AMY & JOSH

Newly Weds

20 Jun

Josh and I met when we were 17 and both at high school. We met at a party and fell in love pretty quickly and knew that we were made to be together. We did long distance for a year while we were at high school and then when I moved to Dunedin for University Josh moved with me.

Josh asked me to marry him on my birthday last year at the Millbrook Resort and we both knew this was where we wanted to get married. While wedding planning, one night I had a dream that we eloped and just had a big party. I told Josh and thought it might be a cool way to actually do it and a way we could tie the knot earlier as we both wanted it to happen soon.

We did our research and we decided in January that we would do it on the special date of 28/04. We started dating on 28/04/2013 and exactly 9 years later we got married on 28/04/2022. We got married on the Pier on the Millbrook grounds and then flew up to the Remarkables Range for more champagne and photos.

We had a Te Ao Maori focus on our day as Josh is Maori and his whakapapa is to Ngati Kahungunu and Ngai Tahu. At the end of the ceremony we exchanged korowai - traditional maori capes. Josh wore his whanau one and we had one made for us for our own future whanau to pass down. The celebrant included an aspect of Te Reo and I surprised Josh by saying my vowels in Te Reo Maori. Josh wore his pounamu in place of a tie.

*The absolutely stunning Amy wearing Morrison by Madi Lane Bridal. Photo: Kellie Francis Photography*

When I got to Bride and Winter I bought my best friend and I felt really nervous but as soon as I got in the room Alana made me feel more comfortable and explained the process - this put me at ease a bit!

I liked the first couple but when I tried on the dress I just knew it was the one and it fit almost perfectly. I tried on a couple of others and decided to try on the dress again with a veil and I just knew it was perfect and fell in love. In my head, I was already thinking of hair designs to suit and picturing myself on the wedding day wearing it!

Because the dress fit so perfectly all that needed adjusting was the straps and the length of the dress and when I came back for my final fitting I was overwhelmed with happiness and could not stop smiling.

The whole experience was amazing! Being someone who gets anxious quite easily Alana made me feel so comfortable within the store and within myself. The perfect dress for a perfect day.