Francesca and Brytt promised forever surrounded by their nearest and dearest at the stunning Pemberton Gardens. Their special day was filled with lots of love and unforgettable moments, with beautiful photos capturing the couple soaking up every moment and celebrating their love.
Francesca looked absolutely stunning in Havana by Forget Me Knot, a sleek fit and flare gown crafted from shimmering satin. Featuring an elegantly ruched bodice, the delicate draping flows effortlessly into the figure hugging skirt, while a row of pearl buttons extending to the end of the train adds the perfect finishing touch. To complete her dream bridal look, Francesca paired her gown with a customised Charlotte overskirt, choosing a different fabric to beautifully complement her dress and create two stunning looks in one.
Keep scrolling for more gorgeous wedding inspiration, a glimpse into Francesca's special day, and her advice for future brides. Enjoy!
What was it that made this particular wedding dress catch your eye and fall in love?
I knew I wanted something sleek and silky, but with some draping and shape to it. I was originally drawn to Katherine Tash's stunning gowns.
When I tried on the Havana gown, I knew the shape was perfect, and it had just the right amount of soft shaping across the bodice and waist. However, I felt like I was looking for something a little extra.
So, after a trip to Auckland (and nearly buying a different dress on the Stillwhite website), I came back to Astra and tried on the Havana gown again, this time in the neutral colourway, which was perfect against my skin tone.
When I put on the overskirt with it, I had that magical "this is my wedding dress" moment!
Tell us about your search for the dress and the experience at Astra Bridal.
I loved the process of dress shopping, but I was a tad indecisive, so I ended up going to two stores in Wellington and three in Auckland. The team at Astra were very patient and helpful, and I never felt rushed or pressured. I think the 90 minute appointments make a huge difference!
Tell us your story, how you both met, and the proposal.
We met through medical school! Despite plenty of flirting at various parties, Brytt remained the polite gentleman and didn't want to come on too strong, so eventually I sent him a late night Snapchat message.
Seven years later, we got engaged on Valentine's Day by the lakeside in Queenstown. Brytt designed my ring in secret with the Rolling Mill team (centred around a vivid blue Ceylon sapphire) and had even shown it to our elderly cat to get his approval before popping the question to me.
What was your favourite part of the day?
The whole thing was absolutely a dream, but I actually loved the ceremony more than I thought I would. The feeling of walking down the aisle with my parents, towards the man I love, and looking around at all the faces of our favourite people was completely overwhelming. I think I started crying about four steps down the aisle!
One of our good friends was our celebrant, and we wrote our own vows, so the whole ceremony felt really personal and meaningful.
Tell us about your wedding day as a whole.
The day itself was just so delightful! I got ready with some of my closest friends at an Airbnb, where Brytt and I had our first look before heading to Ravenscar House Museum for some couple portraits. Our bridal party photos were taken at a private residence near the venue.
The weather was less than ideal (grey and windy), but we couldn't do anything about it, so we accepted it and moved on!
We were glad to have done all of our photos beforehand, so we could hang out at the venue between the ceremony and reception.
Everything from the speeches onwards was a bit of a blur. I wished we could slow the day down and soak up every second of it.
Finally, what is your biggest piece of advice for brides to be?
Don't go down the rabbit hole of comparing your wedding to other weddings, particularly those on social media! There will always be more extravagant weddings or people with more generous budgets. Work out what your priorities are (e.g. photography, live music, a larger guest list), and focus your energy on them.
