YOUR STORY DESERVES A ONCE UPON A FOREST…

Permission to Be Present — Fully, Gently, Comfortably

At some point, many couples realise their wedding has begun to feel like a project instead of a celebration.

A day shaped by timelines, expectations, and the invisible pressure to “do it right.”

Old Forest School offers another way, a wedding day that feels like an exhale.

A place where you can gather the people who matter, slow the pace, and be held by an environment that makes everything feel easier.

Here’s what nobody tells you about planning a wedding: at some point, it stops being about celebrating your love and starts being about managing everyone else’s expectations.

The guest list grows beyond recognition. The timeline becomes military. You’re choreographing a performance for people you haven’t seen in years. And somewhere in all of it, you realise—this day that’s supposed to be yours has become a production you’re directing for an audience.

What if you could have your wedding without the weight of all that?

What if, instead of managing a crowd of 200, you gathered the 30-100 people who actually know your middle names and have earned their seat at your table? What if the day could unfold rather than execute? What if you could remember your own wedding because you were actually in it, not performing it?

Old Forest School exists for that version of your day.

This is a place where authenticity matters more than perfection. Where you can cry during your vows without worrying about your makeup. Where your grandmother can wander the gardens at her own pace. Where your friends can linger over dinner instead of shuffling through a receiving line. Where the day feels like yours because it actually is.

We’re not for everyone, but for some we are perfect. We’re for couples who are tired of being told how their wedding should look and brave enough to ask what it should feel like instead.

Why Couples Choose Us

Many of our couples already share a life,. dreams, a home, careers, children, routines, responsibilities.
They choose Old Forest School because they want a day that feels beautiful, simple, and deeply connected, not complicated or performative.

They want time.
They want ease.
They want something that feels like them.

Our role is to create the conditions for that, curated, calm, quietly luxurious.

Because You Want a Wedding That Feels Good

Modern wedding culture can be overwhelming — a thousand decisions, endless comparison, a sense that your day must look a certain way.

At Old Forest School, the experience is different.
Everything here is designed so you can slip into your day gently, knowing it will unfold exquisitely, with intention and ease.

Old Forest School Becomes Yours

When you’re here, the entire 4-acre forest enclave becomes yours alone.
Every garden, every building, every quiet pocket of shade.

You set the rhythm.
You decide what matters.
We hold the rest.

Most couples say they feel a sense of calm the moment they arrive — as if the day starts breathing for them.

You Can Do It Your Way 

Your wedding should feel like your life: authentic, relaxed, thoughtful.

Choose the caterer who feels right.
Bring the drinks you love, with no corkage.
Include your dog.
Skip traditions, reinvent them, or keep the ones that matter.

We keep the structure light, so the day feels spacious — not scripted.

The Scale Lets You Connect 

Old Forest School holds up to 120 guests, but most couples gather 40–100 — the sweet spot where the day feels abundant yet intimate.

It’s the scale that lets you actually talk to your guests.
See their faces.
Share moments instead of managing crowds.

A celebration shaped around connection rather than production.

It’s Honest About What It Is

Old Forest School is neither a polished resort nor a styled façade.
It is a living, breathing heritage space — authentic, character-filled, lovingly restored.

Beauty here feels natural, not curated for perfection.
It’s the kind of quiet elegance that lasts, the kind that photographs effortlessly because it is real.

The Photos Tell Your Story, Not Someone Else’s

Yes, the place photographs beautifully. The walled gardens. The weathered barns. The wildflower meadows. The filtered forest light. Your photographer will be exceedingly happy.

But here’s what’s more important: the photos will show you. Actually you. Laughing with your people. Crying during the vows. Dancing terribly. Eating with your hands. Living your day instead of posing through it.

We’re not a set. We’re a place. And there’s a difference.

You Can Stay

After everyone leaves and the last song fades, eight of you can stay in the forest cabins. Sit around the fire pit processing the day. Walk the grounds at dawn. Make coffee on cabin porches. Leave slowly, reluctantly, after prolonging the goodbye.

