, by pure coincidence, we ended up sharing a lift home thanks to a mutual friend. That was our first real connection.
The next time we saw each other, Joel told me he was heading to Europe for five months. Despite the distance, we stayed in touch the entire time. When he returned, I told him he’d inspired me—I booked my own three-month trip to Europe, following in his footsteps. Though we travelled separately, we constantly stayed in touch, each on our own journey, until we found our way back to each other. We’ve been together ever since. Now, we’re 28 and 32.
The Proposal
On my birthday in August 2022, we checked into Château des Fines Roches, a late 19th-century castle in the South of France. My partner, now husband Joel, had called ahead and secretly mentioned his proposal plans to the manager. After zipping through the vineyards, we returned to the château and set up a picnic at the end of the vines with a view of the castle. As we finished eating, Joel asked me to walk towards the vines and the castle.
Then he said, "Do you want to do our rose and thorn of the day?"—a game we play each night on holiday, naming the best (rose) and worst (thorn) part of the day. I remember thinking it was a bit early in the day, but I didn’t suspect a thing. Joel grabbed both my hands and said, “Demi, you’re the rose of my life—will you marry me?” and simultaneously got down on one knee. I was so shocked I almost fell back on the rocks we were standing on, but of course, I said yes.
The Engagement Ring
A 2-carat marquise diamond custom-designed by Affinity Diamonds, set in a solid 24-carat gold band. My mum and now brother got their engagement rings from this Sydney-based designer—it’s becoming a family tradition. The inner ring is lined with smaller melee diamonds. This detail is hidden from view, a special touch that makes the ring feel unique to me. I wanted something simple but striking—and it was, and is, perfect.
Our Wedding
The Vision
Unseen, unique, and refined—our dream was to create a destination wedding that would bring 80 of our closest friends and family together to experience the very best of Queenstown. We wanted something non-traditional, with pops of colour, full of sculptural and surprising moments, but also moody, romantic, and designed to complement the captivating New Zealand views—not compete with them.
When our wedding planner asked us to choose a theme, we immediately thought of the rose of our lives, a symbol that took us back to our engagement in the South of France. From there, everything fell into place. The vision bloomed into a day wrapped in a crimson colour palette, accented with silver velvet draping, giving a premium, modern finish. Long tables glowed with candlelight, guests dressed in dark tones per our no-patterns dress code, and a string rendition of La Vie en Rose set the mood during cocktail hour.
At the reception, a rose sculpture stood as a centerpiece, surrounded by thoughtful details—our custom rose of our livesdecals featuring a Loewe-inspired logo lockup, and menus adorned with vibrant red anthurium flourishes. Our vows also ended with: Joel, do you promise to be the rose of Demi’s life? and vice versa. It all came to life in such a unique and special way. My short veil was embroidered with rose of our lives and our wedding date, with a rose stem wrapping around the wording. Many of our friends picked up this phrase after the wedding, saying, “All the roses for Demi & Joel’s day.” Even my parents, on their travels after, started using our nightly reflection ritual, rose and thorn, on their trip.
Our Team of Vendors
Our vendor team combined well-known Sydney-based suppliers with established Queenstown talent, led by our experienced and wonderful wedding planners, Place of LB. We also relied on close friends working in content creation. Everyone on our content team was a friend, which brought ease, authenticity, and fun to the day—and that energy shines through in the photos and videos. Beyond that, our DJ—who’s been with us since the early days—understood the vibe instinctively and kept the dance floor alive all night. The night ended with my whole family on shoulders (including my 6-foot dad) and a “one more song!” chant.
My favourite vendor and friend was my hairdresser, Studio Ame, who was also my maid of honour. She kept me calm, and when a last-minute slick-down was needed to tame the wind, it was no issue. My bridesmaids and I also loved our makeup artist, Alarna Taylor—she nailed the natural look and her energy matched ours perfectly as we were getting ready. The shared-plate food style crafted by Artisan Catering was a fan favourite among guests!
The Location
During our separate trips through Europe, Joel and I both fell in love with Switzerland. Queenstown’s dramatic mountains and serene lakes felt strikingly similar—but with the added bonus of being far more accessible for our grandparents. Following our engagement, we visited Queenstown, Mount Cook, and Wanaka in search of the perfect venue—something modern, with both lake and mountain views. After hitting a few roadblocks, a friend offered one of their Queenstown properties for the ceremony. It felt like the stars had aligned.
The Ceremony
Set on a private property, our ceremony had an intimate, home-like feel. The centerpiece was a natural rock platform that Joel lifted me onto for our vows, after I walked down the aisle to a string rendition of Lana Del Rey’s Video Games. The Wye Creek lake and rugged mountains framed our ceremony backdrop, while a waterfall flowed in the distance.
We chose natural green and white florals that blended seamlessly into the landscaping. Our vows were a mix of sarcasm and sincerity. Our celebrant said my opening line was one of the best she’d heard: “Joel, it would take weeks to tell everyone what I love about you, and months to cover all the negatives.” It got a big laugh and helped me relax into the moment.
We surprised our ring bearer on the day with a hand-delivered note and called up Joel’s sister, Brooke, and my brother, Kade, to sign the marriage papers—also a surprise. It kept everyone on their toes. Red rose petals were tossed as we were announced husband and wife, creating a striking visual against the lush green backdrop. Joel dipped me at the end of the aisle to a cheering crowd.
The Cocktail Hour
The menu was Italian-inspired, with Limoncello spritzes, olive ascolane, and bruschetta served on silver trays and custom greaseproof stationery. Joel and I stayed hand-in-hand, making sure to greet everyone together before being whisked away for what became our favourite moment. Guests were escorted to the reception site and greeted with another signature cocktail: the Aperol spritz.
