There are some weddings that just feel full of sunshine — not only because of the weather, but because of the people, the colours, and the energy of the day.
Kate and Ben’s beautiful wedding at The Officers Mess in Takapuna was exactly that.
Set beside the water, with the most gorgeous coastal backdrop, their day felt relaxed, happy and full of personality. Kate and Ben chose a floral palette of soft white, blush, peach and vibrant coral-orange — a colour combination that felt so perfect for a seaside Auckland wedding. It was warm, cheerful and romantic, while still feeling elegant and beautifully bridal.
As an Auckland wedding florist, I always love when couples are open to a little bit of colour. White and blush will always be timeless, but the coral and orange tones brought so much joy to this wedding. The flowers didn’t just decorate the day — they really added to the feeling of celebration.
A Bright and Romantic Bridal Bouquet for Kate
Kate’s bridal bouquet was designed to feel romantic, full and softly rounded, with a fresh garden-inspired finish.
I used a mix of white roses, soft blush and peachy garden roses, coral-orange dahlias and carnations, finished with delicate touches of baby’s breath and fresh green foliage. The coral flowers were the perfect pop of colour — bright enough to feel joyful, but still balanced beautifully with the softer whites and blush tones.
Against Kate’s elegant white gown and pearl necklace, the bouquet felt classic but not too traditional. It had a fresh, youthful feeling, while still being timeless and bridal.
One of my favourite things about this bouquet was how beautifully it photographed beside the ocean. The soft whites picked up the light, while the peach and coral tones brought warmth into every photo.
Bridesmaids’ Bouquets with Soft Sage Dresses
Kate’s bridesmaids wore soft sage green dresses, and I loved how this colour worked with the flowers. The green gave the whole bridal party look a calm, coastal feel, while the peach and coral blooms added warmth and happiness.
Each bridesmaid bouquet was designed to complement Kate’s bouquet, but in a slightly smaller and simpler style. They featured the same palette of white, blush, peach and coral, with soft greenery to tie everything together.
Ceremony Flowers with a Takapuna Ocean View
The ceremony setting at The Officers Mess already had such a beautiful natural backdrop, with the lawn, greenery and ocean views. For this reason, the flowers didn’t need to overpower the space. They just needed to frame the moment softly and bring Kate and Ben’s colour palette into the ceremony.
We created floral arrangements on clean white plinths, using the same mix of white, blush, peach and coral tones. The white plinths kept the look modern and simple, while the flowers added romance, colour and softness.
Buttonholes for Ben and the Groomsmen
Ben’s buttonhole was designed to tie in with Kate’s bridal bouquet, with a small coral floral accent, soft white details and a touch of greenery. It looked beautiful against his light neutral suit and added just the right amount of colour.
The groomsmen’s buttonholes followed the same style, keeping everything cohesive across the bridal party.
These small floral details are easy to overlook, but they make such a difference in photos. They help connect the whole bridal party together and carry the floral story from the bouquets through to the suits and ceremony styling.
Beach Photos After the Ceremony
After the ceremony, Kate, Ben and the bridal party headed down to the beach for photos, which was such a beautiful part of the day.
This is one of the lovely things about having a wedding at The Officers Mess in Takapuna — you have the relaxed coastal setting right there, so the celebration can move so naturally from ceremony to seaside portraits.
The soft sage bridesmaid dresses, light neutral suits and warm coral-orange flowers looked beautiful against the sand, sea and sky. I especially loved how Kate’s bouquet brought a joyful pop of colour into the beach photos, while still feeling soft and romantic.
There was something so relaxed and genuine about these moments — the bridal party walking along the beach, laughing together, and enjoying that just-married feeling by the water. The flowers felt like they truly belonged in that setting: fresh, cheerful, coastal and full of life.
My Favourite Part of the Day
One of my favourite things about Kate and Ben’s wedding was how much joy came through in the photos. The petal toss, the beach portraits, the bridal party laughing by the water, Kate’s veil moving in the wind — everything felt so natural and full of life.
The flowers suited that energy perfectly. They weren’t overly formal or stiff. They felt fresh, cheerful and full of love, just like the day itself.
As a florist, that is always what I hope for — not just to create beautiful flowers, but to create flowers that feel like the couple.
Planning Your Wedding Flowers at The Officers Mess?
If you’re planning a wedding at The Officers Mess in Takapuna, or another coastal Auckland wedding venue, I’d love to help you create flowers that feel personal, thoughtful and beautifully suited to your day.
Whether your vision is soft and timeless, bright and joyful, modern and elegant, or something completely unique to you, Willow & Peony can help bring it together through bridal bouquets, bridesmaids’ bouquets, ceremony flowers, buttonholes and full wedding floral styling.
You can get in touch to book a wedding flower consultation, and we can talk through your venue, colour palette, floral style, budget and the overall feeling you’d love to create.
A special thank you to Chris Turner Weddings for these stunning captures of our work. You can find more of his beautiful work on Instagram too.