Makayla and Dale promised forever surrounded by their nearest and dearest. Their special day was filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable moments, with photos capturing the couple soaking up every moment. From heartfelt details to personal touches, their wedding was a true reflection of who they are as a couple.
Makayla looked absolutely beautiful in Danielle by Forget Me Knot, a romantic A-line gown featuring a sweetheart neckline and delicate rose and leaf lace motifs that adorn the bodice and gently cascade into the soft tulle skirt. The off the shoulder sleeves add an extra touch of romance to this dreamy gown.
Keep scrolling for a glimpse into Makayla’s wedding dress shopping journey and her advice for future brides. Enjoy!
What was it that made this particular wedding dress catch your eye and fall in love?
I went dress shopping with my mum and bridesmaids in Whangarei, and while I really liked the dresses, I was still unsure. I heard Astra Bridal was having a big sale, so I drove down with my mum, as my cousin had found her dress there and raved about Astra Bridal Newmarket.
When I walked in and started looking, I was unsure about all the dresses, but decided to try two on since we had come all that way. I picked one dress that had a nude underlayer, and I didn’t think I’d like it at all. When I put it on, it just hugged my body perfectly and fit me like a glove. Instantly, Mum started to cry, and so did I. We just knew this was the dress.
I am a pale girl, and the nude underlayer gave me a bit of colour, which I loved. The dress also had flowers that reminded me of my grandma, who had recently passed away. Both my grandmas and my grandad loved roses, and their surname was Rose, so this made the dress that little bit extra special.
The only alterations I had done were adding buttons partway down the back of the dress and having it taken up slightly. I absolutely loved the dress, and so did my husband! Everyone at the wedding raved about how beautiful and different it was from so many other wedding dresses they had seen, and how perfect it was for me.
Tell us about your search for the dress and the experience at Astra Bridal.
My mum and I were instantly greeted by the lovely ladies at Astra Bridal Newmarket, even on one of their busiest days, as they had a three day sale going on. The ladies gave us time to browse the store. I was unsure and hesitant to try on the two dresses I found, as they were not like the dresses I had liked and tried on at previous stores.
Once I had tried on the dress that I ended up buying, I instantly knew that this dress was different from the rest, in the best way possible. The dress fit perfectly, and the bra inserts were so supportive and made the dress feel like it was going to stay in place all day long. The dress felt amazing to wear, and the material was so nice against my skin. It was easy to move around in and felt lightweight. The lace detail, the off the shoulder sleeves, and the nude underlayer were just so beautiful, with a bit of sparkle to it.
The lady who helped me get the dress on was so helpful and spent quite some time with us, talking about the dress. She just made me feel so beautiful. She mentioned how the nude underlayer helped give me some colour, as I am very pale, and this was exactly what I was after. I didn’t feel like I had found a dress yet with the right colour that wouldn't wash me out.
She also kindly grabbed us tissues when the happy tears flowed and gave me time to think about the dress before I said yes. I was also given lots of information about where I could get alterations done, and they even suggested a lovely lady who lived near me in Whangarei. Overall, it was the best experience, and I am so thankful for all the help and support they gave me.
Tell us your story, how you both met, and the proposal.
We met at a house party where the host was a mutual friend. We got talking and ended up hanging out together for the rest of the night. We caught up several times after the party, and then we began dating.
Six and a half years later, we went away for a private stay at a Bookabach tucked away in the bush for my partner’s 30th birthday. That night, under the stars, listening to the kiwi calls, with a fire pit and outdoor bath, Dale asked me to marry him.
A year later, on the same day Dale proposed to me, we got married after being together for seven and a half years.
What was your favourite part of the day?
My favourite part of the day was marrying my favourite person, but also being surrounded by our favourite people. We had family and friends fly over from Australia, some of whom I hadn’t seen for over twenty years, so this was very special. We also had an old colleague marry us, so we felt extra comfortable with her, as we had known her for many years.
Another favourite part of our day was that we stayed away from some traditional wedding elements. Below is a list of non-traditional things we did that made our day extra special!
We didn’t have a best man or maid of honour.
My mum and dad both walked me down the aisle.
We didn’t do a first dance.
We didn’t have a head table or seating plan.
I didn’t wear a fully white wedding dress.
I wore Converse shoes that I embroidered myself, and my bridesmaids wore Converse too. We didn’t wear heels.
We made our own bouquets as an activity the night before the wedding.
We made most of our signs, invitations (with help from a friend), decorations, and floral arrangements ourselves with our family.
We had lots of help from family and friends, especially with the food, as we catered the wedding ourselves. My uncle and dad took care of the spit roast, we made the salads ourselves, my best friend and bridesmaid made the cake, and we made my grandma’s special baking recipes for dessert.
We didn’t have any colour restrictions or a dress code. Family and friends came in shorts, singlets, whites, and lighter colours, while others dressed up. This was perfect, as we could tell everyone felt comfortable in what they wore.
Tell us about your wedding day as a whole.
The day was absolutely perfect! The weather was stunning, with full sunshine and the water glistening. I spent the morning getting ready at my grandparents’ house, where I grew up, overlooking the Whangarei Harbour with some of my family, bridesmaids, and flower girl. We had a lovely morning getting ready together. It was a chill, fun morning. My partner and the groomsmen, along with some family and friends, got ready at the venue.
The venue was surrounded by farm paddocks and forest, with views of Mount Manaia in the background and the beach just a 400m walk away. I spent a lot of time on this farm when I was a child, so it was a very special place for me. You could hear the waves rolling and crashing in the background, which was so beautiful to listen to throughout the day.
We got married in the forest section of the campground, under the pine trees on a lovely wooden pergola and deck. Once the ceremony was over, we spent time with family and friends, taking photos in the forest and down at the beach.
We had a big marquee set up by the bar and camp kitchen shed area, with outdoor games around the venue. We let our guests freely explore the area and enjoy each other’s company without having too much on the schedule.
We had very few speeches and didn’t have a first dance, which allowed us and our guests to just chill out and spend more time together. We had a casual dinner, a grazing table, and a grazing dessert table for our guests to enjoy.
We then finished the night off with lots of dancing and laughter. Lots of our guests camped at the campground with us, and some stayed for a few days, which made it extra special.
Finally, what is your biggest piece of advice for brides to be?
Don’t put pressure on yourself or everyone involved to make the day perfect, because it will be perfect in its own way. Things happen, and there is always a solution to those little things that pop up.
We had traditional aspects, but we also had quite a relaxed, non-traditional wedding, and this was the best thing we could have done.
Our family and friends raved about how fun and relaxed the day was. They said they really enjoyed how chilled and unhurried our wedding day felt, and that they could relax and be themselves more than they could at most weddings.
This made it less stressful for us too, which meant we could enjoy every moment of our day together and with our loved ones.
