Ashton and Chris vowed to spend the rest of their lives together in front of their closest family and friends at the breathtaking Makorori Beach. The photos from their special day capture the couple’s joyful smiles and pure joy as they celebrated this unforgettable moment with their loved ones.
Ashton dazzled in Zoe by Forget Me Knot, a whimsical A-line dress adorned with delicate floral and vine lace that cascades into a soft tulle skirt. The gown featured enchanting long puff sleeves, adding a touch of fantasy to the look. Ashton made the dress even more personal by customising it—lining the front to the cups and adding a blush and glitter layer to the skirt, making the gown truly her own.
Scroll down for a glimpse into their stunning day!
What was it that made this particular wedding dress catch your eye and fall in love?
I had one requirement for my dress: it HAD to have sleeves. I’m a big fan of Boho, '70s style, and Stevie Nicks. Off to Pinterest I went – and I got very overwhelmed. So, I dialed it back and simply scrolled through the Astra Bridal site. I can’t remember how far through I got, but once I saw Zoe by Forget Me Knot, I just knew that was my dress. At that stage, we were still about 18 months out from our date, so I just sat on it for a while. But I would look at it every other day. I just knew!
Tell us about your search for the dress and the experience at Astra Bridal.
I’m big on being comfortable as well and made that very clear to Khym. I knew I’d be moving around a lot—eating, dancing, chatting with all our loved ones—so the dress had to be flowy and move with me. I picked four other dresses along with Zoe and tried them on. But once I got to the Zoe, even though it didn’t fit yet, I could already envision what it would be like once it was made for me. I had mentioned a glitter layer and a blush layer I liked on a couple of the other dresses, to which Khym said, “We can add those.” Say less. I needed those on the Zoe to complete my vision.
When the dress arrived in NZ and I had my final fitting before picking it up, I was blown away! It was exactly what I had imagined. It was sparkly, flattering, the sleeves were to die for, and it moved wonderfully. I felt fabulous in it. Once I got it back to Gisborne, I went straight to a seamstress for some small alterations, and then it was perfect.
Tell us your story, how you both met, and the proposal.
We met in 2014, in the classic millennial/modern-day fairytale way on Tinder, waaay back when it first came out. We really just gelled straight away – and within 3 months, he had a toothbrush and his PS4 at my house. Then came his cat, his belongings, and the rest is history. Our getting along well carried on to meeting each other’s families, where we instantly connected with one another’s families.
Five years down the track, Chris proposed on my 30th birthday – because, and I quote, “I wanted to do it early so you could tell your friends,” since I was going away for a girl’s weekend. So sweet. Fast forward another 5 years (10 in total), after I finished my degree, after we bought a home and adopted a dog – we finally sat down and started planning our wedding!
What was your favourite part of the day?
There are honestly too many moments to pick, but I think the standout would have to be having everyone we love and care about there to share our day with us.
Tell us about your wedding day as a whole.
It had been raining the two days prior, which isn’t unusual for October, and it poured down during our rehearsal. Thankfully, Saturday morning came around, and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect. It wasn’t too hot or cold—it was just right. Getting ready was so much fun, and it was a blessing to have my best friend and mum there with me. Then, about an hour before start time, my grandmothers, dad, and extended family arrived for photos—cue the crying, which basically didn’t stop until I said "I do!" After the ceremony, the rest of the evening flew by. The cocktail hour was so fun, and it was nice to relax a little with some bubbles and snacks before dinner was served. We then moved on to the speeches, which had numerous people laughing out loud or crying from the sweet words shared. Then it was onto the dancing and party element of the day, which was enjoyed by so many. As a whole, it really was the best day of my life. We had so much fun and often talk with our friends about wanting to do it all over again.
Finally, what is your biggest piece of advice for brides to be?
Relax and breathe. Everything’s going to be okay. Heck, I lost an eyelash partway through our vows because I was crying so much – but it was hilarious and very real. At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is why you’re there – declaring your love and commitment to the person standing right there in front of you.
