I was terrified of looking at wedding dresses when I got engaged. As a big lady, I was sure it would be impossible.

On a bit of a whim, I rang the Astra Bridal North Shore store and Lara picked up. From then on, I had the most amazing experience. When I explained to Lara that I was only expecting to come in and discuss my options (thinking they were non-existent), and not be able to try on dresses due to my size, she immediately reassured me that this wasn't the case. She told me that once I booked an appointment, I'd be able to come in and try on dresses.

I couldn't believe it. I was going to get a full bridal experience! Lara was so kind, reassuring, and non-judgemental during that phone call. She took my name down, told me she would take care of me, and looked out for my appointment in the system.

I was able to just have fun and enjoy being a bride. The dress I ended up choosing? Lara picked it! She is amazing at knowing what will work on brides, and we had the most fun day.

I went alone the first time (which I would actually recommend to any bride), and then the second time I flew my mum to Auckland and brought a couple of other relatives. Lara made them feel at home as well, and they had so much fun with me.

Joannah also came in and assisted Lara with my measurements when I chose my dress. She was lovely as well, and I felt very comfortable with both ladies.

Thank you, Lara and Joannah, for the most incredible experience. It was so nice to be seen as a human in a dress. I didn't expect to feel beautiful, but I did, and I'm forever grateful. My fiancé commented on my big smile as I walked out!

I would highly recommend Astra Bridal to everyone :)

I had such a wonderful experience at Astra Bridal North Shore and found my dream dress! Even though we hadn’t booked originally, Joannah made time for us and made me feel so welcome and looked after from the moment we arrived.

She was incredibly patient and knowledgeable, taking the time to understand what I liked and guiding me through different styles without ever making me feel rushed. It also helped that I’d saved some dresses on their website, and she was able to pull up my account and see all the ones I’d saved, which gave her a good idea of what I liked.

There were so many beautiful dresses in store, and we picked out around 10 to try on. I was then able to try on my top few dresses again, which really helped me make the decision.

Thank you, Joannah! She definitely went the extra mile to help me find the perfect dress. I couldn’t recommend Astra Bridal North Shore more highly!

Thank you so much, Joannah, for helping me find my dream dress! If you need someone who is kind, intelligent, and has a sprinkle of magic, Joannah is your gal. She's like a built-in best friend, someone you absolutely NEED for dress shopping.

It all started by attending a Sip & See event, where my friend and I were warmly welcomed into the store with drinks. What a way to kick off the wedding dress shopping journey! Joannah was so friendly and helped answer every question I had (dumb ones included).

From there, I had my first try on appointment. I was slightly nervous, but Joannah made me feel at ease throughout the whole experience. She had already grabbed a number of dresses I was interested in and had them ready for us to start trying on. Joannah could instantly tell which ones I loved and used her great eye to suggest other dresses I hadn't even thought of.

It was the lucky last one at the end of the appointment that ended up being THE one. It was fate.

Overall, I love that Astra has a great range of affordable dresses. I ended up with a style that I never even dreamed would look good on me, but I've ended up with one that makes me feel like the best version of myself, and I can't wait to walk down the aisle.

THANK YOU SO MUCH <3