Most couples say this is their favourite part…the quiet morning after, when the magic is still there but the pressure is gone.

What a Day Actually Feels Like

Morning: The Calm Before

While you’re getting ready elsewhere, your vendors arrive and quietly begin weaving their magic. By the time you pull down that winding country road, everything is ready. Quietly. Without fuss.

You’ll have that moment…that sharp intake of breath when you see it all for the first time. The Schoolhouse, The Noshery. The gardens waiting. The knowledge that today, this is all yours.

Afternoon: The Ceremony

Here’s what people don’t tell you about wedding ceremonies: they’re terrifying and beautiful in equal measure. You’re going to cry. Or laugh. Or both. Your hands might shake. Your voice might crack. That’s not a problem…that’s the point.

At Old Forest School, you can have your ceremony wherever it feels right. Under time old trees, beside a wildlife pond, in a meadow. Inside the schoolhouse if weather turns. On the lawn. At sunset. At 3pm. Whenever.

And here’s the thing: with 60-100 people (not 300), you can actually see everyone’s faces. You’ll spot someone dear to you wiping away a tear. You’ll hear laughter ripple through the people who’ve known you longest. You’ll feel a reassuring hand on your arm, a quiet smile across the room. You’ll sense the love circling close … not a crowd watching, but a gathering of hearts who truly know you. You’ll feel held by people who actually know you, not performing for an anonymous crowd.

The ceremony can be five minutes or forty-five. Traditional or completely rewritten. There’s no formula here. Just you, your person, and the people you love bearing witness.

Late Afternoon: The Exhale

After the ceremony comes what couples consistently say is the most wonderful part of the day… cocktail hour.
Not the stiff, over-orchestrated version, but the effortless one. The real version. Where you actually get to talk to your guests instead of posing for 400 photos. Where grandparents settle into a garden bench with a glass of wine. Where children play lawn games with them nearby.
Where friends gather around the tennis court, laughter carrying across the lawns.
There’s no sense of hurry … just time unfolding gently, as it should.

Where nobody rushes because there’s nowhere else to be.

Your photographer will pull you aside for portraits—the light here is ridiculous—but even that doesn’t feel like work. You’ll wander the grounds together, finally alone for ten minutes, processing what just happened.

This is when the day starts to feel real. When the performance pressure drops away and it becomes actual celebration.

Evening: Dinner and Dancing

Move into The Noshery as the light softens. Long tables. Good food. The kind of dinner where speeches run long and nobody minds. Where your dad cries. Where your best friend tells that story everyone’s heard before but still makes everyone laugh. Where the food is memorable because you chose the caterer you actually wanted, not the one the venue required.

Then the Little Barn. Festoon lights glowing. The disco ball that shouldn’t work but somehow does. Music that starts gentle and builds. Your first dance that feels private even though everyone’s watching. Then the floor opens and suddenly it’s just… dancing. Real dancing. Not choreographed. Not filmed. Just people who love you celebrating that love.

Late Night: The Unraveling

This is where the best moments happen. When the structure of the day dissolves. When small groups gather in garden corners. When the fire pit becomes the centre of gravity. When someone suggests one more song and suddenly it’s 11:45pm.

The night ends not with a sparkler exit and a getaway car but with slow goodbyes. Hugs that last too long. Promises to do this again soon. The reluctant acknowledgment that yes, it has to end.

Morning After: The Secret Gift

If you’ve stayed in the cabins (and we strongly suggest you do), wake slowly. Walk the grounds in morning light. Sit on the cabin porch with coffee and process what just happened. Take photos with your phone, not your photographer. See the place without people, without pressure.

This is when couples tell us they finally understood what their wedding was. Not during it, but the morning after, when they could actually feel it.

The Honest Truth About What We’re Providing 

We know every couple dreams of a perfect day … and we work tirelessly to make it feel that way. But the kind of perfection we believe in isn’t polished or posed. It’s real and its heartfelt and it makes you catch your breath in the best possible way.

