An Ōhinetahi Gardens Wedding with a Fifth Street Reception
Incredible Food & One Epic Dance Floor
"It was love at first ice cream."
That's how Shawn described meeting Jordy back in January 2022, and honestly, it tells you almost everything you need to know about them. Warm, genuine, a little bit funny, and completely themselves.
Fast forward four years and the lawyer had fallen for an ex-chef turned architecture graduate. Along the way, their puppy Loki joined the family, and together they built a life around good food, good people and making the most of the outdoors. So it was only fitting that their wedding reflected exactly that.
Set amongst the spectacular grounds of Ōhinetahi Gardens before continuing with an unforgettable reception at Fifth Street Restaurant, Shawn and Jordy's wedding wasn't about extravagance. It was about creating a day that felt unmistakably like them - heartfelt vows, incredible food, plenty of laughter and one seriously packed dance floor.
The morning was a hive of excitement as Stacey Banfieldworked her magic with makeup while Golden Studios styled hair for Shawn and her bridal party. By the time everyone made their way to Ōhinetahi, everything was in place for what promised to be an unforgettable Canterbury wedding.
As guests wandered down the driveway, they were greeted by one of Christchurch's most breathtaking ceremony locations. Maddy from Studio Alchemy had brought Shawn and Jordy's vision to life, pairing elegant furniture from Loula Hirewith beautiful florals by The Saturday Collective. Nothing felt overdone. It simply complemented the gardens, allowing Ōhinetahi's incredible setting to shine. Meanwhile, the acoustic duo from Mirrors Bandwelcomed guests with live music, instantly creating the relaxed garden-party atmosphere the couple had imagined.
The ceremony, led by celebrant Susan Brown, was beautifully personal.
There is something incredibly special about hearing two people speak directly from the heart. Long after the flowers have faded and the dress has been packed away, those promises remain exactly as they were spoken. It's one of the reasons I believe wedding films become more valuable with every passing year.
The reception at Fifth Street Restaurant picked up exactly where the garden party left off. As guests settled in, MC Richard had the room buzzing, effortlessly getting everyone warmed up before introducing a run of heartfelt speeches. It was the perfect way to kick off an evening that centred around exactly what Shawn and Jordy love most - bringing good people together over incredible food. If you've ever dined at Fifth Street, you'll understand why they chose it. The atmosphere is warm, relaxed and centred around exceptional food. It felt less like a traditional wedding reception and more like inviting 85 of your favourite people to the best dinner party in town.
After dinner, we slipped away with Olga from Wild & Grace one last time for sunset portraits while dessert was prepared back at the restaurant. Returning to a room buzzing with anticipation, they thanked their guests before sharing their first dance to Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls. It was the perfect way to open what quickly became one epic dance floor once the full Mirrors Band took over.
When Shawn first contacted me, she said she loved that our films captured "the true moments of a wedding day - not just the posed moments in between."
That stuck with me.
Because when I think back on their wedding, that's exactly what I remember.
Not the timeline.
Not the logistics.
Just two genuinely lovely people celebrating with the people who matter most.
A couple who fell in love over an ice cream.
Who built a day around heartfelt vows, incredible food and meaningful time with family and friends.
And who proved that the very best weddings don't need to be extravagant - they just need to feel completely, unapologetically like the couple at the centre of them.
🎧 // ‘The Start feat. Riley Friesen’ - Marie Hines; ‘Don’t Hesitate’’- Heather Lee
All music licensed through Musicbed