Last week I met with local bride Toni Gooch-Johnson to hear her true love story and all about her magical wedding day to Shea – who from here – has asked that we call him Goochie.
Toni and Goochie met through mutal friends – he was DJing at a local bar when they met and they became friends first – fast forward almost 5 years and they’re happily married.
We LOVE a good proposal story here at Taranaki Weddings and as soon as I asked for Toni’s – she burst out laughing – so I knew this had to be a good one. She already knew before he popped the question that he was going to ask as she had helped pick out the ring….her best friend was round visiting after he picked the ring up – so she followed him upstairs to see it and he asked her right there and then in their bedroom! She ran downstairs to tell her friend who was pretty shocked and then darted off to watch the rugby with the kids leaving hubby-to-be at home! Laughing
The theme for their big day was EVERYTHING Pink and Blue! Toni’s favourite colour is pink and Goochie’s is Blue and so everything about their day was themed around that. Goochie works for TLL Events and so had access to lots of fabulous things to theme their day – and what he couldn’t get from TLL Events – he made himself! SUCH a creative man! Toni had seen large hearts that she wanted to use as a backdrop and so Goochie made them himself!
Goochie and Toni had their special day at the Devon Hotel in New Plymouth. Toni and her Bridemaids spent the night their before the wedding and Toni and Goochie spent two nights there after their wedding.
Their ceremony, conducted by Celebrant – Nicky Bryant, was highly personal. Toni and Goochie wrote their own vows and neither had any idea what the other was going to say on the day – but their vows matched perfectly.
Toni’s favourite moment of the day was her “revealing of the Chucks”. Her hubby-to-be was a HUGE fan of Chucks but Toni, being a girly girl and loving her heels had always hated and refused to wear them! During her vows she surprised her hubby to be by telling him it was the first and last time he’d ever hear her admit he was right and lifting her dress and revealing her bright blue Chucks (her grooms favourite colour)!
The Groom wore matching PINK Chucks and his groomsmen wore blue.
I asked Toni if there was anything about her wedding she wished she’d done differently – and the only thing she regrets was not putting up with the wet weather and going off to have their photograhs taken at Pukekura Park. Unfortunately, as soon as they were pronounced Husband Wife – the heavens opened. They didn’t even get to go anywhere in the beautiful vintage car that they had hired for the day.
I also asked Toni was she loved best about being a “Mrs” – she said that Goochie had always made her feel like a Princess and nothing else mattered! (My heart pretty much melted!)
Toni’s advice for other Brides planning their wedding is to make sure you take time out and step back from the planning process and not let the wedding plans stress you out. Also – don’t sweat the small stuff! Little things are bound to go wrong on the day – but don’t waste time sweating the small stuff – as long as your groom is at the end of the aisle waiting for you – nothing else matters! I couldn’t agree more! Toni also recommends that Brides be extra cautious when buying things for your wedding via Trade Me or online – Toni and Goochie were unfortunately stung by a seller on Trade Me when buying their suits. We totally agree – check feedback on listings before buying!
Toni and Goochie had a lot of fun making a lot of the components of their day themselves – with Goochie creating their gorgeous flower covered heart backdrop and Toni making their wedding invitations, their favours and her bouquet. Toni also made gift boxes and personalised coat hangers for the Bridal Party.
Here’s a list of all the people who helped make Toni & Goochies Big Day!
Hair – Denby at HQ Hair by Design
Make-up – Sade Hamann
The Dress – E-Bride (via Trade Me)
Flowers – DIY using artificial flowers from E-Max (via Trade Me)
Wedding Cake – Annettes Cake Design
Venue, Catering and Accomodation – The Devon Hotel
Menswear – Mondo Man and Hallensteins
Bridesmaids – Trade Me
Prop/Lighting Hire – TLL Events
Photographer/Videographer – Wolf Paw & Daisy
Wedding Stationery & Favours – DIY
Celebrant – Nicky Bryant
Entertainment – Nightshift
Photobooth – Flash Mob Photo Booth Taranaki
MC – Dinnie from DMan Entertainment
Choreographer (First Dance) – The Dance Factory