Umaya & James
10 January 2026 | Photos by Chris Turner
What part of the day felt most unique and reflective of who you are?
Our Poruwa ceremony was really special. We had a traditional Sri Lankan ceremony led by our celebrant and 'Shilpadhipathi', followed by a Western ceremony run by celebrant Jared Monk (who was also James' uni friend!) when we exchanged our vows and rings. The Poruwa ceremony is a symbolic ritual all about giving thanks to our parents, and blessing our marriage. It was such a unique and memorable part of the day and felt like the perfect homage to our cultures and values.
What made you choose Batch Winery as your venue, and how did your day live up to that dream?
We had already created such a special memory at Batch Winery when James proposed, so getting married there felt incredibly meaningful. We love the views, food and wine, and the relaxed atmosphere made it the perfect place to celebrate with our family and friends. The day completely lived up to our dream, and seeing our guests enjoy Waiheke as part of the wedding weekend made it even more special.
If you could relive just one single moment from your wedding at Batch Winery, which one would you pick?
This is a tough one - the whole day was so amazing; we wish we could relive it all again! But if we had to pick one moment, it would be the beautiful sunset. It was so special enjoying golden hour outside, surrounded by our family and friends. The Batch Winery team even brought the cake cutting outside so we could continue enjoying the sunset together.
Where was your favourite spot on the property to escape for your wedding photos?
The vines - it was where James popped the question almost two years earlier, so it felt very special to return there again, this time officially married.
