SOLVED. "Coming into her own" Novel set in Australia or New Zealand [s]

[Nathalia]

I am looking for a book I read in the late nineties. It was definitely set in Australia or New Zealand. I think New Zealand more likely.
It was about a woman who was the odd one out in her family, but then she meets a gruffy guy who has some sort of practical job (maybe a woodchuck or a ranger) and falls in love (I think). Talking to him, she learns a lot about herself and becomes fairly confident in dealing with her conformist family. I also think he had some sort of dark past and needed her to get out of his shell too.
It was a novel though, not a Harlequin Romance.

I clearly remember a scene at the beginning of the novel about her attending her cousins wedding, and all the other bridesmaids were blonde, tall and wearing pink, while she was dark and short. She said something about them "fading into the wallpaper".
Sorry for being so vague, it is a long time ago, but I am grateful for any pointers.

[Tab]

Nathalia, do you remember the time period the story takes place?

How old was the main character? A teen, late 20s, 40s, etc?
Anything about the cover?
Part of a series?

Was the author from Australia/New Zealand?

[Nathalia]

Hi Tab!
Thankyou for your help. I think the setting was modern, well in the 1980s or 1990s, anyhow. The woman was probably in her 20s or 30s, since she was a bridesmaid. I vaguely remember that the cover was black, but nothing that was on it. It was a fairly normal size for a novel, 300 pages or so.
It was not part of a series, I think the author must have been female. I imagine that she was from New Zealand/Australia, since there were detailed descriptions of places. I seem to remember lots of green mountains and forests, hence I am leaning more towards New Zealand.

[Kris]

Is a woodchuck like a lumberjack?

How and where do the hero and heroine meet? Do they live in a remote forested area?

[Juels]

The Ladies of Missalonghi by Colleen McCullough?

Excerpt:

"Well, I think it's a pity that you're not dark and short" said Missy, equally prettily. "With everyone around you of similar height and colouring, and all that gradual shading of pink, you're going to fade into the wallpaper."

[Nathalia]

Thats the one!!! Thankyou so much. And the exact quote that made my teenage heart sing! <3 <3 <3

[Juels]

You're welcome.

[C.]

Sounds good, but it's only 189 pgs!