Chloe and Aaron said "I Do" in front of their nearest and dearest at the romantic gardens at Ataahua. Their day was filled with lots of love and happiness. Photos of the day show the lovely couple in utter bliss and the fairytale venue matched Chloe's gown perfectly.
Chloe looked every bit like a princess in Isabel by Forget Me Knot, a beautiful A-line satin gown with a sweetheart neckline and cross over collar that exudes elegance and romance. She also customised the colour of her gown, a feature available for Forget Me Knot gowns. The custom colour change to a brighter ivory perfectly complimented the pearls on the Harriet Veil and her other pearl accessories.
Keep reading for an insight into Chloe's dress shopping journey and some wedding inspo.
What was it that made this particular wedding dress catch your eye and fall in love?
The gorgeous neckline and train. It was elegant and timeless. It had a beautiful shape around the neckline, gave me shape in the waist, and had all the 'princess' vibes I was after. I'm always down to make a bit of a statement - plus, you only get married once, right?! As my mum always says, "never dress down for anyone, Chloe."
Tell us about your search for the dress and the experience at Astra Bridal.
Not going to lie, trying to find a dress was quite the journey. I put a lot of pressure on myself to find the right one - balancing others' expectations and what I wanted to wear. It wasn't until my third appointment at Astra Bridal with the lovely Khym that I finally got the "you'll know when it's the dress" feeling my sister would often say.
I tried on 'Isabel' by Forget Me Knot and finally got some tears from mum (and myself). It was beautiful. Match that with a super long pearl veil from Astra and a pearl tiara, I was more than ready to marry Aaron now. The dress came in a buttery ivory, something Khym was able to customize to an ivory white and the straps were adjustable. It created the most beautiful shape around the collarbone and I was able to detach the straps too, which made it a lot easier for the reception and dancing.
Khym was amazing! I don't think I would have felt the way I did on my wedding day if it wasn't for her. She became a friend throughout the process, genuinely interested in our upcoming marriage, and did everything to make sure we had the most wonderful day. Thank you, Khym.
Tell us your story, how you both met, and the proposal.
Aaron and I met when I was at university in Auckland. We met by coincidence, at a house party that neither of us had previously planned on attending - little did we know it would shape the rest of our lives. We spent the next six months getting to know each other before we made it 'official'. Aaron quickly became my person!
Our engagement was the most magical day, made even more special by some of my favourite people. Aaron and I went to spend Easter weekend with my best friend and her now-husband. It was Easter Sunday when Aaron and my friend suggested we do an easter egg hunt. Up for the challenge and my love for chocolate, I was very keen. (My impractical, but cute, dress and sandals did little to impede my determination!)
I paired up with my best friend's husband, while Aaron and her formed another team. Their last clue read "Your happy ever after" and led me up a small hill lined with candles. It was like a fairytale. At the top, Aaron was there surrounded by fairy lights, a picnic set and a stunning sunset. I knew what was about to happen; we'd been together eight years, it was about time!
It was a perfect day, topped off with celebratory drinks.
What was your favourite part of the day?
Oh man, this is not easy! But, I'd have to say the ceremony. Aaron's reaction as I walked down the aisle was a highlight in itself. (Bonus that he didn't think my pearl tiara was 'too much'). The sun even came through the clouds as we spoke our vows. Having my family and friends together and seeing those who had made the long journey for us was incredible.
Tell us about your wedding day as a whole.
The tale of two beginnings. The girls' day started with wine, nibbles, and a 6am wakeup for hair and makeup, whereas the boys played a leisurely game of golf after a sleep-in! My hair stylist, Yvanna, and make-up artist, Natalie, were a dream team!! My family and friends looked stunning - I felt so lucky to have these people by my side on my wedding day.
We'd been fighting rain the whole week - this was in the middle of all the cyclones in early 2023, so naturally, our stress levels were high. It was a reasonably wet morning, but thankfully it cleared and we were able to get married in the beautiful courtyard at Ataahua.
The ceremony flew by, and before long we were into the quick hellos before we were whisked away for photography and video. What fun that was! Kushla is such a breeze to work with, made us all feel so relaxed and had the best time doing it too.
Then it was time to eat, dance and drink!
Finally, what is your biggest piece of advice for brides to be?
Enjoy it! Planning a wedding is so much fun (well, in my opinion - I'd do it for a job if I was courageous enough).
Create a day you and your soon-to-be-husband will enjoy. The day is for you, not anyone else. When it comes to the guest list, be intentional. Invite people who matter to you and have a meaningful place in your lives. Don't feel pressured to include people to avoid offense because of societal expectations. Your wedding is a celebration of your love.
AND, go see the team at Astra Bridal - you won't regret it ladies x
