Bronwyn and Henare vowed to spend the rest of their lives together in front of their loved ones at The Milk Station in Ōtaki. Their wedding day was filled with love, laughter, and heartfelt moments, with every photo offering a glimpse into the joy and celebration that made their day so unforgettable.
Bronwyn looked incredible in Lima by Forget Me Knot, a scoop neck crepe fit and flare gown featuring a beautifully ruched bodice adorned with delicate 3D flowers that also embellished the straps. Classic covered buttons run from the top of the low back all the way to the end of the train, adding a timeless touch. She made the gown truly her own by closing the split, a customisation made possible through our Forget Me Knot collection.
We hope you enjoy scrolling through the highlights of their special day, learning more about Bronwyn’s experience with Astra Bridal, and following her journey to finding the perfect wedding dress.
What was it that made this particular wedding dress catch your eye and fall in love?
Funnily enough, my dress was one that I wouldn't have gone for prior to trying on wedding dresses! I went into the experience not wanting a fitted gown or one with a leg split, so when I found my dress on the rack, I was hesitant. It was my maid of honour who told me to give it a go.
I don't have a poker face, so that's always a dead giveaway for how I'm feeling. When I got my engagement ring, for example, my face apparently lit up in a completely new way. When I tried on my dress and came out of the fitting room, it was the same thing.
I loved the small floral details that matched my tattoos and how the gown was a classic style with a little bit extra. I didn't love the leg split, but because the gown was customisable, I was able to remove it, which was perfect.
I could also tell by my maid of honour's and mum's faces that I'd found the right one.
Tell us about your search for the dress and the experience at Astra Bridal.
I had originally looked online for a dress and found one that I loved on the model. But, as I'm sure is the case for many brides, when I tried it on, it was an immediate no!
I searched in a couple of places before coming to Astra and had a couple of options that I liked, but nothing that made my heart light up.
My experience at Astra was awesome. Because we had been to a few places, and I had learned to just give things a go, I was open to trying dresses on and having fun with it... and fun we had!
Lisa at the Wellington store matched my energy straight away, and we had the best time together. It's safe to say there were times when we cackled in that fitting room! Her attention to detail and ability to unscramble my thoughts on what I liked (and didn't like) made my experience personal and special.
It was by far the best experience I had trying on dresses.
Tell us your story, how you both met, and the proposal.
We met at work about 10 years ago and were good friends. We kept in touch off and on as life progressed for both of us, but a few years ago, he reached out to ask how I had been. We kept talking more and more, and the rest, they say, is history!
I am not one for a public proposal, so he got down on one knee at a family member's house. It was just the two of us. Nothing fancy, but it was perfect.
What was your favourite part of the day?
For me, besides marrying Henare, it was sitting at the head table during our reception and looking out at our loved ones. We had such an eclectic group of people in that room, and seeing them all interact was incredibly special.
Tell us about your wedding day as a whole.
We were blessed with beautiful, warm weather for our day, the last of the summer days. I am very Type A, which meant that on the day, everything was prepped and ready to go, and we could just relax and have fun getting ready. No one was running around doing last minute fix ups, and the morning felt stress free.
Our ceremony was incredibly special. My mum walked me down the aisle, my brother led most of the ceremony (with our pastor jumping in for the legal parts!), and our nephew sang while we signed our paperwork. We also had family and friends pray over us, for our marriage and our future.
The reception was filled with good food, good drink, and good vibes. We come from families that love a boogie, so we had a great time.
Finally, what is your biggest piece of advice for brides to be?
If you're anything like me, take the time to plan things out once you've gotten engaged! Agree on a budget that you can stick to, lock in your vendors early, and set up a spreadsheet or to do list that you can refer to as you go along.
Having things organised from the get go means you (and your bridal party and family) can relax and enjoy the day.
