Real Bride: Kristen
Bride: Kristen | Groom: Joshue
How did you meet your husband?
I met Joshua through a mutual friend. I was having drinks with a friend at a bar and she said that her friend from university was going to show up who sometimes rubs people the wrong way but was a great person. I then saw this man walk through the entrance (not knowing it was Joshua). I was so captivated by his confidence and good looks even though it was not like me to notice someone. Joshua noticed me too and came and sat down, he introduced himself (I’m sure I was blushing) and from then on when we saw each other at parties we would seek each other out and had this unbelievably strong chemistry even though we seemed like opposites.
How did your partner propose to you?
Joshua took me to America to meet his family for 2 months over Christmas in 2019. We were having the most incredible time and his family loved me from day one and I loved them. After the Christmas and New Years festivities were done, we went on a romantic weekend away to Wilmington, North Carolina. I had been to America before but never there and Joshua knew it was a dream come true. We explored Wilmington, ate at a wonderful Mexican restaurant and then we went and played a couple games of pool. At the end of the night, Joshua asked me if I wanted to go back down to the Riverwalk to take a romantic picture. I thought it was odd of Joshua to make the suggestion but went with it. He sat with me on one of the benches that overlooked the river and we spoke about how lucky we were to experience such beauty, I thanked Joshua for making my dreams come true (little did I know he was REALLY going to make my dreams come true). Joshua stood up and started talking about marriage, and then he got down on one knee, asked me to take his beanie off and asked me “will you marry me?” I was so shocked and happy but also shocked. I had thought that if he ever had planned on doing it, I would know but this blew me away! I was in my dream place with my dream guy and then he proposed, my life was at peak happiness. It felt like a fairy tale, it was everything I had dreamed of and the ring was perfect. He had managed to pull off the perfect night and engagement and also get me the ring of my dreams.
What was your favourite part of your wedding day?
Oh, that is so hard! We had such a perfect dream day come true day, more than I ever expected. But perhaps, when I walked down the aisle to Joshua. During the morning when I was getting dressed and driving to the venue, I had so many emotions and it was so overwhelming. I couldn’t sit down or think straight! But when our music started playing, the girls started walking down the aisle and I saw Joshua, I felt so sure of what I was doing, he looked incredible and I was so unbelievably happy that I was marrying the man of my dreams; Joshua, my best friend and soulmate. We paused at the end of the aisle and while everyone around us was standing and taking pictures I was so locked in Joshua’s eyes. He made me feel so loved. My other favourite part is when Joshua and I said our personalised vows to each other, it is definitely worth writing your own, it makes that part of the ceremony so personal and beautiful.
Did you have a theme or concept for your wedding day? What was your inspiration?
Yes, I wanted something that was elegant, simple, timeless and that really highlighted how important family is to us. Our colours were white and green and then mauve for the bridesmaids dresses. My flowers were white roses and gum leaves to represent how much we love Australia and the natural wonders this country has to offer. Joshua and I love that this wedding was very “us”. It didn’t have all the glitz and glam. Even though that is beautiful, we are more simple. We love the elegance of pure white. we got married at Chateau Dore and being in the gardens / around nature was perfect
How did you find the experience of shopping for a wedding gown?
Bendigo Bridal Collections was the first bridal store I visited. I had been researching online for quite a while and I had a bit of an idea of what I wanted, although I didn’t know what it was going to look like on me. As soon as I walked in the door, the dress I had imagined (Winter’s Tale) was on the mannequin and I just knew instantly I wanted to try it on. It was the first dress I saw and the third dress I tried on – I was sold! Bron and the girls were so incredibly helpful. I had some alterations that I wanted on the dress and even though I was unable to come to Bendigo to try on the dress until 3 weeks before the wedding (living in Melbourne during Covid restrictions) – nothing was too hard and they got the job done. The gown was so beautiful, even better than what I could have imagined. We celebrated with a toast of champagne and I Facetimed the bridesmaids. The dress was so comfortable to wear and fit perfectly. I felt like a real princess!
Dress: Bendigo Bridal Collections
Hair: Maiden Boutique (Haylee)
Makeup: Bendigo makeup and beauty room (Sallie)
Photos: Daisy and Pine (Carolin)
Flowers: The flower spot (Karen)
Bridesmaids flowers: English rose (Elaine)
Celebrant: Michael Anderson
Ceremony: Chateau Dore
Reception: Gallery cafe
