Lisa has been involved in bridal since she can remember. Sometimes fitting sewing and designing around raising her children or having another job. When the opportunity came up to combine her passion and a career in the industry she jumped at the chance. It took no time for her to move in to the position of manager and has led the team in Wellington for a number of years. Her expertise in gown construction is fabulous and any bride lucky enough to be with Lisa will receive the benefit of that knowledge. But the construction knowledge is only part of the enthusiasm and love of bridal that Lisa can bring to a bride's experience at Astra.
Photo thanks to Laura Ridley
Had a great experience at Astra Bridal picking my wedding dress! Lisa was amazing, and I had an idea of what I wanted, but I ended up picking a dress I fell in love with that she got me to try on. They have a lot of knowledge about the different gowns and are so good with recommendations.
The whole experience was super pleasant, and I was able to bring my close friends along to experience it with me! Mimosas and snacks were provided, which is also a plus. I was able to try the beautiful veils on with the dress to see the different looks too.
They were also able to provide recommendations for different tailors and dry cleaners. All in all, thank you so much! I said yes to the dress at Astra Bridal :)
November, 2025
Lisa at Astra is wonderful! I was dreading wedding dress shopping as a plus size bride, and I was right to be. My experiences at some other places weren’t great (i.e., they said they were inclusive but in reality only had one or two plus-size options in store, and a very optimistic idea of what stretch clips could do). I looked high and low in multiple cities and struggled to find something that I liked and that suited me.
I visited Astra three times before finding a dress I loved, and Lisa was my consultant the second and third time. She was amazing, extremely skilled at understanding fabric and silhouette, and able to quickly grasp what I was saying in terms of style and tone. She also never once said, “hmmm, bad idea,” if I wanted to try a silhouette plus size brides don’t usually wear. She was very body neutral, which I appreciated.
Lisa was awesome, and I will rave for ages about her expertise. By the end of my second visit with her, I would have tried on a paper bag if she told me to, because no doubt she would have found just the right paper bag, and it would have looked cute as heck. I am very excited for my (non paper bag) dress to arrive.
November, 2025
A Truly Beautiful Experience at Astra Bridal Wellington! (5 Stars)
As soon as I walked into Astra Bridal Wellington’s beautiful salon, I knew I would find my dress. The atmosphere was warm, welcoming, and elegant. Their collection is absolutely stunning, with a huge range of designers and styles to choose from, including their own line, which allows for customisations and makes finding your dress a genuinely exciting process.
I especially appreciated the vast range of sample sizes available, which ensured I could try on gowns that actually fit as intended. My stylist Lisa was incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and had an amazing eye for what would suit me, even suggesting the dress I eventually fell in love with.
The communication throughout the entire process was easy and professional. If you are a bride-to-be in New Zealand looking for a memorable, stress-free shopping experience, Astra Bridal in Wellington is the place to go.
November, 2025