Alex and Dave promised to spend the rest of their lives together in front of their nearest and dearest at the stunning Bridgewater Estate. Their day was filled with lots of love and their photos show the happy couple enjoying their day together.
Alex awed in Zoe by Forget Me Knot, a whimsical A-line gown with soft floral vine lace decorating the illusion bodice, puff sleeves and trickling down into the romatic tulle skirt. The beading on the lace also gives the gown a little touch a shimmer.
We hope you enjoy scrolling through their day and get some insight from Alex about her experience with us at Astra Bridal and the process of finding her wedding dress.
What was it that made this particular wedding dress catch your eye and fall in love?
It was truly love at first sight when I came across my chosen gown on the Astra Bridal website and the main reason why I sent a booking request. It was the first dress that caught my eye and I actually could picture myself wearing it. What drew me in were the sleeves and all the details on the bodice - they added such a unique and elegant touch.
Despite my initial worry that the dress might not live up to my expectations in person, it exceeded them completely. When I got to try it on, I knew it was the one. The gown received countless compliments on my wedding day, and wearing it made me feel beautiful. It was the perfect choice for me, and I'm so grateful I found it.
Tell us about your search for the dress and the experience at Astra Bridal.
At first, the thought of dress shopping was pretty stressful and overwhelming to me, and I almost opted to just order something online. But thanks to some (not so gentle) arm twisting from my maid of honor, I decided to give in-store shopping a chance. After some research, reading reviews and looking at countless websites, I decided on Astra Bridal and sent a booking request. From the get-go, I felt reassured. Lara and the team were incredible - they asked all the right questions and made me feel at ease.
When I had my appointment, I knew I'd made the right choice. Lara had curated a selection of stunning gowns based on our prior conversations. Trying on those dresses was such a fun and memorable experience, and I found the perfect one with Lara's help.
The whole process ended up being my favourite part of the planning stage and I was really impressed with how fast my dress came once it was ordered.
If you're hesitating about in-store dress shopping, don't be! It's a really cool opportunity to explore a variety of beautiful dresses in a relaxed, comfortable environment, and ultimately find the one that'll make you feel like a million bucks on your big day.
Tell us your story, how you both met, and the proposal.
Our story began about a decade ago, all thanks to Tinder. Dave was up in Auckland from Christchurch for a Warriors game when we matched. After a few weeks of chatting online, we finally had our first date in person when I happened to be visiting Christchurch to see a friend.
From there, things went well - we continued talking and navigating the challenges of a long-distance relationship. Eventually, Dave decided to make the move to Auckland and we've been together ever since.
The proposal was a sweet and unexpected moment. After a weekend trip back to Christchurch, Dave returned with a surprise - my engagement ring, which he had obtained from his mum. With my ankle in a moon boot from a recent sprain, he opted for a casual proposal at home. Worried about our son accidentally discovering the ring and spoiling the surprise, Dave wasted no time in asking me to marry him once he got home.
What was your favourite part of the day?
It's pretty tricky to choose just one particular part or moment, because the entire day was an absolute blast! From the excitement of getting ready with my amazing bridal party, to the moment when I married my best friend during the formalities, to indulging in delicious food, and then partying the night away with all my favourite people—it was all just pure joy and so much fun. Each moment held its own special magic, creating some really special memories that myself and Dave can cherish forever.
Tell us about your wedding day as a whole.
We were really lucky with the weather - sunny all day, although definitely on the humid side! Things kicked things off with a yummy brunch with my bridal party, making sure to keep ourselves fueled for the day ahead.
We then headed to the venue to get our hair and make up done - the vibes here were fun, chilled and filled with a lot of laughs.
Our guests started arriving and then it was time for our ceremony. I felt like we were able to strike the perfect blend of heartfelt and fun - this was in huge part due to our amazing celebrant. We also opted to write and share our own vows, which made it all the more special and personal.
After the formal stuff, we took off for some photos with our wedding party while our guests enjoyed some drinks and canapes. Our photographer did an incredible job here (and throughout the whole day) of capturing both the posed and candid moments, making sure we'd have memories to cherish forever.
Then came the best part—dinner and dancing, as well as finally being able to chat and hang out with our guests! The food was delicious, and the party was so much fun. It was a celebration filled with love, laughter, and plenty of dancing the night away.
Finally, what is your biggest piece of advice for brides to be?
Firstly, when you're picking vendors, go with the ones you really click with. They can totally make or break your big day, so it's important to choose people who get your vibe and make you feel comfortable. All of our vendors were absolutely amazing, which definitely contributed to a fun and (relatively) stress-free day where everything ran smoothly.
My other piece of advice for brides-to-be is to embrace a healthy level of selfishness (within reason, of course!) when you're planning and making decisions. Your wedding day should be a reflection of you and your future spouse, meaning you should prioritise decisions that resonate with your happiness and values. Remember, it's your special day, and the memories you create should be ones that bring you joy for years to come.
