After meeting at a golf day in South Africa in 2018, Etienne and Marne’s journey together took them across the world to New Zealand, where they settled in 2019 and quickly realised they had found their forever home. A few years later, Etienne planned a memorable weekend escape to Kaikōura, surprising Marne with a helicopter flight into the snowy mountains. It was there, during a picturesque picnic surrounded by breathtaking scenery, that he asked her to marry him.
When it came time to choose a wedding destination, Fiji was an easy decision. Inspired by the warmth and hospitality of their Fijian friends in New Zealand, the couple loved the idea of combining a tropical holiday, wedding, and honeymoon into one unforgettable experience. After exploring various options, they chose Hilton Fiji Beach Resort & Spa on Denarau Island, finding the resort’s wedding offerings perfectly suited to their vision for the big day.
We catch up with Bride Marne on planning their wedding in Fiji:
The Planning
Planning our Fiji wedding was a much easier process than we expected. We initially requested wedding packages from several different resorts, but Hilton Fiji stood out from the start with their prompt communication and willingness to help. Once we made our decision, I worked closely with our wedding planner, Hannah, to bring every detail of our vision to life.
The tropical beach setting was one of the things I loved most about getting married in Fiji. Having an experienced wedding planner meant we didn’t have to worry about every small detail, allowing us to focus on enjoying the journey. Hannah was incredible throughout the entire process—her communication was clear, she was incredibly thorough, and she made planning feel effortless and enjoyable.
Bula Bride was also a valuable resource during our research. Reading about other couples’ experiences and learning more about different resorts and vendors helped us confidently choose our photographer, hairstylist, and other suppliers. Overall, the planning process was exciting, stress-free, and something we genuinely enjoyed from start to finish.
Getting Ready
The morning of the wedding was filled with excitement and a few unexpected surprises. As a makeup artist myself, I chose to do my own makeup, while the team at Hair and Makeup Perfectionist styled my hair for the day.
I had purchased two wedding dresses online and had them expertly altered in New Zealand. One was a simple white gown with a shorter train and a slit, which I had originally chosen for Fiji’s warm tropical climate. The second was a fitted strapless gown with a sweetheart neckline and a long lace train.
However, on the morning of the wedding, I experienced a dress mishap while steaming my first choice, meaning I had to quickly switch to the second gown. While it was definitely a little warmer than planned, it ended up looking beautiful and felt like it was meant to be. Looking back, everything worked out exactly as it should have.
The Ceremony
Our ceremony took place on the beach at Hilton Fiji Beach Resort & Spa, exactly where we had always dreamed of getting married. With the sand beneath our feet and the ocean as our backdrop, choosing a beachfront ceremony was an easy decision.
The ceremony styling and florals were created by Usaia NP Weddings. We gave the team creative freedom to work with our chosen colour palette of pink, orange, and red, and they exceeded our expectations. The result was vibrant, beautiful, and perfectly suited to the tropical setting.
As we were planning an intimate wedding, we decided not to have a bridal party, allowing the day to feel personal, relaxed, and focused on the people closest to us. The ceremony itself was everything we had hoped for—tropical, sunny, and incredibly special, complete with a beautiful ukulele serenade that added to the island atmosphere. We chose traditional vows, repeating them after the celebrant, creating a heartfelt and meaningful moment we’ll always remember.
The Photography
We chose Anaïs Photography to capture our wedding day because I loved the style of her photos and found her incredibly easy to communicate with throughout the planning process. She also offered the package that best suited our needs, making the decision an easy one.
We were looking for natural, vibrant images that captured real moments rather than heavily posed shots. We wanted the photos to feel authentic and tell the story of the day as it unfolded. My husband and I have a playful relationship and have enjoyed doing photoshoots together over the years, so we felt confident that our personalities would shine through in the images.
The Reception
Our reception was held at Hilton Fiji Beach Resort & Spa, which made the day incredibly easy and seamless. Having both our ceremony and reception in one location meant we could simply relax and enjoy the celebrations, while also taking advantage of the resort’s stunning beachfront setting for our wedding photos.
The Hilton team took care of all the reception décor, bringing our chosen colour palette of pink, orange, and red to life beautifully. We gave them complete creative freedom, and they created a vibrant and elegant setting that perfectly complemented the tropical surroundings.
The reception was held at Nuku Restaurant, where guests were able to order their own meals and drinks from the menu, creating a relaxed and intimate dining experience. For dessert, we chose an Opera Cake made by Hilton, featuring layers of almond sponge, coffee buttercream, and chocolate ganache.
Entertainment was also arranged by the resort, with a beautiful ukulele serenade during the ceremony followed by a Fijian cultural evening at Nuku on the same night, adding a memorable island touch to our wedding celebrations.
Our Highlights
There were so many memorable moments from our Fiji wedding, but what stood out most was the incredible warmth and friendliness of the Fijian people. From the resort staff to everyone we met throughout our stay, we were constantly blown away by their hospitality and genuine kindness. We also loved starting each day with the amazing buffet breakfasts and were fortunate to have perfect weather on our wedding day.
Looking back, it was truly one of the most amazing experiences of our lives, and we already can’t wait to return. In fact, many of our guests have said they’ll definitely be coming back to Fiji as well.
For couples considering a Fiji wedding, our advice is simple: work closely with your resort and trust your wedding planner’s recommendations. Their local knowledge and experience make the planning process so much easier. And most importantly—definitely get married in Fiji!
