Bride Files: Chloe
THE DETAILS
Wedding Date: 14.02.25
Location: Amisfield Winery, Queenstown
Catering: Amisfield Winery, Queenstown
Bride's Gowns: Trish Peng Custom Gowns
Hair: Sarah Louise Bridal
Makeup: Chrystal Obrien Makeup
Groom's Attire: Working Style
Rings: Naveya Sloane
Photographer: Jonny Scott
Videographer: Jonny Scott
Flowers: Little Botanica
Wedding Planner: Alex from Alexandra Creative
“Being a Trish Peng bride felt incredibly special. I felt genuinely cared for throughout the entire process. Most importantly, when I put my dresses on, I felt completely like myself — just the most confident, elevated version of me.”
Tell us the story of how you met your partner
We met at work, and after getting to know each other, he planned our first official date on Valentine’s Day in 2015. What I thought was simply going to be a lovely date turned into something I’ll never forget when he surprised me with a helicopter ride to Pegasus Bay Winery in North Canterbury. We’re both huge food lovers and share a love of New Zealand wine, so spending the day enjoying incredible food, beautiful wine, and breathtaking scenery felt like the perfect beginning to our story. It was such a thoughtful surprise and a day that has always stayed with me.
Tell us about the proposal story…
He surprised me with a getaway to Mahu Whenua Luxury Lodge in Wānaka, and I had absolutely no idea a proposal was part of the plan. The weather that day wasn’t looking promising, with low cloud and uncertainty around whether the helicopter would even be able to fly. Little did I know, while I was blissfully unaware and enjoying the trip, he was quietly panicking and wondering what his plan B might be - although he somehow managed to stay completely calm and never let on.
Then a break in the weather appeared, and the helicopter was able to land and pick us up. We flew to the top of Mt Sail overlooking Queenstown, and it honestly felt like something out of a movie. As we landed, the clouds parted to reveal the most breathtaking view over Lake Wakatipu. Surrounded by incredible mountain scenery, he got down on one knee - and from that moment everything became a blur. I was completely shocked and overwhelmed in the best possible way.
What was your biggest source of inspiration when planning your wedding? Did you have a specific theme/aesthetic?
Our biggest inspiration for the wedding was really centred around creating an unforgettable experience for our guests. We chose Amisfield Winery because we’re huge lovers of great food and New Zealand wine, so choosing one of the best dining experiences in the region - and arguably the country - felt like an easy decision for us. It reflected who we are perfectly.
We wanted the overall feel of the wedding to be classic, timeless and elegant, while still being fun and creating memorable moments for everyone there. Throughout the entire planning process, we kept coming back to one question: “Will our guests love this?” We really wanted everyone to feel cared for and to walk away feeling like they had experienced an incredible day.
The date itself also held so much meaning for us. We were married on Valentine’s Day, exactly ten years after our first official date, which made it feel even more special.
We also loved the idea of supporting local and showcasing some of the incredible talent New Zealand has to offer. We chose local wherever we could - from our rings by Naveya & Sloane, Richard’s tuxedo and the groomsmen’s custom suits from Working Style, bridesmaids dresses Ruby Boutique, and of course my dresses, designed by the incredible Trish.
What was your most memorable moment from your wedding day?
I honestly can’t narrow it down to one moment - there were so many “pinch me” moments throughout the day. We decided to do a first reveal earlier in the day at the Eichardt’s Penthouse, and I remember feeling so nervous in the lead-up. Then walking down the aisle to my husband and looking out at all of our beautiful family and friends felt almost surreal. It honestly felt like an out-of-body experience, like I was watching this incredible moment happen while also trying to soak up every second of it.
One of the most memorable moments from the celebration was having Lewis McCallum playing saxophone. After our guests were seated, our bridal party led us out to Feel the Love by Rudimental and it completely transformed the atmosphere. Everyone was on their feet dancing, the energy was incredible, and it really set the tone for the rest of the evening.
But above everything, having our ten-month-old son there was so incredibly special to me. Having him be part of our day made it feel even more meaningful. Looking back now, seeing him there amongst all of our favourite people feels like one of the most magical parts of the entire day.
Tell us the story behind your dress
This is actually a difficult question for me because when I started dress shopping, I was only three months postpartum and really wasn’t feeling like myself. I knew quite early on that I wanted to work with Trish and create a custom gown - although somehow that very quickly turned into creating two custom gowns.
For my ceremony dress, I wanted something traditional, timeless and incredibly flattering. In my mind, it needed to embody the idea that “less is more.” We created a design where the fabric almost draped and sculpted itself around my body, particularly through the bodice and waist, creating the most beautiful hourglass silhouette. We played with ideas and refined little details at every fitting, and somehow the dress organically evolved until it felt like it had simply “happened.” It became everything I could have hoped for and more - absolutely beautiful.
For my second dress, I wanted something completely different while still feeling true to me. I envisioned off-the-shoulder detailing, long sleeves, delicate French lace, and something that felt sexy while still remaining classic and elegant.
Trish absolutely nailed both visions. Working alongside her to bring both gowns to life was such an incredible experience, and what I loved most was that despite being so different, they both felt completely and authentically me.
Did you have a honeymoon after the big day? If so, where did you go?
We didn’t have a traditional honeymoon straight after the wedding, but in May we travelled to France following a trip to England and it ended up feeling like the perfect way to celebrate. We spent a week in Paris and Champagne, staying in Reims, with just the two of us - and it honestly couldn’t have been more perfect.
As huge lovers of food and wine, it felt like the perfect destination for us. We spent our days wandering through beautiful streets, eating incredible food, drinking amazing champagne and simply enjoying uninterrupted time together after what had been such a special season of life. It felt like the perfect way to slow down and soak it all in.
What piece of advice would you give to future brides who are planning their special day?
My advice to future brides would be to prioritise the things that will last beyond the day itself. If there is one area I would absolutely invest in, it would be photography and videography. We had Jonny Scott and his team - they were incredible. Not only did they capture the most beautiful moments and create the most amazing images, but they also guided us throughout the day and made everything feel effortless and natural. Once the day is over, these are the memories you get to keep forever.
I would also say that having a wedding planner and an on-the-day coordinator is completely non-negotiable. Being able to simply turn up, be present and enjoy every moment without worrying about timelines, logistics or whether things were running smoothly was priceless. I never had to think about anything other than soaking up the day, and that was one of the greatest gifts.
Most importantly, invest in the things that truly matter to you as a couple. Those are always the things you remember most.
What does it feel like to be a Trish Peng bride?
Being a Trish Peng bride felt incredibly special. From the beginning, it felt so much more than simply having a dress made - it was such a personal and collaborative experience. I started the process only a few months postpartum and wasn’t feeling completely like myself, so having someone who made me feel comfortable, confident and truly listened to what I wanted meant so much.
Trish has such an incredible ability to take ideas and feelings that are hard to put into words and somehow turn them into something even better than you imagined. Seeing both dresses slowly come to life through each fitting was such an exciting experience, and I felt genuinely cared for throughout the entire process. Most importantly, when I put my dresses on, I felt completely like myself - just the most confident, elevated version of me and I think every bride hopes for that feeling.
