Bride Files: Natasha
THE DETAILS
Wedding Date: 14.03.26
Location: Takapoto Estate, Cambridge, New Zealand
Catering: Kerr & Ladbrook Catering
Bride's Gown: Lize Gown
Hair: Sherrie- Messy Bun
Makeup: Kate Solley Makeup
Groom's Attire: Tim- T.Begg Tailoring
Rings: Alex Patchett- Aurea Jewellery
Photographer: Jonny- Jonny Scott Photography and videography
Videographer: Jonny Scott Photography and videography
Flowers: Claudia Campbell- Frankie & Flora
Cars: Nina Ujdur- Rolls Royce- Royce Events
Wedding song: You are the Reason- Calum Scott
“Being a Trish Peng bride felt truly unforgettable. From the very first moment, I felt completely supported, understood and confident that I was in the best hands.”
Tell us the story of how you met your partner
Like any good love story, we each have slightly different versions of how it all began haha... Gavin insists that I started liking his Instagram photos to get his attention, while I’m not entirely convinced that’s how it happened lol!
What we do agree on is that back in 2017, while I was competing in the Miss Auckland pageant and fundraising for a charity, one of the very first donations I received was a generous $100 contribution from Gavin. At the time, I was individually thanking each person who made a donation, so I sent him a personal thank you message. That message sparked our very first conversation!
Gavin likes to say that the donation was a strategic move to get my attention, and I have to admit... it worked, lol! As we chatted more, he asked how else he could support the fundraising efforts and came along to a movie fundraiser night I was hosting. That was the first time we met in person, and the rest, as they say, is history... the best $100 Gavin's ever spent he reckons, ha!
Tell us about the proposal story…
We got engaged during our big Europe trip on 10th August 2023, while visiting my family's village of Račišće on the island of Korčula in Croatia.
The day started with a boat day that Gavin had planned. He hired a boat and took us out for the day, which immediately made me wonder if something was up... When we stopped at a local beach club for drinks, I cheekily said to him, "anyone would think you were going to propose with all this effort!" That was the moment he completely threw me off the scent, and I quickly convinced myself it was just a beautiful day out together.
After the beach club, he told me we were going to head back to the village to "get some more drinks", but little did I know, it was all about to unfold. We headed towards the village, enjoying some drinks and music on the water (with Gavin intentionally choosing all my favourite songs) and the vibes were immaaaaculate. At one point, I even spotted a butterfly in the middle of the ocean — my little spirit animal — and remember thinking to myself, "If he proposed to me today, I would be so, so happy."
Eventually, as we got closer to the village, Gavin blindfolded me before we docked, and little did I know my parents were waiting to help bring the boat in. We then started walking up towards my family's home.
Earlier in the trip, my dad had shown Gavin the family home, and Gavin says that from the moment he saw it — knowing how much it meant to my family — he knew that was where he wanted to propose. The day before, he had collected rocks from the beach and carved them into hearts, spelling out "Natasha Unkovich, will you marry me?" On the morning of the proposal, he also collected flowers from around the village during his run and laid them in a trail leading to the spot.
One of the most meaningful parts of the day was that my parents were there secretly filming the proposal the whole time. Gavin knows how important family is to me, so having them there to witness such a special moment made it even more memorable.
What was your biggest source of inspiration when planning your wedding? Did you have a specific theme/aesthetic?
Our biggest source of inspiration was definitely our venue, Takapoto Estate. I remember someone telling me early on that your venue sets the tone for your entire wedding, and that advice always stuck with me. Once we found Takapoto Estate, so many of our decisions felt easy because the venue already had such a strong sense of style and atmosphere; we didn't feel like we had to add much to the venue as it was already incredible all on its own.
What we loved most about it was that it felt both modern and timeless. It's crisp, clean and sophisticated and there are little touches of classic elegance throughout, which created the perfect balance we were looking for. We wanted our wedding to feel beautiful and elevated, while still being relaxed, warm and full of personality.
More than anything, we wanted the day to be centred around love, connection and whānau. It was really important to us that we celebrated both of our cultures, bringing together Māori and Croatian traditions in a way that felt natural and authentic. Seeing our families and friends come together, embrace each other's cultures and celebrate as one was one of the most special parts of the entire day.
What was your most memorable moment from your wedding day?
This is a hard one to choose, there are so many.... but, a few that take the cake have to be bringing our two cultures together. Having a karanga and waiatas as part of our ceremony and reception, alongside traditional Croatian elements like the "tanac" dance, was incredibly special. Seeing both of our cultures represented and celebrated together gave me chills. These were elements that I had seen at other weddings and it was something I had always looked forward to.
Another moment I’ll never forget was walking towards Gavin during the karanga and seeing everyone gathered up on the mound waiting for my Dad and I. Seeing Gavin and his emotions at the end of the aisle was such a beautiful moment, and the feelings I experienced are ones I'll never forget. Everything felt perfect and meant to be (as cheesy as that sounds).
Oh, and I can't not mention.. coming into the reception as Mr and Mrs Barr for the first time to the song "Freed from Desire", with everyone singing, jumping up and down and swinging their napkins around, will forever be a core moment. The most insane vibes!!
Tell us the story behind your dress
For someone who is usually quite type A, I actually didn’t have a super clear idea of what I wanted my dress to look like. I knew I didn’t want anything poofy, glitzy or lacey (I think my pageant days might have put me off this lol), but I was open to trying things on because everyone always says the dress you least expect can end up being the one.
In saying that though, I had saved a lot of inspiration on Instagram, and I noticed I was always drawn to the same kind of look — a snatched waist and a fitted silhouette! I had little idea about aspects like neck lines and material though, so it was so helpful having Trish walk me through so many different options to find the perfect dress for me.
Did you have a honeymoon after the big day? If so, where did you go?
We didn’t go on a honeymoon straight after the wedding. We had family travel from overseas to celebrate with us, and we really wanted to maximise that time together and soak up having everyone around.
We also wanted to wait until we had enough time away from work to properly enjoy a honeymoon rather than rushing a trip. We’re currently dreaming about heading away at the end of 2026, with Tahiti and Bora Bora at the top of the list — or possibly even Hawaii. We can't wait to get some planning done soon and have something to look forward to!!
What piece of advice would you give to future brides who are planning their special day?
The biggest piece of advice I would give future brides is to remember what the day is really about. There are so many beautiful details that go into creating a wedding, but at the heart of it all, it’s about the people you have around you and the love, connection and memories that come from sharing such a special moment together. The details help create the atmosphere, but the magic of the day comes from being surrounded by the people you love. Those are the moments you’ll remember most.
What does it feel like to be a Trish Peng bride?
Being a Trish Peng bride felt truly unforgettable. From the very first moment, I felt completely supported, understood and confident that I was in the best hands.
The entire experience was effortless — there was no stress, only excitement and certainty. I trusted the process completely and knew that my dress was going to be everything I had dreamed of.
