Barbara and Simon vowed to spend the rest of their lives together at the picturesque Winehouse, surrounded by their nearest and dearest. Photos from the day capture the joyful couple savouring every moment of a celebration filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable memories.
Barbara looked stunning in Washington by Forget Me Knot, a sleek Italian satin fit and flare gown featuring elegant exposed boning details. A timeless and sophisticated choice, this gown perfectly complemented her modern romantic style. She personalised her gown with custom cap sleeves, adding a soft, graceful finish to her bridal look.
We hope you enjoy scrolling through their gorgeous day and hearing directly from Barbara about her journey to finding the dress and her experience with us at Astra Bridal.
What was it that made this particular wedding dress catch your eye and fall in love?
It wasn’t one that initially caught my eye, but my wonderful stylist, Emma, picked it out and suggested that I try it on. As soon as she clipped me in, my literal reaction was “Wow, my body doesn’t usually look like this”. I was initially leaning towards saying yes to another dress that I also felt beautiful in, but I ended up choosing this one because it just made me feel unreal. It kind of felt like an out of body experience when I had it on and I almost couldn’t believe that it was me I was looking at in the mirror. I also think the dress has a timeless look and feel to it, which is exactly what I was wanting for my wedding.
Tell us about your search for the dress and the experience at Astra Bridal.
Honestly, I went into the search feeling very excited, overwhelmed, and a little insecure about my body. I knew Astra Bridal in Wellington was a place I wanted to visit, so I started by going to one of their big sales. I wanted to calm my nerves by trying on a dress for the first time on my own and getting a feel for the Astra team. I felt welcomed and comfortable from the moment I stepped into the salon!
Astra was then hosting a sip-and-see a week or two before my appointment, so I excitedly went along to have a proper look at all the dresses in person and to get a good idea of what I liked and didn’t like.
The day of my appointment was so much fun! I was lucky enough to have Emma as my stylist, and she went above and beyond. She was so friendly and helpful, and she made me feel completely at ease.
Tell us your story, how you both met, and the proposal.
We initially met during university in 2013 through a mutual friend and were kind of in the same social circle, but never properly interacted. We started dating a year later after we properly interacted for the first time at a bar in Wellington.
Simon proposed nine years later, in July 2023, when we were on our 30th/31st birthday trip in America. We were on a tour of the Grand Canyon West Rim, and he waited until we were alone at the most beautiful lookout point and got down on one knee. It was an unbearable 45 degrees Celsius, so I looked like a sweaty mess!
We also bought our first home in 2023, so it was a year filled with milestones for us! We started properly wedding planning at the end of 2023, and our wedding was in February 2025.
What was your favourite part of the day?
The day was made up of so many special moments. I loved every single minute of it! One of the most special moments was taking a helicopter up to the Remarkables after our ceremony to take photos. It was just Simon and me, our photographer, and our wedding content creator. It was the only time during the day that we got to spend a decent amount of time alone together, which is something I’ll never forget.
Tell us about your wedding day as a whole.
Our wedding day was the best! The weather started out horrible but cleared up at the perfect time. I had a really chill morning getting ready with my girls in a stunning house in Frankton. I was only really stressing about the weather and last-minute writing my vows (oops). I did a first look with my siblings and parents, which was such a magical moment.
Seeing Simon for the first time as I walked down the aisle was a special moment that I’ll cherish forever. We got to spend some of our cocktail hour drinking margaritas with everyone before we were whisked away in a helicopter for our photos.
Our reception was amazing, with the best food, the funniest speeches, and the sweetest waiata performed by my family. Between food and our first dance, there was a human pyramid, bridal party photos, cake cutting, and a wedding merch t-shirt toss (instead of a bouquet toss).
Once the dance floor was open, we drank and danced the night away! There is absolutely nothing I would change about our day, and I wish I could relive it over and over.
Finally, what is your biggest piece of advice for brides to be?
It really is true what they say. Your wedding day goes by so fast! Make sure you take a moment to breathe and take everything in. Take a second to appreciate all the hard work you’ve put into making everything come together, no matter the size of your wedding or elopement. Enjoy yourself and have a margarita or four, you deserve it!
