The Kiwi Wedding Podcast

Today I’m joined by Emma - florist, wedding vendor and recent bride, who shares her relaxed and personal Queenstown wedding. From planning a simple lakeside ceremony to creating her own florals, Emma’s story is full of practical advice and thoughtful inspiration for couples wanting to keep things stress-free and true to themselves.

🎟️ Tickets for The Kiwi Wedding Podcast LIVE Event (August 31st in Auckland) are ⁠⁠⁠on sale now⁠⁠...

Today I’m joined by Gemma, who shares how she and Josh planned their beautiful, uniquely-them celebration: a private family ceremony on a hilltop, then a relaxed reception at their family beach property in Taupō Bay. All pulled together in six months while working full-time and parenting their four-year-old.

🎟️ Tickets for The Kiwi Wedding Podcast LIVE Event (August 31st in Auckland) are ⁠⁠⁠on sale now⁠⁠⁠! We’ll have delicious ...

Today on the podcast I’m joined by the lovely Ainsley, florist, wedding vendor and recent bride. You might know her from Floralcentric or have seen her stunning Queenstown wedding featured on the cover of Together Journal. She shares the real behind-the-scenes of planning her own wedding while working in the industry, plus her top flower tips and trends for couples currently planning.

🎟️ Tickets for The Kiwi Wedding Podcast LIV...

In this episode, I’m joined by the incredible Natalie Rose from Natalie Rose Bridal. You might know her iconic “Pink Palace” boutique on Parnell Road, Auckland, or have seen some of her gorgeous brides featured in past episodes. 

Natalie is known for her beautifully structured gowns, honest advice, and the unforgettable experience she creates for every bride who walks through her door.

This was a special one- my first-ever in-person ...

This week on the podcast, I’m joined by the radiant Anika-Skye, a makeup artist, owner of Skye Beauty and newlywed who planned a beautiful wedding at Black Walnut in Tauranga. 

From meeting her now-husband as teenagers to creating Pinterest boards and Canva slideshows to bring her vision to life, Anika shares practical tips and thoughtful insights from her wedding planning journey.

We chat about:

💜 Anika’s love story with Bec...

In this episode, I’m joined by the incredibly warm and talented makeup artist Kate Solley. With 18 years in the industry, including 10 years at MAC Cosmetics, Kate brings so much experience, wisdom, and calm to every wedding morning.

Whether you’re a makeup lover or someone who barely wears mascara, this episode is packed with practical, stress-free advice you’ll actually want to follow.

We chat about:

💜 Kate’s honest reflect...

In this episode, I chat with the lovely Abby, a recent bride and wedding vendor who shares an honest, funny and super relatable look at planning her wedding while juggling two kids, and working in the industry herself.

We chat about: 

💜 How Abby and Storm met working in radio and the adorable proposal followed by a bit of chaos. 

💜 Planning when you’re in the wedding industry and why picking a venue was the hardest part. 

💜 Jugg...

In this episode, I chat with the lovely Liv Clarke about her sweet supermarket romance with Leighton, their surprise Fiji proposal, and how they pulled off a fun, relaxed Tree Church wedding that truly felt like them. 

💜 From grocery checkouts to saying “I do”… the sweet way Liv and Leighton’s story began.

💜 How a group trip to Fiji turned into the ultimate surprise proposal. 

💜 Why they secretly planned a small wedding and a s...

In this episode, I’m chatting with the lovely Johanna about how she planned her warm and rustic wedding at Church Road Winery, stayed organised, and made the most of every moment with her friends and family.

💜 How they matched on Tinder and ended up getting married on the same date as their very first kiss. 

💜 Picking a venue that ticked every box, including that all-important wet weather option. 

💜 Their practical approach to ...

In this episode, I sat down with the creative soulmates behind one of the coolest bridal boutiques in Aotearoa, Lauren and Jacque from LVR. 

These two are fashion lovers, besties, and the brains behind a bridal space that’s anything but traditional. We chatted all about how their love for design (and each other!) turned into a one-of-a-kind wedding dress destination for modern, stylish brides.

We chat about: 💜 How Lauren and...

In this special bonus episode, it’s just me - no guest, just your host, Lydia answering all your questions! I'm chatting about the podcast, my photography business, and all things weddings. From how it all began, to episode recommendations and some surprises coming up.

💜 Why I started the podcast and how it’s grown to 100+ episodes 

💜 How I choose podcast guests 

💜 My journey into wedding photography and how I’d describe my...

We’ve hit a big milestone - episode 100 of The Kiwi Wedding Podcast. Whether you’ve been here since the early days or recently discovered the show, thank you for listening. It’s been such a privilege to share real wedding stories, advice, and inspiration with you… Cheers to the next 100!

To celebrate this episode, I’m joined by someone extra special, my lovely friend Kristie. I had the honour of photographing her Nelson wedding,...

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by wedding planning, today’s episode is exactly what you need. I chat with the lovely and incredibly down-to-earth Julz from Dream Events - a wedding planner, on-the-day coordinator, and all-round calming presence in the chaos that can be planning a wedding.

Julz brings a wealth of practical experience and heartfelt advice to the table, whether you're just getting started or need support p...

In this episode, I’m joined by Johnelle, recently married and also a celebrant, MC, and on-the-day coordinator at I Do Ceremonies. She shares her honest and thoughtful perspective on both planning her own wedding and working behind the scenes at dozens of others.

A few things we cover:

💜 Reconnecting with her now-husband years after high school, and how their relationship shaped the way they planned their day.

💜 How they created...

In today’s episode, I'm sharing my chat with beautiful Clara, recent bride and wedding dress designer, we love to hear both perspectives!

A few things we cover:

💜 Clara met her husband Tom on Tinder and they instantly clicked. He proposed with a sweet, well-planned surprise involving a seaplane, a beach, and a heartfelt speech.

💜 They chose the Tree Church for its beauty and flexibility, especially being able to bring their ...

In today’s episode, I'm sharing my lovely chat with Chloe, a recent bride, married at Stoneridge Estate in Queenstown.

A few things we cover:

💜 Getting engaged in the most Gossip Girl-worthy way (yes, at the top of the Empire State Building 😍).

💜 Choosing a destination wedding in Queenstown and why Stoneridge was the perfect venue.

💜 Getting a custom Brooke Tyson Ritual wedding dress made and changing up her look with a bea...

In today’s episode, I’m chatting with the lovely Steph. Recent bride and the founder of Bridal Fusion, where she offers a beautiful collection of bridal dresses, veils, accessories, and traditional Asian wedding attire.

Follow Steph: ⁠@bridalfusionbysteph⁠

⁠Steph’s Wedding Budget & Forecast Template

In this episode, she shares her own love story, how she and her husband Nick blended their Kiwi, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Br...

In today’s episode, I'm chatting with Lana about her gorgeous Southland wedding!

A few things we cover:

💜 Meeting her husband at a friend's wedding, where they were both in the bridal party.

💜 Her vision for a wedding that was fun, modern, and timeless.

💜 Choosing to celebrate their big day on the family farm, a spot that was significant to them and allowed their guests to stay on-site.

💜 How their friends and family ral...

In today’s episode, I'm chatting with the lovely Greta about her gorgeous Hawke’s Bay wedding, and it’s such a good story!

Greta shares how she and her husband Sam met at ballroom dancing when they were teenagers, their surprise proposal after twelve years together, and the journey of planning a beautiful alfresco-style wedding, with a few wild weather curveballs thrown in!

A few things we cover:

💜 Planning a wedding at a...