Jordyn & Jamie — Retro Modern Wedding at The Old Mill, Napier
RETRO ROMANCE MEETS MODERN PLAYFULNESS AT THE OLD MILL, NAPIER
There’s a certain kind of couple whose wedding feels like an echo of who they are — unfiltered, untraditional, and brimming with intent. Jordyn and Jamie are exactly that. Their wedding at The Old Mill in Napier was less about ticking boxes and more about crafting a day that felt completely and unapologetically “them.”
From the moment guests arrived, it was clear this wasn’t a wedding bound by convention. There were no bridal parties, no elaborate entrances — just two people doing things their way. Jordyn, radiant in a soft white gown paired with a pink veil, pink shoes, and matching pink tie for Jamie, made her entrance not down an aisle alone, but beside her partner. The two arrived together in a vintage buggy, grinning ear to ear, before walking hand-in-hand toward the ceremony.
The decision to enter as equals set the tone for everything that followed — a celebration of unity, laughter, and love without pretense.
Inside the intimate ceremony space, disco balls lined the aisle, catching afternoon light that scattered across old brick and timber. Only close family and the dearest of friends were invited to witness their vows — around seventy-five guests — creating a warmth that felt more like a family gathering than a formality. Every glance and grin felt magnified in that closeness.
Jordyn and Jamie’s connection came through in small, effortless moments. A shared look mid-ceremony. The laughter when their celebrant Dan Waite cracked a gentle joke. The quiet pride in their parents’ eyes. It was emotional, but never heavy — real in the way great love stories always are.
A pink veil, vintage buggy, and family-heirloom cake knife set the tone for a wedding that broke every rule in the most beautiful way.
After the ceremony, portraits unfolded seamlessly. With no bridal party and all formalities handled earlier in the day, they had space to just be. The grounds of The Old Mill — rustic textures, sprawling trees, and golden Hawke’s Bay light — became the perfect canvas for their playful, candid energy. Jordyn’s pink veil caught the light like a painter’s brushstroke, adding whimsy and romance to every frame.
The reception kept the spirit alive: casual, joyful, and full of personality. Guests mingled beneath string lights as plates from The Food Co. circled the room and music pulsed from their curated Spotify playlist. There were no staged moments — just movement, laughter, and clinking glasses.
One of the most touching traditions came as the couple cut their cake. They used a family heirloom knife that’s been passed down for generations, engraved with each family milestone before theirs. It’s the kind of detail that grounds a modern celebration in history — a quiet nod to where they come from and what they’re building together.
The photos tell the story exactly as it unfolded — candid, documentary-style, rich with emotion and movement. The kind of imagery that feels alive, not arranged. Jordyn, who initially admitted she sometimes struggles feeling comfortable in front of a camera, completely melted into the experience. You can see it in the photos — the relaxed body language, the genuine laughter, the way she leans into Jamie with total ease.
It’s that freedom, that realness, that defines this wedding. Every decision — from skipping bridal parties to walking in together — reflected their shared belief that weddings should feel natural, not staged.
This is The Old Mill reimagined through the lens of modern love: romantic yet relaxed, vibrant yet grounded. For those planning their own day, Jordyn and Jamie’s story is a reminder that there’s no single way to do it “right” — there’s only your way.
VENDORS
Photography: Levi Caleb Allan — Beaux Art Co.
Venue: The Old Mill, Napier
Florals: Bee and Blossom
Catering: The Food Co.
Cake: Rubylicious
Celebrant: Dan Waite
Dress: ASOS
Shoes: Steve Madden (Jordyn), Converse (Reception)
Suit: Thompson Suits
Jewellery: Clean Carats, Mountain & Moon, S-kin Studio
Transport: Vintage buggy (family friend)
Music: Spotify playlist curated by the couple
