Roslyn and Dan celebrated their love surrounded by friends and family at the romantic Mantells. Their day was filled with laughter, joy, and unforgettable moments, captured beautifully in photos of the happy couple enjoying every second of their special day.
Roslyn wowed in Beryl by Theia, a stunning crepe fit and flare gown that perfectly balanced classic elegance and modern style. The plunging neckline and double strap halter highlighted her shoulders and back, while the low back added a touch of drama. The fit and flare silhouette emphasised her figure while remaining comfortable enough to move and dance.
Keep scrolling for stunning photos, a glimpse into Roslyn’s dress shopping journey, and her heartfelt advice for brides to be. Enjoy!
What was it that made this particular wedding dress catch your eye and fall in love?
Beryl (affectionately known as Bezza among my bridesmaids and me) was immediately a contender. Although she’s plain to look at on the rack, just that little bit of neck detail elevated the whole look. I didn’t want to decide then and there on the day that she was the one, but much like my now husband, I think I secretly knew from the first date.
I waited a few weeks and tried on more dresses, but it was always Beryl. Bezza felt like she became part of the crew, another bridesmaid. And the Astra Bridal Newmarket crew were SO excited for Bezza and me to have found each other. They were also extremely kind after I could never open the door properly on the first go at the store.
Tell us about your search for the dress and the experience at Astra Bridal.
I had my first lot of wedding dress fittings with two of my bridesmaids the day of our engagement party, which was exactly a year out from the wedding. It felt fun to be doing a wedding thing during the day and to feel excited. I made sure I had fun with trying on dresses, I don’t like these things to be too serious, although I found some people take it very, very seriously!
I was trying on a range of dresses and made sure I could run around, sit down, do the YMCA without a boob popping out, etc. I’d been to two places before Astra, but they already had a leg up on the competition. I really appreciated the Zoom call and communication before the fitting, and they were as open with me as I was with them. When I asked them to find me a puffy dress just because I wanted to try one, they obliged.
They were also really honest with me, the dress I thought would be my favourite just wasn’t the right fit or style for me. As beautiful as it was, and as high as my hopes had been, it just wasn’t it. But when I did have the right dress on, staff came over from where they were to tell me how great it was.
Tell us your story, how you both met, and the proposal.
It’s a tale as old as time, we met online. I was Dan’s first ever online date, so as far as he’s concerned he’s the “King of Dates” and nailed online dating. I, on the other hand, was about to give up altogether. As my bridesmaid recalled in her speech, I almost couldn’t be bothered going on the date. He was my “last first date” before I got another cat. Little did I know, he would indeed be my last first date. In fact, after our first date, Dan called his best friend back in the UK and told him he’d met the woman he was going to marry. I told him to chill out. But our relationship grew pretty quickly, and it became clear pretty quickly we were each other’s person.
Dan had been married before and has a son, so we quickly developed a modern family. Dan’s son was our page boy on the day, and his ex-wife and her family were at the wedding too. We even included his ex-wife in the ceremony where she did an official “hand over.” Quote “no take backsies.” This brought a lot of levity to the ceremony and showed that we’re all family.
As for the proposal, I wasn’t expecting it. We’d just been away in Mexico which would have been the perfect time to do it, but instead he took me for a walk around Stonefields while we were way too formally dressed. He got really weird and very quiet (highly suspicious for a musician) and even pointed at a sleeping cat and said “cat” monotonously. I did think then that something was either up or very wrong. He pulled the ring out of his pocket (which I found out later had been there for a month) but did not get down on bended knee as his jeans were too tight. It was an instant and surreal yes from me. It felt spontaneous and ridiculous, which meant it felt right.
What was your favourite part of the day?
We did the photos before the guests arrived, and this was a really fun part of the day. It was just us and the bridal party, we got to have some fun before we had to do the serious thing. Also the champagne was popped and there was nothing left to do. No more organising of the wedding, no more worrying about what still had to be done and by what time. The train had left the station and we just had to relax and go with it.
