A year before their vows, Lucy and Jacob Sheehan were carving terraces into their sloping lawn, with a garden wedding in mind. The space now continues to evolve, thriving with native plants, vegetable beds and fruit trees.
This story was first told Sage Vol. 1: Life among plants
Lucy and Jacob Sheehan always wanted a small, personal wedding – less of a staged event, and more of a celebration with loved ones in a space woven into their everyday lives. The garden at their home in Lower Hutt, in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, was the natural choice. “We’re lucky to be surrounded by native bush, which gives the whole property a sense of calm and connection to nature,” says Lucy.
In the year leading up to their wedding, the couple, with two young children in tow, took on the mammoth project of re-landscaping their site to make the garden more usable, balanced, and ready for both a celebration and the family life that would follow. “We knew we wanted to create something lasting,” says Lucy.
With the help of landscape designer James Walkinshaw from Xanthe White Design, they reshaped the site into flat patio spaces, bricked terraces and open lawn, filling it out with a mix of structured planting and softer natural elements. They worked alongside a small team of landscapers from Chris George Landscaping to bring the plan to life, cutting into the sloping section so one of the new brick platforms could hold their glasshouse – and, on the day, the wedding ceremony itself.
Banquet & blooms
As with the landscaping, the flowers and food camefrom a mix of their own hands and assistance from others. Their florist neighbour, Elly Keen, helped Lucy grow all of her own wedding flowers – they picked blooms from the garden the day before for Elly to arrange. The remaining dahlias formed a bold garden border along the lawn, bringing a sense of energy to the setting.
Food followed the same homegrown principle. Jacob, with help from hands-on whānau (family), spent three full days preparing a Palestinian-style banquet – food that’s been a favourite on his family table for years. Vegetables were sourced straight from their own garden. “It wasn’t the easiest task,” Jacob says, “but it made the whole thing feel incredibly personal.”
The wedding day
The couple had no indoor backup plan so were thankful for good weather. They stood at the top of the brick steps for their vows, guests gathered on the lawn below, and Jacob’s sister officiated. The trickling of the neighbouring creek and the light filtering through large surrounding tōtara and black beech trees meant the space barely needed styling. “The garden created a quiet, natural atmosphere that held the whole day together,” notes Lucy.
A highlight for Jacob was finally enjoying the results of his long days in the kitchen. Dinner was served under an open-sided marquee; the tables lit with the last light of the day and the bush, a serenebackdrop. All that remained was to pour the wine, and enjoy conversation with their closest friends and family. “I loved getting up to speak,” says Jacob. “There’s a lot to say on a day like that.”
To anyone considering a garden wedding at home, Lucy and Jacob’s advice is simple: “Do it! It’ a lot of work, but worth it for the memories.” Their one caution is to think ahead about practicalities, such as serving guests and the clean-up. “If we did it again, we’d get a bit of help for those things,” says Lucy.
Looking ahead
The wedding has anchored memories to their garden in ways they hadn’t anticipated. As the boys grow up here, the property not only carries the story of that day, but the daily rituals of family life.
The garden continues to evolve. “We’re focused on making our property as self-sufficient as possible,” says Lucy. They grow from seed, follow organic methods, and their 34 fruit trees, 200 square metres of vegetable beds and rows of flowers still keep them busy. “A big part of the design was using local native plants, not just species native to Aotearoa New Zealand generally, but ones that grow in the surrounding Stokes Valley hills,” explains Lucy. “That connection to the place is really important to us.” The family also propagate local native plants to return to the surrounding bush, which contributes to the ecology of the area.
Hosting the celebration in their own garden gave the day its shape, its atmosphere and its meaning, and left them with a place they’ll continue to love for years to come. “The wedding was one beautiful moment,” Lucy says, “but the garden will keep growing with us.”
