A DIY Backyard Wedding in Wellington, New Zealand

Wellington, New Zealand is known for its heavy rainfall throughout the year, but there was only sunshine and clear skies on the day of Lys and Eddy's wedding. "You couldn't ask for a better day to get married, the weather is just perfect," said their guests that day.

As they did not hire a wedding planner and decorator, Lys and Eddy took every matter in their own hands. Lys handmade all the wedding details herself, and she was especially proud of the hand-illustrated tea towel invitation and 10-meter long calligraphy backdrop used for the wedding registry. The couple, Eddy's best man, and Lys' sister, who is her maid of honor, even stayed up until 3 to 4 in the morning to make sure that everything they needed was in place. The next day, Lys and Eddy had to wake up as early as 6 AM to double check everything and Eddy drove three hours to pick up his family because the initial lodging they had rented near the wedding venue was suddenly closed down without any notice.

Thankfully, the vendors they did hire gave Lys and Eddy a helping hand. "I hired the number one caterer in Wellington. Despite the high price they charged, I'm truly grateful for choosing them. Aside from their exceptional service, quality, and taste, they even did something extraordinary. They helped us set up a rundown, which I didn't even think of when preparing the wedding," said Lys.

Lys admitted that she had too many different ideas for her wedding that she ended up not using or did not turn out to be as she expected. However, she learned a precious lesson on her wedding day. "No matter how detail-oriented you are, nothing's perfect. Cherish your big day and when mistakes come, take them as part of a precious memory," said Lys.