Bride Feature: Jane Vermunt
Nemo Featured Bride
Jane Vermunt
Our favourite dress designs are the ones that have their own history before we even lift a needle.
There’s something special that happens when we take it upon ourselves to carry on the traditions of our families into our wedding celebrations, adding a further dimension to a day that’s already centred around the weaving of two families together. It’s as if we carry our ancestors into the new chapter of our lives, acknowledging & honouring them with respect and love. And there’s nothing more honourable than remodelling handed down wedding gowns.
In December Jane brought us her mother's wedding dress that had been made out of the lace from her grandmother's dress, dreaming of continuing the tradition with her own bridal gown. The lace was to be reinvigorated for its 3rd walk down the aisle.
And the truth is, we absolutely couldn't wait to get started on this project. Being trusted with repurposing handed-down material is a precious opportunity that we don’t take lightly. We see it like adding our own signature into to the history of a family.
Despite the vintage origins of the material, the new design is very sleek and stylish, with Jane adding her own stylish touches throughout the process. During her first consultation, she took inspiration from one of the Nemo gowns, the 'Vera', so in addition to making her a strapless sheath dress from the antique lace, we also created a sheer overlay to cover her shoulders with a trailing train behind her. We even made her 'veil' hair piece, adding a sophisticated pop to the overall look.
Jane’s final look took our breath away, and we’re so grateful we get to be a part of the process of this family’s narrative forever.
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: Jane Vermunt
Your Partner’s Name: Will Perry
PRE-Wedding story:
• How and when did you meet your partner?
Will and I met through work and had been together 7 years before marrying.
• What is the story of when your partner proposed?
Will proposed on a winter morning jog around Central Park, NYC on top of a little hill. This was then followed by oysters and champagne with friends, and a few days of Christmas celebrations.
• What is the Date and Location of your wedding?
7 February 2021, at Kamana Lakehouse, Queenstown
• How would you describe your wedding style in 3 words?
Contemporary, Simple, Detailed.
• What did you look forward to the most on your wedding day?
Wearing my dress of course and celebrating with friends and family who could be there, which is such a privilege given others internationally are not in a position to do so.
• What was your inspiration when designing this dress?
I wanted a modern, practical dress to suit our evening wedding. We had initially planned to have a city hall style wedding in NYC but due to the pandemic we returned home to NZ and were married here. After trying on many different dress silhouettes, I felt most comfortable in a full-length sheath-dress made of decently weighted material. I also had my grandmothers wedding lace to incorporate and really liked the simplicity of the top half of Nemo’s Vera Celebrity dress.
With this information Trudy helped come up with the final design idea of the silk top in the Vera style wrapped over a classic strapless lace sheath gown. To elevate the lace and make it more modern, Trudy recommended we use the lustrous, thick Zibeline Silk under the old lace, which was perfect. I loved being able to up-cycle the lace and invest in its repurposing. We plan to store the dress for the next generations use and the silk top is re-wearable which I love.
Will and I had photos together prior to the ceremony and I wanted to look somewhat different when walking down the aisle. A short veil suited best, and we settled on a modern large bow as an ‘ode to the veil’ which was craft fully designed and created by Trudy the fortnight prior to the wedding.
For evening dancing, the silk top was removed, and straps added to the lace and silk gown.
• Is there one element of design that you’re most excited about with your dress?
The sheen of the zibeline silk behind the old lace, and the veil.
After Wedding Feedback:
•Given one sentence, how would you describe your day?
Exhilarating.
• What was the best feature of your day?
Walking down the aisle and signing the marriage licence!
• Did you use a wedding planner or self-style?
We worked with Steph from Holly & Co. and Sarah from the Flower Room for the styling wedding décor inside and on the balcony. Both did a beautiful job.
• If you could do it all over again, is there anything you would change?
Nothing as it’s the unpredictable events that make it memorable. A minor point though - I would take more time off before the wedding to get more rest and sleep.
• What companies would you like to commend for their services on your day?
Steph from Holly & Co, Rich from Rich Bayley photography, Janine from Janine Joseph makeup, Sarah from the Flower Room (who made me florals for my hair at the last hour)
• How was the service Nemo & the girls provided for you?
Phenomenal. Trudy and Kristen’s creativity, professionalism, attention to detail, accommodation and turn-around time were exceptional. The ladies were always friendly and a joy to work with. I am so amazed at what they created, and my dress far exceeded my expectations. The whole process was really fun and I wish I could wear my dress again!
• What’s one piece of advice you’d give to anyone planning their wedding?
The day will be different than planned, but it will be fantastic no matter what happens – even if it includes a mid-speech trip and red wine all over your partner and gown. Luckily, I was able to drop the dress straight back to Nemo for dry cleaning and packaging the following day.
• Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your special day?
The highlight of my day was definitely wearing my bespoke dress. I felt comfortable and confident because the material was so lux, the dress fitted perfectly and I felt reflected me and my style.
Thanks Trudy and Kristen – you are brilliant, lovely people and made my wedding day really special.
Photos by Rich Bayley Photography