Classically Luxurious
Having moved to Christchurch from Seattle in 2012, international photojournalist and well-known fashionista Kia Dirkson jumped headfirst into Kiwi life. Her recent nuptials to Peter Sullivan are the ultimate cherry on the top and were celebrated in style while paying homage to her American heritage and the country she now calls home.
Kia Dirkson and Peter Sullivan’s love story begins on a beautiful night on The Terrace in Ōtautahi Christchurch. ‘From the night we met we didn’t separate. I had given up on men and then in he walked,’ laughs Kia. After courting, with dates out to dinner and the theatre, Peter proposed in the cutting garden of their townhouse, and the couple quickly set a date for only six months later, knowing Covid restrictions were getting tighter. ‘We knew we needed to plan something small and intimate due to the pandemic and had our hearts set on making it official, so it all happened sooner rather than later,’ she explains. ‘Finding the perfect date was a little challenging however, as between us we have six children so a few birthdays to avoid, add to the mix a pandemic and we just took the first date we could!’
When it came to choosing the venue, the natural choice was The George . ‘We wanted something classic and luxurious, and The George is like a second home to us so it just felt right to host our closest friends and family there,’ explains Kia. ‘It was the perfect place for us. We love their extensive art collection and The Residence [at The George] is a little gem that few people know about.’
On the day, Ōtautahi Christchurch served up beautiful spring sunshine, and the gardens, in full bloom, served as a romantic natural backdrop. Kia describes the day as classic luxury. ‘We wanted our guests to be indulged with luxe but with a classic style underpinning the day, which we achieved with the dress, flowers and food. I wanted to be surrounded by flowers and our florist Kim Chan did not disappoint.’
Kia and Peter share a passion for gardening, and nods to this were incorporated throughout the day. ‘We lead extraordinarily busy lives but food and the garden binds us. My bouquet featured Peter’s favourite herb rosemary, incorporated as tendrils through huge callas and white roses.’
As Creative Director of IBK Photography , a model and fashion lover, the dress was always going to be fabulous and Kia absolutely glowed in a Vera Wang gown with raw pleating and a mermaid tail, accessorised with a Jessica McClintock encrusted choker, 14 layers of faux pearls and diamond earrings. A look she describes as ‘vintage bohemian chic’ and staying true to her personal style which included forgoing shoes for the day.
With Kia’s family in the USA and unable to travel due to Covid, she walked down the aisle escorted by her eldest son Quentin. ‘I missed my family terribly but having all of our children with us was such a blessing.’
Keeping in the theme of luxury, the food was white glove style catering from Lizzie’s Cuisine. ‘We know Lizzie from our collective work lives and as patrons of the Christchurch Art Gallery, so it was wonderful to have someone we could trust executing this part of the day. Plus, we had to have her famous chicken sandwiches!’
The couple’s show-stopping cake was crafted by Peter’s sister Alison [Trengrove], who used lemons lovingly homegrown by the couple to make a croquembouche. Initially, Kia had her heart set on a traditional white wedding cake, however after a few attempts, they decided to instead hero the lemons that were growing in abundance at that time of year. ‘We had to pivot a lot with the planning and the cake was just another example of how you have to go with the flow when planning a wedding. It was such a personalised touch and turned out to be delicious.’
Even the photographer had a personal connection to the couple – Sophie (Clement) had once studied photography under Kia and was also the children’s nanny. ‘I taught her to take good photos when she was in her teens and the rest is history. She is doing some amazing work and we felt very blessed to have her.’
The evening was concluded with firecrackers before Peter whisked Kia off on a surprise trip to Koura Bay Golf Resort for the honeymoon.
Despite having to change their plans due to restrictions, Kia describes her wedding as an unforgettable night with close family and friends. ‘Covid taught us that sometimes you just have to pivot your party. It was an uphill planning battle at times but we are so glad we went with our hearts and did it. It was a fantastic day with our closest people, and it highlighted [to me] that you can’t stress when plans change. You just have to party on with the people who are there to share your day.’
For those seeking more real wedding inspiration, advice, hints and tips for planning your own big day make sure you pick up a copy of our sister publication, Canterbury Bride .
Purchase online at canterburybride.co.nz .
