Christchurch Art Gallery Wedding // Alexandra and Bradley

20/01/2023

THE SLIDESHOW

Alexandra & Bradley

PLAY

Lexie and Brad’s wedding was held in Christchurch City, or their ceremony and reception, they chose the beautiful Christchurch Art Gallery for its spectacular architecture and modern feel. The whole day was a picture of sophistication and elegance.

The Flower Press, created elegant white floral bouquets for Lexie and her maids, as well as simple yet elevated table styling and venue decor which softened the gallery space and transformed it into a floral wonderland. Yours Truly and Loula Hire thoughtfully set up elegant tables with ghost chairs and decorative elements that brought the modern aspects of the wedding and the venue to life.

Lexie wore an exquisite gown designed by the renowned New Zealand designer Caitlin Crisp, showcasing a perfect blend of elegance and simplicity with a halter-neck neckline and low V-cut back with a silk organza bow. This tied in the romantic yet modern vibe Lexie wanted for the day. To finish the look she wore shoes by Magda Butrym, which added a little glamour. Make-up artist, Stacey Banfield enhanced Lexie’s natural beauty, with a flawless, dewy look. The bridesmaids wore black ankle-length dresses by Ruby, with flared shoulder sleeves and made in a light satin crepe.

Brad’s choice of an impeccably tailored black tie suit by Joe Black spoke volumes and gave Brad a “James Bond” feel for their special day, which suited their wedding vibe so well.

For Lexie’s second look, she wore a sleek ankle-length dress with a structured bodice in a delicate silk fabric which was perfect for champagne and dancing. The night ended with them both popping a bottle of bubbles alone, much the same way as they had started their celebration the weekend they got engaged in Tekapo.

THE GALLERY

Tell us about the proposal

Funnily enough, it was a weekend in Tekapo! I thought we were just off for a quiet weekend away amongst a busy summer calendar.

We went down after work on Friday with the forecast set for rain and when we drew the curtains on Saturday morning, it was a beautiful blue-sky day. So we took Cooper down to the lakeside for brunch before we walked up Mt John. When we got to the top we had a drink at the observatory, then we went for a wee stroll to take in the views. Next thing I knew, Brad was on one knee! It turns out his backpack had more than just our sweaters and a water bowl for Coop – he had also sneakily packed a very beautiful ring and a bottle of bubbles.

After a very excited walk down, we set up with a platter and some (more) bubbles and just soaked it in. We saved the news to tell our friends and family in person on a road trip home the next day.

It was a very ‘us’ weekend in one of the most beautiful spots, with the most special surprise.

If you could describe your wedding in three words what would they be?

Modern, romantic, joyful

Share your top 3 tips for planning a wedding

There is so much beautiful inspiration around (my IG explore page is full of it!) but I have tried not to focus too much on trends. We wanted our day to feel very ‘us’ and not a mish-mash of fads. We had a really clear vision of wanting to do a modern, black-tie wedding here in Christchurch city, so we had that overall theme running through every aspect. As a visual person, I put together a mood board of what this could look like and I just let that guide all of our decisions and styling choices. It’s nice to draw ideas from things you see and love, but my advice is to adapt them in a way that feels genuine for you and that fits the look and feel of what you’re doing for your day.

MY PHILOSOPHY

I SEEK THE STORIES THAT WEAVE US TOGETHER, THE UNSCRIPTED MOMENTS, INFUSED WITH A HINT OF NOSTALGIA TO REMEMBER HOW IT ALL FELT.

Throughout our lives, we experience connection, learning, different cultures, good food and wine, music, sorrow, love … and it’s beautiful. It’s all these little things that when bought together create the tapestry of our lives and our memories.

If you’re planning a wedding or would love some beautiful photos of you and the people most special to you, I'd love to hear from you.

"We didn't realise we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun"