With a devotion to fabrics, embellishments and silhouettes it was natural for Ilyese to complete a Fashion Design degree from AUT. This knowledge and then experience in the fashion industry made Ilyese a natural addition to the team in Auckland. She has progressed to lead the team and teach them all the knowledge she holds. Brides who have a booking with Ilyese will be lucky recipients of her expertise in garment construction combined with her knowledge of how a gown can be tailored for the perfect look.
I was so nervous about finding the perfect dress for my big day. I had a call with Ilyese prior to my visit, and she put me at ease straight away. She made the whole experience so easy, and even with my nerves and questions, she was just amazing. I couldn’t have imagined a better experience—my family felt so accommodated too. I can’t thank Ilyese and her team enough for their efforts xx
November, 2024
I found my dream wedding dress at Astra Bridal Newmarket in October! I’m an international bride who flew in from Tonga in hopes of finding my dream dress. Ilyese from the team was assigned to me, and I can say with full confidence that my 5 star review is based not only on the dress but also on my personal experience with her and the team. As a Polynesian girl who is more on the plus size side, Ilyese made me feel so beautiful, confident, and helped me fall more in love with my body. I was shy and unsure at first, but I left feeling amazing, thanks to her and the girls.
When it came to finding a dress, I couldn’t quite pick anything that stood out to me, and with all the wedding prep going on, I hadn’t had much time to think about my dress. Ilyese helped me organise my thoughts and showed me different dress designs, colours, shapes, and patterns. She took her time helping me navigate through my ideas and understand what dress I actually wanted. Once we found the dream dress (mind you, it’s a custom dress), I felt a huge sigh of relief knowing that this important part of my wedding prep was taken care of. She’s handled everything regarding my wedding dress, and I couldn’t be more grateful to her and the team!
If you’re a Polynesian bride and plus size, I cannot recommend Astra Bridal Newmarket enough. My sister has already picked out a wedding dress from them, and she isn’t even getting married! LOL. That speaks volumes about how beautiful the whole experience was. Another huge plus is that the dresses are very affordable for tight budgets, yet still high quality and stunning. You will not regret finding your dream dress here.
Thank you, Ilyese and the team! I’m truly grateful for you all, and I can’t wait to see you again soon! ‘Ofa atu
November, 2024
Ilyese is amazing! I went in set on a certain dress/style, and when it didn't look how I'd pictured, she had me try on a dress I never would have considered—and it looked like it was made for me. I'm absolutely in love with it and can't wait to wear it! The experience was not stressful at all—super relaxed and low pressure! :)
November, 2024