Sapwe & Alex – A Laid-Back, Love-Filled Celebration at Hallertau Brewery
- willowandsagebotan
- Apr 1
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 4
Sapwe and Alex celebrated their love in a relaxed and intimate setting, surrounded by their closest friends, family, and the dreamiest wildflower-inspired blooms.
Tell Me about your love story! How did you two meet?
My husband and I met when we were about 14 years old on a camping trip. It wasn’t love at first sight or anything like that—we barely even spoke, to be honest! But we stayed within the same circles for many years, overlapping friend groups and seeing each other from time to time. Everything changed one day when I reached out to him for some info about an event I was planning... and we just never stopped talking! We became best friends almost instantly, and before long, friendship naturally blossomed into romance.
What led to your engagement, how did you come to find/choose your venue?
When it came time to get engaged, it felt like the most natural thing in the world. We already knew we wanted to spend our lives together, and he planned the sweetest proposal that completely caught me off guard. It was simple, heartfelt, and so us. We decided to incorporate our engagement on the wedding day by getting our wedding portraits taken at the restaurant (Sun Set Bar) that my husband took me to on the night of our proposal!
Choosing the venue was actually one of the biggest challenges because we both wanted a place that felt relaxed and open—a space that made people feel comfortable and encouraged them to mingle. We stumbled across our venue almost by accident (Hallertau Brewery), but as soon as we saw it, we knew it was perfect. It had the right balance of indoor and outdoor space, and the vibe just fit what we envisioned.
What was your vision for your wedding? Did you have a theme, a feeling, or an aesthetic in mind?
Our vision for the wedding was all about bringing people together. We both have large families and come from different cultural backgrounds, so we really wanted the day to feel like a beautiful collision of both. While there wasn’t a strict theme, we aimed for a classic and simple aesthetic that felt effortless and relaxing. We wanted it to feel like one big cocktail party where everyone could mix, mingle, and really get to know one another. It wasn’t about grand gestures or over-the-top decor—it was about connection and community.
What was the most important element of your wedding design? Was it the florals, the tablescape, the ambiance, or something else
The most important element of our wedding design was definitely the venue itself. We wanted a space that naturally encouraged socializing without feeling too formal or structured. Creating that cocktail party atmosphere was key, so we focused on open seating and cozy lounge areas that made it easy for guests to move around and chat. The venue’s natural charm did a lot of the work for us, and we just added little touches to enhance that relaxed, inviting vibe.
What role did flowers play in your day? Were there specific blooms, colors, or arrangements that were meaningful to you?
Flowers were such an important part of the day because they brought in a beautiful pop of color and added a touch of personality. I wanted something that felt light, feminine, and textured, with a bit of a wildflower feel rather than anything too formal. It was all about capturing that effortless, slightly whimsical aesthetic that matched the vibe of the day.
What were your favorite floral moments? Any specific arrangements, bouquets, or installations that stood out?
My bridal bouquet was definitely my favourite floral moment. It felt so true to me—light, feminine, textured, and beautifully wild without being messy. Carrying it down the aisle made me feel like it was the perfect finishing touch to my look, and it just made me feel like myself.
How did you feel when you saw your flowers for the first time? We’d love to hear about that moment!
I was absolutely blown away when I saw the flowers for the first time. It was honestly overwhelming in the best way—I felt like you'd captured my personality and style perfectly. I couldn’t stop smiling, and I kept looking at my bouquet all day!
Vendor team
Photography: @the.nostalgists
Makeup: @look.bomb @harleys.artistry
Florist: @willowandsagebotanics
Venue: @hallertau_nz
Wedding portraits: @sunsetbar.nz
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