Cassie & Baydon's Joheen Estate Wedding | Canterbury Bride Magazine Feature
- Koru Photography
- Aug 7
- 4 min read
A celebration of family, laughter, and love at Joheen Estate — a wedding day that found its way onto the pages of Canterbury Bride magazine.
Cassie + Baydon celebrating with family and friends after their ceremony in North Canterbury, by Koru Photography.
A Relaxed Canterbury Garden Wedding with Family at the Heart
Some weddings are all about the details. Others are all about the people.
Cassie and Baydon's day was both.
Held on Baydon's family property before celebrating with friends and family at Joheen Estate, their wedding was relaxed, personal and full of little moments that made it unmistakably theirs. From a private first look before the ceremony to their children walking down the aisle, the day never felt rushed—it simply unfolded.
It was also a privilege to see this beautiful wedding later published in Canterbury Bride Magazine, celebrating one of Canterbury's most heartfelt wedding days.
The Wedding Morning
The day began under clear blue skies in North Canterbury, with Baydon and the boys settling into a relaxed morning together before the celebrations began. There was plenty of laughter, a few beers, some questionable stretching, and the usual banter that comes with a house full of lifelong mates.
Baydon's pride and joy, his classic red Chrysler, quickly became part of the morning too. Between getting ready and giving the boys something to laugh about, it wasn't long before the car was surrounded, beers in hand, creating a few photos that summed up the atmosphere perfectly. By the time ties were straightened and jackets buttoned, everyone was ready to head to Joheen Estate for the day ahead.
Cassie's morning was exactly what you'd expect from a house full of bridesmaids before a wedding. Music playing, champagne poured, matching PJs, hair and makeup in full swing, and people moving from room to room as everyone helped wherever they could. Between the excitement and laughter were quieter moments too — a first look in the dress, happy tears, deep breaths and a few stolen minutes before the day really began.
A First Look Before the Ceremony
The boys arrived early at a private clay bird shooting area and airstrip, fitting in a few rounds before getting dressed so they could keep their shirts clean. Just before Cassie arrived, two planes landed on the strip — a completely unexpected addition that also made a brilliant backdrop for a few portraits.
Cassie and Baydon then shared their first look, where Cassie gave Baydon a pin featuring his late father to wear for the day. Afterwards, the bridal party joined in for some clay bird shooting, followed by relaxed portraits beneath the trees.
After the clay bird shooting, Cassie and Baydon spent some time with their bridal party beneath the trees, capturing a mix of relaxed group photographs and quiet portraits together before the ceremony.
A Garden Ceremony Surrounded by Family and Friends
With the garden filled with family and friends, Cassie and Baydon’s ceremony felt warm, personal and full of genuine emotion. Their children were right there with them, making it even more meaningful and very much a celebration of the family they had already built together.
There were plenty of laughs, a few tears and a lot of happy faces watching on. Once everything was official, they made their way back through the crowd to a huge round of applause—the perfect start to the rest of their Canterbury wedding celebration.
Cocktails, Speeches and Dinner
After the ceremony, everyone stayed out in the gardens for drinks, canapés and live music while Cassie and Baydon made their way around the crowd. A quick round of family and group photos fitted in before the afternoon carried on.
From there, everything flowed naturally into the reception. Guests kept chatting beneath the festoon lights as the canapés kept flowing, before heading into the clear marquee for speeches and dinner. Cassie and Baydon danced their way in, setting the tone straight away for a relaxed and very fun evening.
Sunset Photos and Dancing Under the Stars
As the light began to drop, we headed off for a few sunset photos in the paddocks with the hills behind them. Back at the venue, Cassie and Baydon shared their first dance beneath the clear marquee before the live band took over and the dance floor filled for the rest of the night.
Planning a Relaxed North Canterbury Wedding
Cassie’s biggest recommendation is to have someone coordinate the wedding day if the budget allows. Having the day professionally coordinated meant Cassie and Baydon could enjoy the lead-up and the wedding itself without worrying about what needed to happen next.
Vendor Credits
Photography: Koru Photography – Christchurch Wedding Photographer
Venue: Joheen Estate
Clear Marquee & Hire: Silk Estate
Wedding Planning & Coordination: The Event Collective
Celebrant: Ryan Thomas Celebrant
Catering: The Social Platter Company
Live Band: The D’Sendantz
Florals: Bourbon Rose Florist
Hair: Graceful Hair Art
Makeup: Ashleigh Jane
Wedding Gown: Brides of Merivale
Cake: Made by a local friend
Transport: Tussock Local Shuttle
MC: Donny Bell
Signage & Ceremony Arch: Cassie and Baydon
Cassie and Baydon’s wedding was featured in Canterbury Bride Magazine and has also been shared by Silk Estate, who supplied the clear marquee for their North Canterbury wedding.
