Ella and Caleb vowed to spend the rest of their lives surrounded by their loved ones and the lush greenery of the Black Walnut in Tauranga. Photos from the day capture the happy couple enjoying every moment, beaming with smiles.
Ella stunned in Abernathy by Jenny Yoo, a scoop-neck organza A-line gown with spaghetti straps and romantic oversized floral appliqués adorning the bodice and cascading into the dreamy skirt.
We’re so excited to share a glimpse of their beautiful day, and to hear from Ella herself about her experience with Astra Bridal and the journey to finding her dream dress.
What was it that made this particular wedding dress catch your eye and fall in love?
I loved the gown because of the neckline, as well as the lightness of the dress. I didn’t want to feel weighed down or too hot on the day! The details were soft enough to blend in rather than stand out, and I really liked the way it looked and fell at the back without being too low.
Tell us about your search for the dress and the experience at Astra Bridal.
We had over two years of being engaged, so I took my time finding the dresses. Being from out of town, we managed to get an appointment at Astra Bridal in Hamilton whilst up for a family wedding, and Khym was so accommodating when I needed to move the timing of my appointment around. Khym asked lots of questions and encouraged me to look around the store before trying any dresses on, taking note of what I liked. There were so many different styles to choose from, and Khym was able to bring me ones I might not have picked myself but that still fitted my brief. The whole process felt easy. I was able to take my time and took lots of photos to remember my favourites! Khym reached out a few months after my appointment and had managed to source a gown for me in my favourite style, which I then had custom fitted to me. I’m really grateful for this, as it meant I got to wear my dream gown while also keeping costs down.
Tell us your story, how you both met, and the proposal.
Caleb and I met in our first year of university, having one lecture together and living in the same halls. I flatted with his friend the year after, and Caleb spent lots of time at ours. We began dating that year before getting engaged at Church Road in 2022. Caleb's from Hawke’s Bay, so Church Road is always on our list to visit when we see his family. It was a very low-key proposal, just the two of us, and we got to share the excitement with our families afterward.
What was your favourite part of the day?
My favourite part of the day was the cocktail hour. We made a real effort to chat to everyone together, which was so lovely! The ‘important’ part was over, and I felt like I could breathe a little.
Tell us about your wedding day as a whole.
We had a severe thunderstorm warning come through the night before, so my bridesmaids and I buried a sausage before we went to bed! I had five bridesmaids who all joined me on the morning of the wedding at my family home. We had some breakfast and exchanged gifts before the makeup and hair artist arrived. This was such a fun memory, having the girls getting ready together!
My brothers drove me to the venue, then Caleb and I did a private first look and exchanged our vows there. Caleb’s uncle is a priest, so we asked him to marry us in a Catholic ceremony. We did most of our photos between the first look and the ceremony, which worked really well as it meant we got to spend as much time as possible with guests afterwards.
The reception felt so relaxed. We had a big grazing platter, which everyone loved, and it gave us a chance to mingle before dinner. The weather turned out to be stunning the whole day with no thunderstorms in sight! The day flew by SO fast, and I’m so glad I have photos to look back on because it all happened so quickly. We also chose to have a content creator, which means we now have some really raw moments from the day. I watch these videos ALL the time!
Finally, what is your biggest piece of advice for brides to be?
It's so cliché, but try to spend as much time as possible with your other half, and soak in all the little moments together if possible. Oh, and also remember that you're the guest of honour, not the host!
