Wedding Day

Guests to arrive

Ceremony

Reception

Neon Bush Party

Sunday Session

Our Wedding

Stian and Aya’s story is anything but cliché, yet one timeless adage perfectly captures its essence: "You don't know what you're looking for until you find it." It was this indescribable feeling of discovery and understanding that would ultimately unite them on their shared journey. Their tale began with a chance meeting on a rooftop in Auckland. Stian was in New Zealand for a music tour, and Aya was attending her friend Benn and Tali’s event. Exhausted from two days without sleep due to the rigors of touring, Stian’s eyes lit up the moment he spotted Aya. Without hesitation, he exclaimed, “I HAVE to talk to her!” and made a beeline toward her. Fueled by equal parts adrenaline and delirium, the overzealous Casanova plopped down beside her and struck up a conversation. His opening gambit was playful but entirely platonic, yet Aya wasn’t exactly in the mood to indulge the Aussie’s enthusiastic chatter. She had come out to enjoy a casual evening with friends, not to entertain strangers. Politely and courteously, she kept her responses brief, making it clear she wasn’t as eager to engage further. As fate would have it, however, Stian’s crew of tour companions happened to know Aya’s friends. Before long, the entire group was headed out to dinner together. Throughout the meal, Stian’s animated conversation barely paused for breath, much to Aya’s amusement—and mild disbelief. She couldn’t help but think, “Is this guy for real?”&nbsp; After dinner, the newly formed "supergroup" set off for a lively night on the town in Auckland, sharing laughter and enjoying each other's company. Amid the chaos of the evening, Stian and Aya became separated, and as fate would have it, Stian had to leave town the next day. Thankfully, the ever-chatty musician had the foresight to ask for Aya’s Instagram, and she had graciously obliged.&nbsp;Little did they realize, this small gesture would set off a chain of events that would go on to profoundly shape not just their own lives but those of their friends and families as well. For the time being, however, it seemed that the spark had failed to catch fire. Stian returned to Australia while Aya embarked on an 11-month, life-changing journey across Europe. Life moved forward, yet Aya’s dazzling holiday photos began to pop up on Stian’s Instagram feed. She was clearly having the time of her life, exploring the wonders of Europe. Stian, intrigued and compelled, occasionally slid into her DMs with questions about her adventures. This soon evolved into lighthearted banter, which grew more frequent week by week.Before long, their conversations became daily, then seemingly hourly, as they couldn’t type fast enough to keep up with the natural flow of genuine connection. Their messages gave way to video calls—first brief check-ins, then marathon conversations that stretched into hours. Night after night, Aya would give Stian a live play-by-play of her holiday escapades, from stunning landmarks to unexpected misadventures.Over the course of a month, the two formed a close and unshakable bond. When Aya casually mentioned that her trip was nearing its end and she was thinking about returning to New Zealand, she added that she was keen to find a place with good weather and a nice beach.Stian’s heart skipped a beat. “I know just the place,” he said without hesitation. Aya agreed to a short visit to Perth, planning to stay for just one week. But from the moment they reunited, time seemed to bend to their connection. That one week effortlessly stretched into 5 weeks as they shared what became known as their “Summer of Love.” The bond between them was undeniable—pure joy, deep connection, and an unshakable sense that everything in the world had fallen into place.Eventually, Aya had to return to New Zealand. But fate had a habit of conspiring in their favor. As it happened, Stian’s music tour to New Zealand was being repeated, and this time, Aya had a suggestion. “Why don’t you and your crew stay at my place?” she offered. Stian didn’t even need a second to think. He said “YES!” with all the enthusiasm of a man who knew this meant they could be together again sooner than expected. The “Summer of Love” seamlessly transitioned into a new season, this time across New Zealand. Aya traveled to some of the events and even brought him to her hometown of Queenstown. There, they shared some of their most magical moments yet, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes and the warmth of a growing connection that felt nothing short of extraordinary.But as all trips do, this one came to an end. Stian returned to Australia, and Aya stayed in New Zealand. This time, though, the separation felt unbearable. They both knew something had to change. Aya began to consider moving to Australia, but nothing concrete had been decided. And then came 2020. The world was about to change forever.Through a chance phone call, Stian’s dad, Hans, got word from a government insider: Australia was closing its borders due to the unfolding pandemic. If Aya didn’t act immediately, they wouldn’t see each other for who knew how long.The news prompted a tough but urgent conversation. Aya, brave and resolute, sought her father Matt’s advice. His words were clear: “You just need to go!”Determined, Aya stayed up all night on hold with Air New Zealand desperately trying to book a flight. Her perseverance paid off—she secured a seat on the very last flight into Western Australia before the borders closed for what would turn out to be two long years.When she arrived in Perth, suitcase in hand, the relief was overwhelming. Stian greeted her with *social distanced* open arms —and a peculiar request. Amid the chaos of early pandemic shortages, he’d asked her to fill an entire suitcase with toilet paper, which she had dutifully done. *thanks babe* &lt;3 From the whirlwind of their honeymoon period to the settled rhythm now becoming defacto partners, Aya and Stian’s relationship deepened and flourished, courtesy of the two-year border lockdown that kept them firmly together. This unexpected twist in their story became the foundation for their enduring compatibility and connection.Over those years, they embarked on a beautiful journey, growing as individuals and as a team. They forged and fostered new friendships, bringing warmth and positivity to everyone they met. Together, they shared their boundless passion for life, infusing joy and adventure into the lives of those around them.Through challenges big and small, Aya and Stian continually proved their strength as a unit, demonstrating an unwavering ability to face life’s hurdles with resilience, humor, and love. It wasn’t just their romance that blossomed—it was their partnership, a bond that had been tested and solidified by the unexpected turns of fate. And this - is the story of how they met.&nbsp;

