Jessica was the winner of the ‘2018 Win your gown from Astra Bridal’ competition in Bride and Groom magazine, so was lucky enough to select a gown from Astra Bridal’s amazing collection. She chose a stunning one too! The Theia Couture 'Tara' gown is beautiful, and was perfect for Jess and Alby's gorgeous garden wedding under the Taranaki sun.

Our wedding day was perfect and wrapped in so much love. We chose to be married in our hometown of New Plymouth, and it was so nice to be together with friends and family, celebrating us as a newly married couple and meeting our 10-week-old baby boy Jack!

There were so many special moments, starting with the bridal party getting ready – the boys upstairs, the girls downstairs, and Jack floating between both, with eager arms waiting for cuddles. Beautifully busy bridesmaids beaming at their childhood friend putting on her wedding gown, hair and makeup perfectly applied, our photographer capturing the preparations with professional ease. Alby and the groomsmen putting on suits and ties, buttonholes and cufflinks, chattering away with excited anticipation of the ceremony about to get underway.

We could hear the guests arriving, so after one last little top up for Jack, it was time to put my wedding shoes on. I looked up and there was my dad, waiting, and looking so proud. My mum scooped up Jack and headed out to the guests. I had waited for this moment and it felt wonderful to walk out into the beautiful courtyard and see Alby waiting for me to arrive.

Our service was amazing. We wrote our own words to capture our love, and saying them to each other to seal our life partnership, with everyone present, was very special. Mum wrote and delivered a poem, weaving special memories and themes about ‘Jessica and Alban’, then for our recessional we were showered in sprinklings of homemade confetti made out of leaves from significant family trees.

Speeches and Champagne with nibbles and hugs set the tone for a relaxed afternoon, while our bridal party could slip away for photos at the beach.

Our wedding banquet was stunning, light and fresh, peppered with much laughter and happiness, wonderful heart-warming speeches and toasts, and easy mingling of guests. Our little nephew eagerly awaited the first dance, and soon had us all joining in.