Real Bride Jess wearing Inbal Dror
“From the moment we set foot in Helen’s boutique, we felt completely relaxed and at ease. Helen and Sophie were professional, genuine and lots of fun - and really took the time to get to know me and my style. With their stunning selection of gowns lining the walls of the boutique and the myriad of designers on speed dial - it just shows they are the best in the business. In my first appointment, they pulled only 3 dresses off the rack - and one ended up being my dream dress! These women know what they’re doing - don’t waste time going anywhere else.”
Bride & Groom: Jess & Ryan
Planning & Styling: After the Rock Weddings
Gown: Inbal Dror from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
Venue: NZ High Country, Queenstown, New Zealand
Photography: Bayleigh Vedelago
Videography: Moon & Back Co
Floral: Muck Floral
Entertainment: Rutherford Entertainment
How did you and your husband meet?
We met at work back in 2016. Ryan pretended he was looking for a job in London and as the company’s HR Manager, he asked me to help. Recruitment went well - but for a different more permanent type of role (husband!). Our wedding day was our 3 year anniversary!
How did he propose?
The weekend after I returned from a family holiday in Africa, Ryan planned a surprise Date Day because he’d “missed me.“ I was totally oblivious to what was happening and thought the June 30 Day Date was a stunt given Ryan’s career as an accountant! A helicopter ride to Zonzo Winery in the Yarra Valley was the start of an epic day that ended with Ryan pulling out a ring. It certainly cured my jet lag!
What was your vision for your wedding day?
We wanted fun, fun, fun - with a focus on surprising and delighting our guests across the course of the day. We also wanted the day to include sentimental touches that reflected us as a couple and celebrated the special people in our lives. As a way of keeping our day really special and unique to us, we asked many loved ones to play special roles. Our good friend, Phoebe, was our celebrant, and she made our ceremony a perfect, intimate reflection of our relationship. We arranged for white roses and white hankies to be handed out at the ceremony in remembrance of our grandparents - who used to wave a hankie from the porch as a way to greet our family.
Our wedding was a fusion of Kiwi and Italian cultures - which was a fun way of celebrating both our backgrounds. We had a traditional NZ feast of lamb, kumara and delicious Central Otago wines - but the menus were laid out in typical Italian structure, with primi, secondi, etc.
To have all our nearest and dearest loved ones together in such a beautiful setting - we really wanted to celebrate in style with every detail thought of. Fantastic music, entertainment (hence our hashtag!) and great food and wine - together with lots of humour, relaxed NZ charm, and a sense of ease. A really connected and happy experience that celebrated our relationship and our family and friends all coming together.
Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?
We were absolutely blessed to have the incredible support of Georgie and her team at ATR throughout the entire planning process. We did the usual research on Instagram and Pinterest, but nothing really compared to the unique and creative ideas that were generated through working with Georgie. Our venue was basically a blank canvas (it was a private property in the Queenstown hills)- so we were lucky enough to craft most of the day.
What drew you to your gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal?
Generally, I dress quite casually with a focus on comfort - and save dressy outfits for special occasions. My Inbal Dror dress was everything I thought I wouldn’t wear - girly, a bit sexy (being front/ back plunge and semi-transparent), beaded and embellished.
I loved that the dress was a three-piece - the top half was a long-sleeved silver sequin bodysuit which felt like so much fun to wear - and then I was able to change into a second straight slit party skirt once the formalities were finished. The second skirt gave me an opportunity to also change my accessories and shoes to create two different looks.
What was your wedding planning journey like for you? How far out did you start planning?
We started planning just over a year out - which was fantastic as it meant we had the pick of all suppliers and venues given such a long lead time. This meant we were spoilt for choice- and of course, got to select the best! The end to end planning experience felt really easy - largely down to the support network we surrounded ourselves with along the way. The suppliers we chose to work with were very professional, flexible, and had an eye for detail and quality. We moved to the UK midway through our planning process- which we thought might add some pressure- but we didn’t have any issues thanks to our wedding planning team. It was a dream!
What was the biggest decision you had to make?
Weather in New Zealand can be so unpredictable - so we had many conversations about indoor/ outdoor options. We were lucky enough to have a beautiful warm and sunny day on our wedding day, but there was lots of wind. My veil almost flew off my head - but it just added to the excitement of the day!
What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?
The entertainment! We had a drummer and saxophonist play a rendition of Paul Simon’s ‘You Can Call Me Al’ as we walked back up the aisle as husband and wife. It was such a fun moment! We also arranged for a surprise live performance of the Haka and vocalists singing a Maori Love Song to kick off the reception. The Haka group lead by Ryan and I back into the venue after our photos - it was a magical moment and a beautiful way to celebrate the NZ culture.
Is there anything you would do differently?
No. Given our choice of venue and climate, the temperature and logistics were always going to be a challenge! They threw us a few curve balls - eg. the wind blowing over our champagne tower - but we wouldn’t change a thing!
Is there any advice you would give other #HRBride’s?
Savour each part of the wedding planning process, and celebrate each milestone (no matter how seemingly small or insignificant). Having champagne with my Mum and bridesmaids after choosing my wedding gown is still one of my favourite memories. Also, stay focussed on the reason you’re getting married in the first place. As long as you're married to your love by the end of the day, the day has gone as it should have!
