Sarah & Brad

High school sweethearts Sarah and Brad wanted their wedding to be a day of absolute joy, peace and celebration, with a timeless theme to represent a love that will last a lifetime. Sarah shares the highlights from their special day…

Our wedding truly was the best day of our lives so far. We had a big church wedding and slightly smaller reception. We sung praises to our God and during our vows we all cried. The applause when we were announced husband and wife is something I’ll never forget. We loved looking back and seeing everyone’s glowing faces.

My favourite detail was my gown. I wanted something timeless and classic – I’d dreamed of lace sleeves, a huge full train and a cathedral veil for years. Mum laughed and said, “just go full Disney princess” – so I did! Working with Grandmama to cut and sew my two veils was so special. My gown also had a jacket no one knew about, which came off for party time.

Brad’s favourite part of the day was seeing me walk down the aisle, and the cars. Our families are into cars so we had a mix of our favourites – four 1950-60s American V8’s (two of the Chevrolet’s were my Dad’s and the rest were his mates). We also had a classic Porsche 356, a Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG and a BMW M5.

We had our photos at Cornwall Park, which was where Brad asked me out. I had to climb huge fences in my gown, and the photos look awesome!

The reception was beautifully and simply decorated with white and green flowers, candles and hanging lights. We had candy canes as favours because our wedding was 10 days before Christmas!

Our parents gave incredible speeches. Both sets of parents have been married almost 30 years and it was so special to have them speak and give us advice on marriage. Dad also surprised Mum with a Tiffany charm. I think about half the crowd shed a tear.

We did a father-daughter dance to Butterfly Kisses and everyone cried, and then it changed to Yeah by Usher and we did the Kevin James dance scene from Hitch. We hadn’t told anyone we were doing it, and Dad’s quite reserved, so it was very unexpected. The roar of laughter was unforgettable and it set the tone for the night and the dance floor was pumping!

Our celebration ended with an amazing sparkler exit, which finished the day in the most magical way.

Photos: Chasewild

Blog: NZ Bride and Groom

Hair: Lipstick and Co

Bride’s gown: Modes

Decoration: La Lumiere

Church: St Georges Epsom

5 Beauty rituals every Bride should do before the big day

By Lipstick and Co and Esther Dawson

When planning your wedding day look it’s so hard to know where to start and what to do. There are so many different beauty treatments and services on the market, so how do you choose? We have tried and tested all of the following top treatments – see below for our advice on what to do in preparation for your big day.

Image by Patina Photography, Hair and Makeup by Lipstick and Co

1/ Tanning

Not everyone wants to look like they just left the Caribbean but if you’re after even a subtle glow, then an artificial tan is the safest way to go. There are home use formulas that come in foams, creams and sprays if you’re on a budget. But for a flawless, long-lasting tan, opt for a bridal spray tan. This tan is and sprayed in two layers, one horizontal and the other vertical. This cross-hatched spraying technique allows the technician to deliver a streak-free, customised tan that lasts up to two weeks.

Image by Perry Trotter Photography Hair and Makeup by Lipstick and Co

2/ Manicure

Your nails will be on show in many of your pictures on the big day. Make sure that your nails are freshly filed and painted for those close-up ring or bouquet shots. The best nail polish product on the market is Shellac. Shellac is a type of nail polish that lasts for weeks and dries instantly under a UV light. They are very resilient and super shiny. Unlike gel and acrylics, they cause no damage to your natural nails. Check out Pinterest for some awesome shellac mani inspo!

Image by Fluro Grey Photography,Hair and Makeup by Lipstick and Co

3/ Teeth whitening

A radiant smile of pearly whites will look stunning against your white dress. There are lots of DIY strips, gels, tooth pastes, and pens. Just be careful to not get it on your gums and stop if you feel any sensitivity or pain. The safest and fastest way to a brighter smile is Beyond Polus Laser Teeth Whitening. This treatment is done at a professional clinic and consists of two 20 minute treatments in a row. You also get given a teeth whitening pen to take home to maintain these great results.

Image by Perry Trotter Photography, Hair and Makeup by Lipstick and Co

4/ Lashes

Most makeup artists will provide you with temporary cluster lashes for your wedding day but if you are after dark, full, fluffy lashes then the semi-permanent individual lashes are the best way to go. The options include individual classic extensions and volume lashes. The classic gives you length but not volume, so if you want volume and length then ask for volume lashes. These come in 2D, 3D and 4D (some go even higher). The number relates to how many lashes flare from each of your own lashes – 2D is subtle while 4D is dramatic and full of volume.

Image by Fluro Grey Photography, Hair and Makeup by Lipstick and Co

5/ Brows

Your brows frame your face and can make a huge difference to your overall appearance. It’s a great idea to grow your brows out for at least a month before your wedding and then go get a brow map and shape done to find the perfect arch. You can get them waxed, threaded or plucked and then maintain your new brows at home. Be sure to ask about where you can and can’t pluck on your own.

With all of the above treatments, be sure to take part in a trial at least 1 month before the big day to allow time to change anything you may not like.