Sarah and Todd promised to spend the rest of their lives together in front of their loved ones at the enchanting Aston Norwood—an idyllic garden setting that perfectly reflected the joy and romance of their special day. The celebration was filled with laughter, love, and unforgettable moments, beautifully captured in photos that show the couple soaking up every second together.
Sarah captivated in Frederique by Maggie Sottero—a stunning fit and flare gown featuring elegant beaded lace and a layer of shimmering glitter tulle. Romantic touches like the sweetheart neckline, covered buttons, and dreamy off the shoulder sleeves added to the gown’s charm. She completed her look with our cut-edge veil, a simple yet graceful accessory that tied everything together.
Keep scrolling to explore more gorgeous images, read about Sarah’s wedding dress journey, and discover her advice for future brides. Enjoy!
What was it that made this particular wedding dress catch your eye and fall in love?
I wasn’t initially after a strapless dress, but I loved the detailing—so much beading, lace, and sparkling tulle. It was so slimming, with a beautiful and elegant silhouette. So, I added off the shoulder lace straps that I could also move up onto my shoulders for more range of movement while dancing, and I added a tiny bit more lace to soften the deep neckline for a more conservative look.
I loved the final result!
Tell us about your search for the dress and the experience at Astra Bridal.
I went to a small boutique first to try on different styles. Once I decided that fit and flare was for me, I went to Astra Bridal, which had a large number of beautiful dresses on offer. I searched the website in advance, found a few I liked, and emailed them my top picks prior to the appointment. I’m so glad I did, as they transferred one from their Auckland store—which happened to be the one!
The ladies were so lovely and patient, no matter how many times I wanted to retry a dress. It was a great experience.
Tell us your story, how you both met, and the proposal.
We took the modern road to love with a faith-based approach: we met online through a Christian dating website.
We had both been members for a few years and were looking for the same thing—someone whose life is centred on Jesus and who could be an amazing partner to journey through life with. Fortunately, we found each other! We were a bit uncertain after the first date and didn’t meet up again until almost a year later—when we really hit it off.
Just over two years later, we got engaged, and less than six months after that, we were married!
What was your favourite part of the day?
Having everything finally come together—all the planning and excitement of the day itself. Did it go off without a hitch? Definitely not, but you ignore the parts that didn’t, as they are minor in comparison to marrying the person you want to spend your life with.
We loved the ceremony and the fun activities, such as clay pigeon shooting (we both hit it on our first and only shot!) and surprised everyone with a first dance, complete with dips, spins, and lifts!
Tell us about your wedding day as a whole.
We had the only sunny, beautiful day in December 2024! We had braced ourselves for rain or wind and prayed for sun—and boy, were our prayers answered; it was almost too hot!
We each had just one person standing with us, and both started the day with a lovely breakfast out. The ceremony wasn’t until early afternoon, so there was plenty of time to get ready.
The ceremony took place in the beautiful Aston Norwood gardens. We had lawn games, axe throwing, archery, and clay pigeon shooting to fill the time before the reception (while we explored the rest of the garden for photos). At the reception, we had the usual speeches, a bride or groom quiz (shoe game), our first dance, and a telephone for guests to record messages for us.
Overall, it was a lovely day.
Finally, what is your biggest piece of advice for brides to be?
I don’t recommend breaking your arm on your honeymoon, which requires surgery and delays being able to move in together!
More seriously, choose a trusted caterer with reviews available. Have trusted people able to help deal with things that go pear-shaped on the day (and they will), so you don’t have to bear the brunt. Spring for a videographer, not just a photographer. It was the best thing we did! Just have fun and enjoy the day, and agree ahead of time to stay together with your partner, as there are lots of things that can pull you in opposite directions on the day.