Also canapé hour, the period between the ceremony and the reception, was so much fun. We got to hang out with everyone, give people hugs and catch up. You never have enough time at a wedding to spend as much time with everyone that travelled for the event, but seeing all your friends and family meet and mingle and having a happy event was the best..
Tell us about your wedding day as a whole.
We got married during Easter 2025, right in the middle of a cyclone. Seeing thunderstorms on the weather app was disheartening, and I was obsessively checking every site. My mother, a pilot, was confident it would clear, and my husband’s Irish, very Catholic mother had “put in a good word,” so both mothers assured us we’d get our outdoor ceremony.
Our wedding was on a Saturday, and I’d booked an Airbnb for myself and the bridesmaids, which we moved into Thursday afternoon. This ended up being the most fun part of the wedding for me. I was with my best friends, who are efficient and hilarious, and we had a blast getting ready. Watching them bond as bridesmaids and seeing their friendship grow was so special. While Dan looked after his family from the UK, I relaxed with wine, a facemask, and a screening of Bridesmaids. Bliss!
The morning of the wedding brought heavy rain and two emergency alerts, but I was surrounded by friends. Gabrielle Anwen did the bridesmaids’ makeup, Tania, my longtime friend, did mine, and my cousin Jackie, a professional photographer, was there too. Having familiar faces around was comforting and made me feel relaxed.
By the time we arrived at Mantells, the weather had calmed enough for photos, some with umbrellas, but the key ones without. Shaun from Mantells kept checking if we wanted to move inside, but I trusted the mothers’ predictions and insisted it would clear. Chairs went in and out multiple times, and the rain stopped ten minutes before the ceremony. Celebrant Nate Dunn suggested we could pause if needed, but it wasn’t necessary, we got our dream outdoor wedding. Bonus, it was warm despite the cyclone.
The ceremony is a bit of a blur, but luckily we have video. The short aisle was perfect for my disabled dad, and I surprised him with a tattoo he hadn’t seen until I walked away in my dress. Dan and I were adamant about no white except my dress, and Wild Blooms nailed the bright, Frida Kahlo-inspired flowers. Mantells’ many photo-friendly rooms were a joy to use. My favourites are the “Posh and Becks” cheetah room shots and the black-and-white bridal party cheers with champagne right after the ceremony.
The reception was fun and fast-paced. The food was fantastic, guests are still raving, and Shaun was amazing. We included a tequila shot, which staff handled effortlessly. Both mothers’ speeches were unintentionally hilarious. And the dance floor, DJ Kita Mean kept us moving all night. Light-up foam sticks and my light-up cape were a hit. It was one of the happiest days of our lives. I loved every moment, everyone had fun, and the best part? You don’t have to organise the wedding anymore.
Finally, what is your biggest piece of advice for brides to be?
Honestly, there is too much pressure on brides to feel a certain way leading up to the wedding. It “should” be exciting, and you “should” feel all sorts of ways. Things will go wrong, sometimes all at once. It’s okay to press pause, do something fun, and then come back to it.
If people offer to help, take it. The week before our wedding, I went to a friend’s place (Missy of Miss Melicious), and she helped with all the small tasks I couldn’t manage, ironing on denim jacket transfers, painting our welcome sign, and going over the cake. Friends want to help, so let them. It’s okay to outsource. There may be moments when planning makes you want to hurt your soon-to-be spouse. That’s normal. My husband’s only task was the wedding certificate, and he spelled my name wrong.
Whatever your initial budget, add 10K, double it, then add another 10K. Make sure you get the things you want, you won’t regret it. If it’s going to rain, it’s okay to be frustrated, but make the most of it. I had colorful umbrellas, light-up umbrellas, and gumboots ready, and we still got amazing photos. Pay for as much as you can beforehand. Get a bridal house with just you and your bridesmaids. Facemasks, matching pajamas, playlists, and tasks make getting ready fun and centering.
The best advice I got was that all the stress is front-loaded. On the wedding day, the planning is done, the money is spent, and all you can do is show up and enjoy it. We get so few chances to celebrate joyous moments, make the most of yours.
