Larissa and Shaun celebrated their commitment to each other at the stunning Glendhu Bay, followed by a lively party at Good George Mission Bay. Both events showcased their unique style and the joy of their union.
Larissa looked breathtaking in the Raelynn by Rebecca Ingram, a whimsical A-line gown adorned with floral lace motifs that cascade into a soft, dreamy tulle skirt. The three-band detail in the bodice adds a unique touch, while the delicate beading around the bodice is a lovely accent.
Keep reading for an insight into Larissa's dress shopping journey and some wedding inspo.
What was it that made this particular wedding dress catch your eye and fall in love?
It was not what I went in for. I wanted plain and simple - I had a specific dress in mind and was given very honest advice about this dress (it was actually being pulled from stores). Ilyese pulled a lot of dresses in similar styles and by the same designer as the one I went in for, but none of these ended up suiting me. Ilyese walked me to the center of the room and asked me to "pull the first dress that speaks to you," and this dress caught my eye; she called it " the wild card."
This was the first dress I tried on - and a swear word may have popped out as soon as it went on my body. The colour and intricacy of the lace are what originally drew my eye, and ultimately, the cut fit like a glove. This dress fit my personality to a T. In the end, we changed a lot of our plans to fit this dress because it was so perfect.
Tell us about your search for the dress and the experience at Astra Bridal.
I only went to one store because the day was so amazing. Ilyese was so fun and listened to everything I asked for. She made me feel comfortable and confident, and everyone who came with me felt the same.
We got a luxe appointment, so we were the only ones in the store. It was during semi COVID restrictions (mask enforcements, etc.), and everything was still catered for and presented beautifully despite these restrictions.
Tell us your story, how you both met, and the proposal.
We have been together for about seven years. Shaun is a quiet, down to earth person, and I am walking chaos. Our first date consisted of me falling up an escalator, having to repeatedly spell my name to Starbucks barista, and then crying in a bathroom because he was too nice and asked to hold my hand ha! I never expected him to call me back, but the next day he asked to go to Piha, and from that point on, we spent every day together.
I accidently ruined the proposal. Shaun wanted to buy a new car, and I jokingly said, "Not unless I get a ring." When he went to look at a specific car, the salesman asked me my thoughts, and I said "Shaun knows what I think." While signing the paperwork, the salesman said, "Congrats on the engagement." From that point on, I put on a funny voice and kept asking if we were "having a summer or a winter wedding" and "do you want pink or blue?" Turns out he had planned a proposal for the next day. He took me to my favourite ice cream shop, asked the question, and then took me to choose my dream ring.
What was your favourite part of the day?
The best part was that we got to spend the day together doing our favourite things (coffee, a good breakfast, and a lie in). There was no expectation to be anyone but ourselves, and it allowed us to be present with each other.
Tell us about your wedding day as a whole.
The wedding day was beautiful, foggy, and crystal clear - it was freezing though, and was -2°C as the sun was setting. We had a very intimate, quiet day getting ready together, which went swimmingly until we found out Shaun's suit was now too big for him 45 minutes before go time (do you know how hard it is to find suit pants in a resort town?!). Then we had the best time with our elopement team, who brought special touches (such as our favourite beers and talks of our animals into our vows) and a bunch of fun. We then traveled over the hills to Queenstown for a lovely dinner and were in bed with a movie by 9 - I couldn't have made it better if I tried.
A few weeks after this, we had a large reception style party with our family and friends to celebrate, which had amazing food and drink as well as the opportunity to get amazing memories photographed for the future. This topped off the whole experience, as we felt we got a fully rounded wedding experience while doing it our way.
Finally, what is your biggest piece of advice for brides to be?
Make the choices that will make you and your partner happy. It is your day and your memories you are building, even if they are controversial. The bow was laughed at, and I was told by many people not to do it, but it turned out to be one of the best choices I made. And don't sweat the small stuff; the solutions usually turn into the best stories and the funniest memories.