We’re providing you the conditions for a real day. A day where you’re present instead of performing.. The unscripted, unexpected things that become the stories you’ll tell forever.Where imperfection is welcomed because it means you’re actually living it.

The rain might come. Someone might spill wine on their dress. A speech might run long. The timeline might shift. And none of it will matter because you’ll be surrounded by people who love you in a place that holds space for all of it.

Because the truest kind of perfection is when you stop performing and start feeling.
That’s what we’re really offering: a day that’s alive, honest, and entirely yours.

The Spaces

Ceremony Locations

Every corner of Old Forest holds its own kind of magic … and couples often find themselves drawn to a spot that feels entirely, unexpectedly theirs.

The Round — Beneath the towering trees, encircled by gardens in bloom, sunlight filtering through the canopy.
The Walled Garden — Enclosed and impossibly romantic, a hidden world that feels like your own.
The Schoolhouse — Honest and nostalgic, a beautiful indoor setting for when the weather turns or the mood calls for intimacy.
The Wildlife Pond — Framed by old working buildings draped in wisteria and roses, with reflections that shift softly in the afternoon light.

And sometimes, couples discover another place entirely … a quiet clearing, a wild corner of the garden … and we simply make it yours.

Cocktail Hour in the Gardens

The gardens, the lawns, the pathways…all of it. Your guests can roam freely. Lawn games sit ready. Garden furniture and picnic blankets appear where they’re needed.

This is when the day starts to feel real. When performance pressure drops away and it becomes actual celebration.

Dinner & Dancing

The Noshery for dinner, long tables, good food, speeches that run long and nobody minds. The kind of dinner where your dad cries and your best friend tells that story everyone’s heard but still makes everyone laugh.

Then the Redwood Barn. Festoon lights glowing. The disco ball that shouldn’t work but somehow does. Music that starts gentle and builds. Real dancing. Not choreographed. Not filmed for content. Just people who love you celebrating that love.

Planning Support That Actually Helps

From the moment you book, you’re not just a booking number. You’re part of something we care about deeply.

Return to the Forest Sessions

Seasonal open-door mornings and afternoons held exclusively for our booked couples in spring, summer, and autumn.

These aren’t rushed appointments or clipboard inspections. They’re self-led, restorative hours where we open the property just for you. You wander at your own pace—revisiting spaces, noticing seasonal changes, taking measurements, capturing inspiration, bringing family, or simply enjoying being here again.

The forest looks different in every season, and these sessions help you understand your day in ways no email or Pinterest board ever could.

Every session has its own atmosphere. Spring brings cool drinks and fresh green canopy. Summer opens every door, warm air drifting through. Autumn often features a crackling fire and gardens glowing bronze. Sometimes there’s home baking. Sometimes a barista. Sometimes just quiet.

We’re always there, not to lead, but to support. To answer questions, problem-solve, help you see your day with new eyes.

Because weddings aren’t planned on paper—they’re shaped by place. Seeing how autumn light hits the ceremony lawn. Understanding how spring flowers frame the schoolhouse. Walking the exact path your guests will take.

These real-world moments make everything click. Couples tell us these sessions remove stress, bring certainty, and help their vision come together far more naturally than anywhere else they’ve visited.

The Old Forest School Planning Library

Our private, beautifully designed collection of guides, forms, checklists, and planning resources. No one else in New Zealand offers anything like this.

Every single piece has been written, designed, and refined by us, based on more than a decade of hosting weddings at Old Forest School. It’s not generic. Not repurposed from templates. Not borrowed from Pinterest.

Inside you’ll find:

• Uploadable forms that make planning easy and intuitive
• Clear, friendly guidance for florals, bar service, cake delivery, transport, timings
• Beautifully designed explanations written in our warm voice
• Pro tips and things you may not have thought about yet
• The exact information we need to run your day seamlessly

Couples tell us they can’t believe how detailed, thoughtful, and useful it is. Some say it’s better than having a planner—because it’s written by the team who will actually be hosting their day.

