Gina and Rudi said 'I Do' in front of their nearest and dearest at the stunning Flaxmere House. The photos from their special day capture the couple relishing every moment, filled with joy, laughter, and love.
Gina looked absolutely breathtaking in Edison by Maggie Sottero, a romantic fit and flare gown featuring a swirling lace motif and delicate off-the-shoulder sleeves. The illusion scalloped lace train was the perfect highlight of this elegant gown. She completed her look with our cut edge veil and pearl drop earrings—timeless accessories that perfectly complemented her dress.
Continue scrolling for beautiful photos, a glimpse into their wedding day, and Gina’s advice for brides planning their own special day. Enjoy!
What was it that made this particular wedding dress catch your eye and fall in love?
I initially thought I wanted something simple, without lace or detail... until I tried my dress on! It was just incredible. I loved the way the dress fit my body; it covered my arms where I wanted and cinched me in at the waist. I felt elegant and classy while embracing my curves, knowing my soon-to-be husband would love it too.
Tell us about your search for the dress and the experience at Astra Bridal.
I booked the two hour private slot, where my mum and sister joined me to help. We had bubbles, yummy nibbles, and Chrissy was just exceptional, showing me the dresses to try on. By the end of the two hours, I had narrowed it down to two dresses, but I was struggling to make a decision. I liked them but didn’t love them, so we left and decided to come back fresh the next day. I ended up trying on another dress, and in the changing room, behind the curtain before the reveal, I gasped! Before I even stepped out, my sister absolutely knew without a doubt that it was the dress, based on my reaction. As did I—it was just perfect.
Tell us your story, how you both met, and the proposal.
We met in April 2022 after Rudi left a mischievous comment on my Hinge profile picture, which made him stand out from the rest of the boring men. We met up for our first date at Cornwall Park, where I brought our two pugs, Doug and Lola, along for moral support. Unfortunately, both dogs decided it was the perfect location for a bowel movement, leaving me mortified. However, Rudi enjoyed the realness of the date and sent a voice message afterward asking me out for brunch the very next day. We couldn’t keep away from each other in the following weeks, and before we knew it, weeks turned into months. I met Rudi's gorgeous daughter, Lilly, and we instantly became an important part of each other's lives. In the year that followed, as a couple, we established a home, a business, and a beautiful family unit.
In September 2023, the extended family hid behind a building at Kohi Beach while Rudi and I went for our usual morning walk. Little did I know, my sister was filming… Rudi got down on one knee, and I said yes!
What was your favourite part of the day?
Walking down the aisle as Rudi waved ecstatically and said, 'Hi babe!' instantly calmed my nerves and set the tone for the rest of the evening—lighthearted and full of love.
Tell us about your wedding day as a whole.
The weather was great! We had sunshine during the ceremony, but it was beautifully overcast for our beach photos—although the wind swept my veil away.
We only had 40 guests, which I thoroughly enjoyed! It meant I was able to chat with everyone and have my best friends there with me, not people I hardly knew.
Getting ready was a slight challenge as three of my bridesmaids had babies to feed and look after. We all did our own makeup and hired Hannah to do our hair. I know my face well, and I’m thrilled with how my makeup turned out. My hair also couldn’t have been more perfect.
The venue set everything up for me and organised the food, which eliminated a lot of the stress. I loved the setup too! Rudi was making everyone laugh as the guests waited for the ceremony to start. This set the tone nicely and allowed it to be fun, not too serious. I had such a fun time—we danced, we ate, we drank, and just enjoyed ourselves.
Finally, what is your biggest piece of advice for brides to be?
Just relax and don’t stress if it doesn’t go to plan! My aisle music timing was off, there were screaming babies getting ready, my veil blew away... all little things that I could have let ruin my day, but in the grand scheme of it, no one even knew, and it wasn’t the end of the world. Focus on what really matters: your love and commitment to your man.
