Three Steps Closer to ‘I Do’ — Let’s Keep the Magic Going!

Hello again from Dean and Helen! We think of you often as you live your full and rich lives and dream of your futures… and your wedding day! Here are a few reminders about what is most important as you come towards your wedding planning…

Emotional Grounding & Connection

You don’t need to do more. You just need to remember what matters.

Planning a wedding can feel like trying to juggle joy, logistics, expectations, and Instagram-worthy details all at once. Somewhere in the swirl, it’s easy to forget: this isn’t just an event. It’s your story—one you get to write together.

Here are a few ways to step back, reconnect, and gently re-center:

Take a Non-Wedding Date Night

No spreadsheets. No Pinterest. No guest list talk.
Just the two of you—out for dinner, a beach walk, a bottle of wine on the couch.
Remind yourselves why you’re doing this in the first place.

Because great weddings don’t come from planning hard—they come from feeling close.

Talk About the Guest Experience

Take a moment to ask each other:
“How do we want our guests to feel when they arrive?”
“What would make the night unforgettable for them?”
“What would feel meaningful to us?”

This isn’t about tablecloth colors or signature cocktails (though those are fun too). It’s about designing the mood, not just the look.

Revisit Your Vows or Ceremony Script

Whether you’ve already drafted your vows or haven’t started yet, this is a powerful time to reflect.
You don’t need to write anything final. Just return to the why.

  • What promises matter most to you?

  • What are you most excited to say, or hear?

  • How do you want to feel, standing there together?

This part of planning is invisible—but it’s the part that lasts.

Gentle Reminder

You don’t have to do everything.
You don’t have to do it perfectly.
You just have to keep showing up for each other—with a little more presence, and a little less pressure.

We're here to help with the rest.

Dean, Helen & The Songbird Team

SOME SONGBIRD RETREAT DETAILS

The Guest accommodation nearby Songbird Retreat, and available by special arrangement by the Owner, Anne Simpson, to families and friends of Songbird couples, now has all the extra information required for booking.

Nightly Rate: $1,045 NZD plus $250 cleaning and linen

  • Total Amount Due: $1,295.00 incl taxes. Any additional nights stay at $900 per night

  • Payment Collection: Payment will be processed securely by Songbird Retreat Wedding Venue on behalf of the Hosts,  Anne & Karen Simpson. Full payment is due 3 months prior to the date of booking unless otherwise arranged.

  • For booking or payment matters, contact Songbird Retreat: dean@songbirdretreat.co.nz

For the comfort of you and your guests, we have a luxury toilet trailer for you which has

  • 3 female stalls

  • 2 male stalls and 2 urinals

In order to make it easiest for those of you who have more guests than 100 and need to hire additional furniture, we are providing

  • white resin folding chairs that are compatible with Carlton Hire chairs

  • trestle tables that are compatible with Carlton Hire trestle tables, measuring 2400(L) x 750(W) x 750(H)

  • white floor length tablecloths for 150 guests - this will mean that you need not worry about matching tablecloths with ours. We will hire out the additional tablecloths at the same rate as Carlton Hire, which will make the whole process easier for you. You are welcome to hire alternative tablecloths in different colours if you wish.

Wondering how to get PEOPLE UP Dancing all night?

We can highly recommend Jarrod Phillips from Mix It DJ.

His sax combination with the DJ was outstanding! 021624061

imagine your day!

Celebrate Your love, Your Way

in Relaxed Elegance or

Sophisticated Celebration

Songbird Cottage

Your Perfect Bridal Preparation and Honeymoon Retreat