Bride Feature: Gisela Hardman

Nemo Featured Bride

Gisela Hardman

When Gisela brought us her mum’s vintage wedding dress we knew straight away that this was a bridal journey that needed to be shared.

Gisela’s dress was worn by her mum as she walked down the aisle in 1973. After losing her mum in 2018, Gisela wanted to carry her memory physically alongside her as she walked down the aisle towards her new husband.

Gisela brought us the vintage gown to get altered to fit her body more appropriately and to give it a few slight updates to make it more wearable. We dropped the neckline, added a waistband, adjusted the sleeves and shortened the removable train.

While the alterations are subtle, every step of the process was done with extreme care to preserve Gisela’s mother’s precious gown so it may continue to be passed through the generations. Here at Nemo, we highly value renewing & reinventing the old, so to support Gisela through this process was especially aligned with our core values and our mission.

Original Dress

Consultation

In Pieces

First Fitting

Wedding Day

Here at Nemo we believe that a wedding dress is so much more than the material and the thread that make it…

It’s first and foremost about the love story that brought you here.
It’s about the moment your man asked you to be his bride.
It’s about the way it makes you feel when you think about wearing your dress on your Wedding Day.
It’s about all of the things that inspired you to choose your dress design, the patterns & materials, and what they all mean to you.
It’s about the merging of your families into one and the way you want to celebrate all of the above.
… We want to tell your dress story!

Your Name: Gisela Hardman

Your Partner’s Name: Richard Hardman

PRE-Wedding story:

• How and when did you meet your partner?

We met in beautiful My Maunganui, North Island back in 2007….summer times best memories ever!! We saw each other for the first time while both at work and from that day we knew love was in the air 😊

• What is the story of when your partner proposed?

It was very spontaneous to be honest Richard didn’t even have a ring on him. We decided to have a night out in town to celebrate 10 years of being together. We were having a conversation and enjoying a cocktail suddenly he was down on one knee!! Tears down my cheeks and the biggest yes ever were my answer!!

• What are some of the things you love most about your partner?

He is genuine, very handsome and has great cooking skills 😉 He is an amazing dad too.

• What is the Date and Location of your wedding?

February 08, 2020
Ceremony at St Peter’s Church, Queenstown
Reception at GlenTui Heights, Bob’s Cove

• How would you describe your wedding style in 3 words?

Vintage, Fun and Relaxed.

• What do you look forward to the most on your wedding day?

Wearing my wedding dress (as it’s the same dress my mum wore 47 years ago on her wedding day) and somehow feel her presence right next to me holding my hand and enjoying our special day with us… sadly lost her in 2018.

• What was your inspiration when designing this dress?

My mum. She has always been my inspiration.

• Is there one element of design that you’re most excited about with your dress?

The fabric, just felt in love with it. So well preserved after 47 years.

After Wedding Feedback:

•Given one sentence, how would you describe your day?

Very emotional, lovely memories and lots of laughs with great company.

• What was the best feature of your day?

The smiles of every single one of our guests.

• If you could do it all over again, is there anything you would change?

It was a very special day and looking back I’m really happy with absolutely everything.

• What companies would you like to commend for their services on your day?

Nemo Bridal & Couture for my beautiful wedding dress alterations.

Sergio’s for my husband’s tailored suit.

Patrick Fallon, fun and relaxed photography.

Double Thyme, outstanding food

Kendra May, make up

• How was the service that Nemo & the girls provided for you?

Outstanding. Always felt so welcomed at the shop and the communication was easy, transparent and honest.
Trudy was so inspirational from the beginning.