The Reception
Set on a lush golf course beside a man-made lake, our reception at Wonder & Full was a dream. The clear black marquee sat on a concrete floor and offered panoramic views of The Remarkables mountain range. A nearby fireplace and lounge area gave guests cozy gathering spots during the extended cocktail hour. For our entrance, we ditched the traditional bridal party walk-in.
Joel and I did a solo lap around the guest tables before our bridal party joined us for a spontaneous 5-minute dance party to Music Sounds Better with You, ending in an 80-person conga line. It was the perfect kickoff. A highlight was my dad’s speech—a beautiful tribute to his daughter and a poem about our love story.
The Special Touches
Our cake was a large round design covered in pink, red, and deep purple piped roses—again tying in the rose of our livestheme. Inside, it was tiramisu to match our Italian menu. It was a guest favourite. A personal touch was the notes Joel and I left for each other in our getting-ready rooms. Joel even included old photos from our nine years together. I hadn’t had my makeup done yet, which was lucky—it was a definite tear-jerker.
Our Favorite Moment
The helicopter surprise. At a nearby helipad, we told Joel we were heading out for bridal party photos (they were all in on it). As a black helicopter approached, Joel jokingly pretended to wave it down like a traffic controller—until I said, “This is for us.” His face was priceless. We’d considered a helicopter in the early planning stages but weren’t sure if we wanted to step away from guests. But it was so worth it. We had precious time to ourselves, flying over Coromandel Peak—a picture-perfect moment.
Our Style
The Bridal Looks
A Lillian Khallouf custom duo! For the ceremony, I wore a sculptural ivory silk gown with Lillian’s signature corset, a dropped waist, pleated skirt detail, and a short-to-long silhouette that echoed my mum’s wedding dress—once worn in a November Rain-style film clip inspired by Guns N’ Roses. I had always been obsessed with my mum’s 90s look and wanted to bring a modern twist to it. When I reached Joel at the end of the aisle, his first word was: “Unmatched.”
Every piece of my jewellery was Affinity Diamonds: a tennis bracelet, mixed-metal drop earrings featuring round, pear, and marquise diamonds, and a custom wedding band of mini marquise diamonds set on an angle. It curved under my engagement ring to look like one seamless piece. My shoes were ivory silk from Danielle Frankel’s new line, with gathering details that mirrored the pleats in my dress.
My bouquet was simple—white anthuriums, so as not to compete with the bold dress. My second look was a short, deep burgundy chrome party dress, also by Lillian, in a similar corset style. As I entered, Joel’s jaw dropped again. I paired it with comfy Gucci heels and gold Prada hoop earrings. Lillian truly understood the assignment—helping me push boundaries while staying true to who I am.
The Groom’s Look
Joel wore a sleek, custom P Johnson tux made from four-ply black wool with a satin shawl lapel and deep red lining to match our palette. He finished the look with a classic bow tie, Saint Laurent sunglasses with silver details, and custom silver JS cufflinks. The standout? His wedding ring: a polished signet piece from Affinity Diamonds, featuring a super-slim baguette-cut diamond at its centre—a unique yet understated statement.
The Bridal Party Looks
Our wedding party included my gay best friend, so we went with a classic black look to suit everyone. He wore a black suit with a Prada tie. Each bridesmaid selected a Solace London dress that suited her body and style, all in black with varying necklines. My maid of honour even chose a style called the “Demi” dress. Their accessories were kept minimal—silver jewellery and heels to complement the overall palette.
They matched Joel in P Johnson suits, with each selecting their own custom jacket lining. Joel’s best man, who owns the sunglasses label Cristian Francis, created custom sunglasses for all the groomsmen and bridesmaids featuring our wedding logo. Everyone wore them throughout the day. The groomsmen also wore initial cufflinks to match Joel’s look.
Our Advice
For the Planning Process
Get a wedding planner—seriously. Even if you’re a type A organiser (hi, me), having someone who gets it and can carry the stress is everything. We were so lucky to have Laice and Doug from Place of LB—total game changers. If your wedding’s away from home, plan warm-up or recovery events. From penthouse parties to a winery bike tour, we had multiple days of fun that made the wedding itself feel extra intimate. Also, don’t be shy about DMing brides who’ve used your venue. Most are more than happy to share tips—they’re the real MVPs.
For On the Day
Put the bar near the dance floor. Trust me, the energy stays up and the cocktails keep flowing without missing a beat. Flip your ceremony seating so your friends and family sit on your partner’s side—it gives them a front-row seat to your vows. Surprise your partner with something personal. A helicopter ride for him, a red ALAÏA bag for me—it made the day even more “us.” Late-night snacks are non-negotiable. Our cheese rolls were a major hit. Most importantly: stay by each other’s side. Celebrate together. It’s your day, and sharing those moments side by side makes it feel that much more magical.
For Post-Wedding
Postpone the honeymoon! Our honeymoon is 7 months after our wedding. We gave ourselves a break from planning and got to hold our wedding era magic that little bit longer.
Vendors
Photography: Thomas Coburn
Wedding Planner, Stylist & Coordinator: Place of LB
Venue (Reception): Wonder & Full Events
Florist: Little Botanica
Stationery: Studio Roux
Cake: Weeping Willow Cakes
Catering: Artisan Catering
Celebrant: Your Big Day
Music: Better Band Co, Brett Walker Music
Hair: Studio Ame
Makeup: Alarna Taylor
Helicopter: Heliworks
Style
Bridal Dress: Lillian Khallouf
Bridal Shoes: Danielle Frankel , Gucci
Bridal Jewelry, Engagement & Wedding Ring: Affinity Diamonds
Groom & Groomsmen: P. Johnson
Bridesmaids: Solace London
