Gemma and Adam celebrated their love surrounded by friends and family on their beautiful family lifestyle block. Their day was filled with joy, laughter, and so much love as they soaked in every special moment together.
Gemma captivated in Hope by Jenny Yoo — a light and floaty luxe chiffon gown featuring a draped scoop cowl neckline, flowing long sleeves, and a softly draped skirt with an elegant split. The covered buttons extending to the hem added a timeless classic finish to the gown. She completed her bridal look with our cut edge double pearl veil, an elegant touch that perfectly complemented her gown.
We hope you enjoy scrolling through their special day as much as we loved being a part of it.
What was it that made this particular wedding dress catch your eye and fall in love?
I loved the fitted bodice and the fact that the dress was off the shoulder with sleeves. The material was so soft, which made the dress so comfortable and light to wear.
Tell us about your search for the dress and the experience at Astra Bridal.
I tried a couple of local boutiques in Hawke’s Bay before coming to Astra Bridal, but I left those feeling like I hadn’t quite found the one yet. I had a few dresses from the website that I was keen to try, but surprisingly, the dress I fell in love with wasn’t one of those!
When I visited Astra Bridal in Wellington, the team were so helpful in finding dresses and styles that I liked and that suited my body shape. When I tried on Hope by Jenny Yoo, I knew it was the one — it fit like a glove!
Tell us your story, how you both met, and the proposal.
We actually met at the pub — very old school of us! We've now been together for over seven years and have achieved some great things together, such as travelling the world and renovating a new home.
As for the proposal, Adam had planned a secret proposal at the beach for my birthday. Unfortunately, I had different ideas about how I wanted to spend the day, and we didn’t end up going to the beach! Plan B had to be put into action, and he proposed at home, disguising my ring as a birthday present. Although it wasn’t the proposal he had originally planned, it was lovely!
What was your favourite part of the day?
The whole day was amazing — they say your wedding day is the best day of your life, and it truly was.
Tell us about your wedding day as a whole.
We were so lucky to have a beautiful, sunny Hawke’s Bay day for our wedding. The boys started their day with a round of golf, and the girls had a champagne breakfast whilst getting ready. Our makeup and hair stylists were amazing – everyone looked so good!
We chose to have a first look and our bridal party photos before the ceremony. It was so nice to be able to see each other intimately and calm our nerves before the ceremony. We also had lots of friends and family who travelled far to celebrate with us, so it was nice to be able to have more time to spend with them afterwards.
Our ceremony took place in the garden, and then we moved out to the paddock area for our reception. It was so special to be able to have our wedding at my childhood home, and the place looked amazing thanks to George & Co and Flock Events.
We then drank, ate lots of great food, and partied the night away. We couldn’t have asked for a better day all round!
Finally, what is your biggest piece of advice for brides to be?
It’s cliché, but don’t sweat the small stuff. People don’t even notice half of the things you stress about. Also, make sure you stop and remember to enjoy yourself before, during, and after the big day — as brides, we’re often so busy trying to make sure everything runs smoothly that we can forget to enjoy it. It goes by so fast!
