Shaynee and Reef celebrated their love surrounded by family and friends at the beautiful LaValla. Their day was filled with heartfelt moments, overwhelming joy, and so much love, all beautifully captured in every photo.
Shaynee was absolutely stunning in Kiandra by Rebecca Ingram, a strapless A-line gown featuring a beaded lace cat eye bodice with exposed boning detail and a daring side split in the dreamy glitter tulle skirt.
We hope you love scrolling through their special day as much as we did. Congratulations, Shaynee and Reef! x
What was it that made this particular wedding dress catch your eye and fall in love?
I knew it was the one because as soon as I got into it, I felt beautiful for the first time ever.
Tell us about your search for the dress and the experience at Astra Bridal.
Astra Bridal was who I was looking for before I even got engaged, just to get a rough idea of my style. When I booked my first appointment, it was truly to see what I liked and how it fit my body. I ended up leaving with a dress that wasn’t even on the floor yet. Ilyese was an absolute angel and made the day so special.
Tell us your story, how you both met, and the proposal.
Reef and I met at a gas station on the way to a car event. We became friends, and a year later we got together. I’m terrified of heights, and during a family trip to Rotorua, I told him if I did the sky swing, he better propose (jokingly), and he did, in front of his family, with me still catching my breath from screaming. I said yes!
What was your favourite part of the day?
My favourite part of the day was getting ready with my girls and my best friends; however, seeing my dad’s reaction to seeing me and walking down to Reef all are tied as my top highlights.
Tell us about your wedding day as a whole.
The night before the wedding, my bridal party and I went and did a rain dance after burying a sausage (an old wives’ tale), and it must have worked because we were due to have thunder and lightning and had NOTHING. It was magical. We woke up at the venue to a cooked breakfast and got straight into it. My bridal party went and did a first look with Reef, and his bridal party came to do a first look with me. We had our ceremony out on the lawn by the huge tree that we fell in love with at our viewing, and then we had our reception in the hall. We danced the night away and woke up the next day exhausted, in love, and married.
Finally, what is your biggest piece of advice for brides to be?
My advice is not to sweat the small stuff. No one else will know if something didn’t go to plan except for you. Make sure you breathe and soak in all the love and moments because the day goes SO fast.
