Grace and Mat said "I Do" surrounded by their loved ones at the beautiful Bridgewater Country Estate. Their day was filled with joy and emotion as the happy couple savoured every moment of their unforgettable celebration.
Grace stunned in Washington by Forget Me Knot, an elegant fit-and-flare gown crafted from luminous Italian satin. The scooped neckline and subtle exposed boning details added a romantic touch to this classic design. She completed her look with our Harriet veil, a delicate pearl veil that perfectly complemented her timeless gown, adding a touch of shimmer.
We hope you enjoy the photos and the story of their special day as much as we did! Congratulations to Grace and Mat!
What was it that made this particular wedding dress catch your eye and fall in love?
I chose my gown because it truly made me feel like a bride, and no other dress could possibly top it. I didn’t even pick it out—my sister also said I would be an idiot if I didn’t choose it, haha. I’m not entirely sure how I even decided on it, but I just focused on how it made me feel and asked myself if I could see myself walking up to my future husband wearing it. The one off the rack fit me perfectly, which almost felt like a sign.
Tell us about your search for the dress and the experience at Astra Bridal.
I knew I would be going to Astra Bridal before I even got engaged. I used to work in Newmarket and go to school there, so I’ve grown up knowing about them. There was no way I was going anywhere else. My dress was actually the second one I tried on, and it’s 100% true what they say: 'When you know, you know.' The girls at Astra Bridal were incredibly helpful. I had no clue what I wanted going in, so they helped me find a dress they thought would suit me, and lo and behold—dress number 2 was the one! The girls hyped me up so much and helped me envision myself in the dress on my big day. I felt so, so beautiful.
Tell us your story, how you both met, and the proposal.
Mat and I actually met through friends at a club about 8 years before we even started dating (my first ever text to him was, 'I consider you a big brother,' hahaha). We were very close until our friend group split up, and I didn’t speak to any of them again for years. Then, during Covid, I posted on my Snapchat story that I was bored and said, 'Someone message me,' and lo and behold, Mat messaged me straight away! I fell in love with him the moment we first FaceTimed during Covid, and from then on, we were inseparable. He proposed on our 2-year anniversary at an Airbnb he had rented. I was out in the garden while he was unpacking our bags, and when I came back to the house, he brought out a bottle of champagne while we were outside in the courtyard. Then, he got on one knee and fell over, haha. He said the gravel was too sore, so he actually ended up asking me to marry him while he was hugging me after I helped him up! Haha, it was a very entertaining proposal, if I do say so myself.
What was your favourite part of the day?
My favourite part of our day was our second ceremony—yes, SECOND ceremony, haha! I'm epileptic, you see, and had a seizure halfway through my vows during the first ceremony, which actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise. We had 100 people at our wedding, so after a little rest, we decided to do the ceremony again, but only with the bridal party, parents, and siblings. The reason the second ceremony was the best part of my day is that it was a lot more personal and relaxed. We were all laughing, the celebrant accidentally gave me Mat’s vows instead of mine, haha—it was just a lot more ‘fun,’ you could say. Also, the lighting was more beautiful since it was in the forest under fairy lights, and it had gotten a bit darker since the first ceremony.
Tell us about your wedding day as a whole.
The day as a whole wasn’t perfect, but what is, right? I worked at a hair salon, so my bridesmaids and I all had our hair done there, which was awesome—being pampered and seeing my girls getting pampered as well! I had the makeup artist come to the salon too, so we didn’t have to travel anywhere else for makeup. We then had to drive all the way to the venue (which was out near Kumeū). On the drive there, it started spitting and then slowly got heavier and heavier until we literally could not see anything on the road in front of us, which was absolutely terrifying: 1. Because I genuinely thought we were going to crash, and 2. Because my wedding was in the forest, and I didn’t want to have to change spots at the venue after envisioning a forest ceremony for an entire year! Luckily, luck was on our side, and as soon as we got to the venue, it looked like it hadn’t even rained! We then all headed into the bridal suite to get dressed and have something to eat, but I couldn’t wait to get into my dress, so I had my girls get dressed first so I could do my big reveal—and it sounds bad, but I couldn’t wait to see everyone cry, haha!
After all of that, I finally got to see my dad, and he finally saw me. I tried not to cry, but let me tell you, that was probably the hardest thing I’ve had to do when I saw my dad cry. We all then headed down to the forest, and as soon as that music started and I saw Mat… I started bawling and couldn’t stop. I think that must have been one of the most emotional moments I’ve experienced, but also one of the most beautiful. Our reception was very busy, let me tell you—people do care about the groom, but definitely not as much as the bride. A piece of advice: don’t start talking to people unless you want to start talking to LITERALLY EVERYONE.
Finally, what is your biggest piece of advice for brides to be?
Soak in every single moment, not just on the day but every day leading up to your big day—it goes by so, SO fast. Also, don’t expect everything to be perfect on the big day. If something goes wrong or something happens that you didn’t plan for, you might be let down or upset. Remember, regardless of anything, this day is your day, and it’s very hard to remember or even comprehend that! Enjoy your day from the moment you wake up. <3 x
