Schedule
Monday 5th January 2026
3:30pm
Guest Arrival & Welcome Drinks
The Smiths Farm
211 Parapara Road, Taipa 0483, New Zealand
5:30pm
Reception Begins
Mangōnui Cruising Club
18 Silver Egg Road, Mangōnui 0420, New Zealand
5:45pm
Welcome Speech & Dinner Service
7:30pm - 10:00pm
First Dance & Open Dancing
Travel to Taipa
🚙 Drive
from Auckland to Taipa - 4.5 hours
from Hamilton to Taipa - 5.5 hours
from Otorohanga/Putāruru to Taipa - 6 hours
from Whakatāne to Taipa - 8 hours
from Gisborne to Taipa - 10 hours
✈️ Fly
from Auckland to Kerikeri - 50 mins
Thinking of flying up? Let us know, and we’ll arrange a 50% discount on an Air NZ fare.
We’ve only got 9 discounted tickets available - so it’s first in, first served!
😴 Need a rest stop?
You’re welcome to stay at our home in Auckland if you wish to break up your journey and need a stopover on the way.
Accommodation
🏠 Smith Family (Immediate)
The immediate Smith family will be staying at the family farm. This is also where Jamie will be getting ready on the big day.
🏠 Wilson Family (Immediate)
An Airbnb in Cable Bay has been booked from 3–7 January 2026 for the immediate Wilson family (Dad, Granny, Caleb & Catherine, and the kids). There’s also room for two extra people (fight amongst yourselves 😂).
🏠 Shasta’s Bridal Party
Another Airbnb in Cable Bay has been booked from 3–7 January 2026 for Shasta’s bridal party and Mum. This is also where Shasta will be getting ready.
For everyone else, here are a few recommendations:
🌿 Acacia Lodge Motel - closest to the reception (300m away)
🌿 San Marino Motel - 4-minute drive from the reception. Minimum 2 night stay.
🌿 Taipa Beach Resort - 10-minute drive from the reception. Minimum 2 night stay. The main local accommodation, right on the beach. It’s lovely, but can be a bit pricey and fills up quickly, so get in early if you're keen!
🌿 Kaitaia - Budget-friendly and about a 30-minute drive from the reception.
🌿 Airbnb - Lots of local listings available. You can book a place just for yourself, or team up with friends or family and book a house nearby.
📎 Links below to help with booking
Getting Around Doubtless Bay
Our wedding is taking place in the beautiful Doubtless Bay, and while everything is pretty close together, having a car will make life a lot easier.
To help you get your bearings, here’s a quick guide to the key spots (listed from closest to Auckland to furthest north):
✨ Mangōnui - A charming harbour town with legendary fish & chips, cute cafes, and loads of character.
🛒 Coopers Beach - Your go-to for essentials: Four Square, petrol, a chemist, and a liquor store.
🌊 Cable Bay - Perfect for a swim and an ice cream stop in the sunshine.
📍 Taipa - Home to another petrol station, a liquor store, and just minutes from our ceremony at 211 Parapara Road.
🚗 It’s about a 10-minute drive from the ceremony (Taipa) ➡️ reception (Mangōnui)
Local Tips & Tricks
🚕 No Ubers or taxis: They’re not really a thing up here, but we’re looking into sorting a courtesy van for the evening to help get everyone home safe. Watch this space - we’ll confirm the details closer to the day.
🚗 Rental Cars: If you're flying into Kaitaia or Kerikeri, book early - rental cars go fast in summer.
⛽ Fuel Up: The Z Station in Taipa is your best bet. Fill up during the day as the station may be closed or unstaffed after hours.
🐑 Country Driving: You'll hit a short stretch of unsealed road on Parapara Road and up the driveway to the farm. Drive slow, wave at the cows.
What to Wear
The ceremony is happening right in the backyard on a farm, so comfort is key. We’d steer clear of stilettos - unless you’re into the adventure of sinking into grass and gravel. Dress up, have fun, and most importantly, be ready to celebrate!
Gifts & Wishing Well
We know it’s a bit of a hike to get to the Far North, so your presence truly is the greatest gift!
That said… we won’t say no to a cheeky gift. If you’d like to contribute, we’ll have a wishing well at the reception for cards and anything else you feel inspired to pop in.
Mostly, we’re just thrilled to be celebrating with the people we love.
A Note on Little Ones
While we love your kiddos, we’ve chosen to keep our wedding an adults-only celebration (with the exception of a few family children who are part of the day). We hope this gives you a chance to relax, let your hair down, and enjoy the party with us!
RSVP
We can’t wait to celebrate with you! Please RSVP when you can.
You’ll see a field asking for your email - this is totally optional, but adding it means we can send you a confirmation and keep you in the loop if there are any updates. Feel free to leave it blank if you'd rather not share it.