Alana-Marie + Scott

How did you meet?

We are high school sweethearts. Dunedin, New Zealand is very small, so we meet at primary age, different primary schools, however everyone knows everyone in similar neighbourhoods. After that we kept in contact off and on and reunited at age of 16 and have been in a relationship ever since.

When did you know they were the one?

We’ve been through a lot over the years, we’ve travelled together, we’ve got a dog, we’ve got a couple of houses, and I think you create this unbreakable bond when you have grown up together, learnt together and I know for a fact Scott knows me better than I know myself.

What are your three favourite attributes of your partner?

Scott is kind and caring, he looks out for me all the time and I think that ability to put someone else first is the best. Asides his good looks!

Who proposed and how?

Scott organised a surprise trip for our 10-year anniversary over a long weekend, each day had a unique surprise.

First surprise, we travelled through to Queenstown for the night, the next morning we took a small plane ride around the Queenstown/Arrowtown. That night he took me up the Gondolas for dinner – best all you can eat buffet!

The next day, we travelled through to the Onsen pools for a spa date, then through to Wanaka where we often stay as Scott has a family holiday house there.

The next morning Scott told me that we were going to a winery, so I got dressed up and ready to go. We then travelled towards the lakeside by the famous Wanaka Lake tree, I then asked, “which winery are we going”, his response, “we’re not going to a winery, but where we are going has wine”. My heart dropped! We walked to this secluded area on the lake, where this amazing lakeside picnic was set up. From there he dropped down on one knee and asked me to spend the rest of our lives together (he had this beautiful speech that he said, that was amazingly personable). All of this was captured by a professional photographer, and we get to look back on these memories the rest of our lives. We spent that afternoon on the lake with our picnic and drinking wine.

It was one of the most magical days in my life, that I’ll never forget!

Where did you fall in love with your dress and why?

I was searching for ‘the dress’ so I had organised a dress trial at Bride and Winter in Dunedin. We tried on all of the dresses that were on my list from online. I didn’t believe that my body shape would suit the dress I chose, however it’s completely true when they say you fall in love and just know. I tried on the Archie dress, recommended by the stylist, and the rest was history, I knew it was the one!!!

What was the best moment for you at your wedding?

I honestly loved every part of our wedding. I was so damn nervous to walk down the aisle, with all the eyes looking at me. Now I look back, I don’t know why because everyone there were people I knew very well and loved.

My favourite part was when Scott and I went and got out sunset photos, it was the time that we really got to enjoy together.

What were your favourite details?

My favourite details of the dress was the back. It so simple and elegant from the front, making it timeless and modern, where you turn around and you have the most sexy and sophisticated part of the dress. Every time you turned you had a bit of both, and I love that!!

What advice would you tell other brides?

Take time on your day to enjoy it with your partner. Everyone will tell you over and over again, that the day will go so fast, and it’s completely true. Don’t sweat the things that don’t go to plan, enjoy what those around will do to fix it.

Any standout vendors?

Our photographer was an absolute stand out. Luisa was with us at the proposal and the wedding, so it was so special to have her with us on our journey.