Stian and Aya's Story

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

Wear what makes you happy - Ideally bright colours! We will probably be on the more formal side but there is no specific dress code. Please bring something warm for the evening as the evenings can get very cold, even if the day is warm. Feel free to bring any sparkly and fun garbs for the neon bush after party too! There will be a place at the house to put your things.FOOTWEAR: You will be in the outdoors on uneven terrain and there will be no hard floor anywhere. Even for a chunky heel, it will be a challenge. We recommend flat shoes or bare feet. Definitely advise against a pointy heel of any kind.

Dress Code

Travel

Did you get the email?

You should have received an email from Aya with a very large (whoops) and detailed 'guide' on everything and anything you will need to know about the area from activities, getting around, food etc. If you didn't get this, please check your spam or let either one of us know and we will email it to you. You can also access the document in a google drive <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_Zr3t-gTIlRzeY5MdxJLplOG3SvXLyDt/view?usp=sharing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">HERE</a> or through this link: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_Zr3t-gTIlRzeY5MdxJLplOG3SvXLyDt/view?usp=sharing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_Zr3t-gTIlRzeY5MdxJLplOG3SvXLyDt/view?usp=sharing</a>

Things to Do

Registry

Will there be transport to the ceremony at Dudley's Cottage? Most people should be within walking distance from their accommodation in Arrowtown so please google map it to check. If not, you can bus into Arrowtown, or arrange an Uber or Taxi to Dudley's Cottage (4 Buckingham Street). Taxi numbers at the bottom of the page. How will I get home? As the Neon Bush Party could be going into the wee hours (lets be honest) - from midnight onwards, there will be a van leaving roughly every 30 minutes until 2am, to take people back to their Arrowtown accommodation. Please note: this van is for dropping people back to to Arrowtown accommodation only, and not picking people up to bring them back. If you are not staying in Arrowtown, please let Aya know as soon as possible so she can arrange alternative transport. Taxi Number:Queenstown Taxis: +64 3 450 3000

Transport

Accommodation

For those who opted into receiving accommodation info, you should have been contacted and sorted for any days within dates 26th Feb - 2nd Mar. If you have not had your accommodation confirmed for those dates, or you have not yet arranged any, please let Aya know as soon as possible so she can confirm/provide options. Any accommodation outside of those dates, please arrange yourself. For recommendations on where else to go etc, please refer to the guide that was emailed.

Accomodation

We know a lot of time and money has been spent by our guests to join us and that is more than anything we could ask for! There is no expectations for gifts/contributions but if you would like to write us a card, there will be a box for them at the ceremony.

Gifts

On Friday the 27th of Feb, Stian and Delby will be doing a Whose Rhyme gig - in Arrowtown for anyone who is there and keen to come along. This will be from 1pm. Show will start around 1:30/2. If you haven't seen one of their shows and would like to, it would be a great chance to do so. You won't want to miss it! This is also a great opportunity to meet the other guests, have a catch up with us before the big day and kick off the celebrations What to expect?: Comedy, rap, lots of laughs and ADHD in HD 4k actionVenue: Fork and Tap, ArrowtownDate: Friday 27th FebTime: 1pm

Stian & Aya

Stian & Aya

Friday 27th Whose Rhyme and Welcome Mingles