Because clarity creates calm. The Library answers questions you didn’t even know you had. It helps you make decisions earlier, avoid last-minute stress, and understand exactly what will happen—from setup to last drinks.

Where do I begin…Thank you so much for allowing us to have the wedding of our dreams! I can’t tell you how much we are in love with old forest school. The incredible work you both put into the school to make it what it is for all the couples and guests every season is just magical. I don’t think any amount of time will be enough to soak in the beauty for the grounds without wanting to say goodbye. It was such a gorgeous day for us, couldn’t have asked for better! Thank you for your help leading up to the day, you are both just so lovely and have been a pleasure to work with in the lead up to our day, and our day itself. Old forest school will always hold a special place in our hearts and I hope we get the privilege to visit again one day.

Victoria and Brooke 

 

WEDDING PACKAGE INCLUSIONS 

Our pricing is made up of two parts: the Base Venue Fee and the Per Guest Rate, which applies to every guest and reflects the individual hospitality and amenities we prepare for each person. This simple and transparent approach ensures everything is tailored to the number of people you choose to share your day with, while honouring the care and love we pour into maintaining a heritage property and welcoming each guest to Old Forest School.

BASE VENUE FEE

The Base Venue Fee reflects the exclusive hire of Old Forest School and the full care we pour into preparing the property for your celebration.
It includes our ongoing email support, access to our specialised Old Forest School Planning Library, and invitations to our Booked Couple Open Days, all designed to help you plan with ease and joy. It also covers the complete opening and presentation of the property on your day: the gardens, heritage buildings, lighting, power, cleaning, and the dedicated team who ready every space just for you.

PER GUEST RATE

Our per Guest Rate applies to every human we have the joy of hosting on your day. This ensures we can warmly care for each person with glassware, non-alcoholic drinks, tea and coffee, bar snacks, lawn games, amenities, pamper kits and full guest hospitality throughout your celebration. Because we prepare individually for every guest, this fee applies to everyone present, regardless of length of time and nothing included can be opted out of.

“Oh we had just the absolute best day! For us we felt everything ran so perfectly from start to finish! Such an amazing venue that will forever have a place in our hearts. It was just a magical fairytale, all that we could have wanted and so much more! You were also awesome to deal with too, we love your passion for OFS and you run such a smooth operation too, made for a seamless day!

Elizabeth and Daniel

Ready to chat? Our arrange a viewing? Then get in touch with us via email at info@oldforestschool.co.nz

We are a total BYO: NO Corkage or Alcohol Charges
All prices inclusive GST. Some date exclusions apply. Public Holiday Rates apply.
Prices valid at December 2025, but are subject to change, deposit secures current hire rate.
Terms and Conditions apply. Above times indicate access time for commercial vendors only, guest arrival time from 2pm. *Finish Time indicates lights out, gate closed everyone vacated the venue.

THANK YOU

We give a massive heartfelt thank you to all the wonderful photographers and couples who over the years have shared their photos with us, welcoming us to use them on websites and socials.  We love having you here, seeing how you see our world and enabling us to share.

You are awesome.  

Many photographers have moved on to doing different things in their life, some incredibly exciting, so won’t be listed below but are always in our thoughts…looking at you http://rosemcmahon.com

https://alexandraweddings.co.nz/
https://www.andreastephensphotography.com
blackrobinphotography.co.nz
davidle.co.nz
https://www.dear-white.com
radial.co.nz
https://www.justinaitken.com
http://katelittlephotography.com
https://www.kennychickphotography.com
https://www.leroexmedia.com
https://lydiarachel.com
https://www.mhbphotography.co.nz
https://newfound.co.nz
https://www.pureimages.co.nz
https://rambo-estrada.com
https://melissakingphotography.myportfolio.com/about
https://www.roseminneephotography.com
https://stateofgraceweddingphotography.com
https://theweddingguys.co.nz