Madison and Matthew celebrated their love surrounded by family and friends at their family farm. Their day was filled with joy, happiness, and love, as they shared every moment with their loved ones.
Madison looked stunning in Amaia by Forget Me Knot, a delicate floral A-line gown featuring a sweetheart bodice, romantic off-shoulder sleeves, and a soft, flowing tulle skirt. She completed her look with our floral pearl comb, a perfect accessory that complemented both her dress and the natural beauty of the venue.
We hope you enjoy scrolling through the highlights of their special day and getting a glimpse into Madison’s journey with Astra Bridal as she found her dream dress.
What was it that made this particular wedding dress catch your eye and fall in love?
I loved the little piece of fabric over my arms. I am quite self conscious about my arms, and this was the perfect amount to cover that area without being a full on sleeve. The lace detailing was also beautiful!
Tell us about your search for the dress and the experience at Astra Bridal.
Astra Bridal was actually my first choice!! I had heard great things from a friend who was searching around the same time. I had Lisa help me with my choices, and she was amazing. She really made me feel at home and like she genuinely cared about which dress I was choosing.
I think I had 6 or 8 dresses to try on, and they were all quite different. I didn’t really have an idea in mind because I just wanted to see what was there and what looked good on me. It was the second dress that everyone loved!
My mum doesn’t have a lot of speech as she has aphasia after suffering a stroke in 2020, so she was very quick to say no if something didn’t look right. She loved the second one! I tried on all the dresses just to make sure, and then put that second one on again, and it just felt right. It was a done deal!
I didn’t think it was going to be that easy, but Astra Bridal really made the whole thing seamless, and I loved being able to pay it off while the dress was being made. Never did I think I would find a dress so fast either!
Tell us your story, how you both met, and the proposal.
We actually met through mutual friends! It’s a small town that we live in, and I had always had my eye on him. One day we met up, and the rest was history!
We were on holiday in beautiful Tauranga. We drove the 8 hour trip with the ring in the glove box, and I had absolutely NO idea!! We went for a walk on the beach, and he was a little bit shy about it, so when we got back to our Airbnb, on the deck with a view of the beach, he got down on one knee and I was in absolute shock!!
Of course I said yes, and our 1 year old came over to see why I was crying (happy tears, obviously!). He then got the ring and gave it to me, so it was really sweet to have him included in it too!
What was your favourite part of the day?
How am I supposed to choose just one?? Lol. I absolutely loved getting ready with my girls. We all had so much fun together. It was so relaxed and chill, there was no stress or rushing, and everyone was really calm, which helped calm my nerves too.
Tell us about your wedding day as a whole.
The weather was absolutely perfect, sunny and warm. We were so relieved since we had no real backup indoor plan, and the next day the weather turned, so it was perfect timing.
We got ready at a family friend’s home, which she kindly let us use. It was a relaxed morning with punch, snacks, and music. We took turns with hair and makeup, with me last, and everyone looked amazing. My bridal party was incredible, my childhood friend flew from Norfolk Island (where we grew up), along with a college friend and two close friends from my adult life. Everything was so calm and stress-free, which made the morning even more special. We then went to the venue where I met my husband for a private first look, which was really special and helped calm our nerves. We did bridal party and couple photos before the ceremony so we could fully enjoy the reception afterwards.
Walking down the aisle was surprisingly easy. I was surrounded by loved ones and walking toward my husband-to-be. I definitely had tears, especially seeing my son and daughter for the first time, they looked incredible. Our celebrant was my dad’s best friend, who has known me since birth, which made it very meaningful. Our vows were beautiful, my husband surprised me with his words, even writing them in cursive in his vow book despite usually writing in capitals as a builder. I went the opposite direction and made people laugh. And just like that, we were married!
Afterwards, we mingled with guests before group photos. We had a relaxed backyard BBQ-style reception with meats, paua fritters, buns, salads, and snacks, no seating plan, just a help-yourself setup, which suited us perfectly. My cake arrived while I was there, which made it extra special, and I got to thank the baker in person. We cut it before our photographer left, and there was barely any left despite it being a large three tier cake, it was delicious!
We also had a tribute to my step-grandad Bob and my husband’s Nana, who had both passed. We played Save You a Seat by Alex Warren, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Then it was music, dancing, and celebrating for the rest of the night.
Finally, what is your biggest piece of advice for brides to be?
Honestly, just soak up every moment you can! Don't sweat the small stuff. The day goes by so quickly, and all of a sudden it’s done, it’s over, and you just wish you could relive it again and again!!
I think what helped us the most was not being stressed or rushed. Make sure the day is planned from start to finish and give yourself ample time for getting ready, photos, etc. It made the morning so much smoother!
We also gave ourselves plenty of time for bridal party photos because we didn’t want people waiting, especially on a hot summer’s day! But honestly, just take a moment to soak it all up because it goes by so fast!
