Yeji and Matt promised forever in Queenstown, surrounded by breathtaking scenery as they celebrated their special day with their loved ones. Their day was filled with love and romance, with photos capturing the happy couple in utter bliss. The windy weather even added an ethereal touch to their beautiful wedding photos.
Yeji looked stunning in Tricia by Jenny Yoo, a straight neckline fit and flare crepe gown featuring oversized floral appliqué details cascading from the bodice down to the bottom of the train. The princess seams give this gown beautiful shape and elegant elongation, while the covered buttons at the back add a timeless finishing touch to this modern gown.
Keep scrolling to explore more gorgeous images and read Yeji’s advice for future brides. Enjoy!
What was it that made this particular wedding dress catch your eye and fall in love?
I wanted to find a dress that was minimal, unique, and modern. At the beginning, I didn’t have a clear picture of what that would look like. It was hard to imagine a dress that was simple and understated without feeling plain. It wasn’t until I was browsing the Astra Bridal website that I came across Jenny Yoo’s Tricia dress, and it instantly ticked all the boxes.
There’s a subtle uniqueness and modernity to the design. I loved the clean, form fitting silhouette, but it was the delicate embroidered floral detailing flowing from the bodice down into the train that truly won me over. To complete the look, I had a custom satin neck scarf made by Fritz & Sarah, who also tailored my dress. It added another modern element while being versatile; I could also wear it as a shawl. It turned out to be the perfect accessory for our photos too. The wind was relentless on the day, and the way the scarf caught the gusts created dramatic movement in the photos.
The dress was also incredibly comfortable, which I knew would be important for an outdoor wedding with multiple location changes. I needed something that would allow me to easily get in and out of the car and walk comfortably across uneven ground, and it was perfect for that.
Tell us about your search for the dress and the experience at Astra Bridal.
I was a part of my best friend’s search for her wedding dress a year earlier, when she bought her dress at Astra Bridal. I went to multiple dress fittings with her at Astra Bridal in Newmarket and was impressed with how comfortable and accommodating the staff were. When it came to my turn to look for a dress, it was an easy decision to start my search at Astra Bridal, and very quickly, I found the dress I wanted.
Tell us your story, how you both met, and the proposal.
We first met at university in the architecture studio through a mutual friend who had arranged a dinner and invited us both. I was exhausted from an all-nighter working on an assignment, wasn’t expecting much from the evening, and didn’t pick up on all the little efforts Matt made to show that he was interested in me. After that night, Matt would often “drop by” the studio, which I had assumed was to see his friend, though his true motivation was to get closer to me.
We began as friends, and after Matt asked me out (three times, haha), our relationship officially began. Over the past eight years, we’ve grown through so many life chapters together, from COVID lockdowns to a brief breakup, to three years of long distance while Matt was working in Blenheim. Rather than weaken us, the distance only strengthened our relationship, as each visit became something to look forward to.
Our dog, Cola, has been with us from the very beginning. Matt adopted her as a puppy when our relationship first started, and she enabled us to show each other quite early on in our relationship a glimpse of what it would be like as parents, as we both took responsibility for caring for her. This only deepened our love for each other and showed us who we could be beyond just being boyfriend and girlfriend.
In 2024, during a trip to Japan with two close friends who helped Matt plan a surprise proposal, we got engaged. We visited Naoshima Island, a place that I had always wanted to visit. We spent the day biking around the island, exploring its art and architecture museums, and in front of Hiroshi Sugimoto’s tea house, Matt proposed.
What was your favourite part of the day?
The whole day was near perfect and went above and beyond my expectations. However, if I had to narrow down my favourite moments, they would have to be the first look and the after party. You could say the start and end of the wedding day.
The first look was a highlight because it really broke the tension, anticipation, and nervousness that had been building up. There’s an incredible amount of anticipation leading up to this one day; it consumed nearly a year of our lives. So much time, thought, and emotion goes into planning it all, but after our first look, having that quiet moment with just my soon to be husband brought a huge sense of relief and clarity. It helped me refocus on the most important part of the day: marrying the love of my life. That’s all that needed to happen for the day to be no less than perfect, which was the easiest thing to do.
Another favourite moment was the after party. It was another time when I felt a real weight lift off my shoulders. There were no more timelines to stick to, no nerves about speeches, and no first dance lingering in the back of my mind. It was the moment we could truly let loose, be present, and celebrate with our friends. And, of course, have a little too much to drink.
Tell us about your wedding day as a whole.
About a week before the wedding, we found ourselves constantly checking the weather forecast, as it looked like we were due for a storm on the day. As the day got closer, it only seemed to get worse, which sank my heart at the thought that we might have to relocate the ceremony indoors. Miraculously, though, we woke up on the day to blue skies with only a few clouds in the sky. It appeared that the rain had moved elsewhere; however, the wind stayed in full force.
We’d been warned just how strong the wind was. In fact, we were told that the chairs had even been blown into the lake, so they had to be fished out and dried before the guests arrived! It was so crazy and absurd that it just added to the drama and hilarity. We couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief, which ironically seemed to break any stress or tension we were feeling. We spent the morning getting ready with our friends and family, so there was plenty of excitement, conversation, and a little bit of organised chaos. It helped being surrounded by our favourite people, as it kept the atmosphere light-hearted and fun.
We then had our first look by Lake Wakatipu before heading to Moke Lake for the ceremony. While we were grateful for the blue skies and sunshine, the wind was relentless. Everyone couldn’t help but laugh at how crazy the conditions were. After taking photos around the lake, we joined our guests at Stoneridge for the reception, enjoyed an amazing dinner, shed more than a few tears during the heartfelt speeches, and ended the day with our first dance at sunset before celebrating into the after party.
Finally, what is your biggest piece of advice for brides to be?
My biggest piece of advice would be to plan and lock in as many details as you can early on. It also helps to share the mental load with your partner, as well as your friends and family where you can.
Most importantly, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. At the end of the day, your guests are just excited to be there celebrating with you. It doesn’t matter if everything doesn’t run perfectly to schedule, and all those little details that keep you awake at night, like the exact napkins or a particular reception game, won’t make or break the day. Chances are, your guests won’t even notice.
There honestly isn’t much that can ruin your wedding day, because the purpose of it isn’t to host the most beautiful or perfectly planned party. It’s to marry your partner and share that moment with the people you love. Everything else is just a bonus.
