Today we are speaking to our lovely friend and stylist Bridget of The White Wedding Club. Based in the beautiful coastal town of Raglan and servicing many other locations throughout New Zealand, her styling collection is naturally inspired by the coast as well as her travels throughout Morocco, Europe, America, Bali and more!
We also hear about how she has been using her extra time in this current landscape to work on new business ventures and launch her second business, Coastal Elopement Co. with photographer Anne Paar.
Continue reading for more on her newly launched business, her expert advice on hiring a stylist for your special day and even how to get through styling a wedding in a cyclone…
How long have you been in the wedding and event industry as a stylist and what made you take up this career?
I have been in the wedding industry for 5 years. I used to travel the world as an International Flight Attendant but, after meeting my husband in London and falling in love, I quit my job and moved to Raglan in 2015 to start our life together.
Flight Attendant to Wedding Stylist???
When planning my own wedding in 2015, I was surprised to see there weren’t many suppliers available in New Zealand at that time and there weren’t many cool wedding props either! While travelling for work, I could see all the interesting trends from around the globe so I started collecting unique pieces for my own wedding…. and this is when the The White Wedding Club was born!
During my last year of working in travel, I started furiously collecting furniture and décor items from Morocco, Europe, America, Bali and more! Which you can now hire at The White Wedding Club.
What are some of the most memorable experiences you have had as a stylist?
Flooded Marquee…
Styling a marquee wedding in Pauanui on the waterways when there was a cyclone with a king tide and full moon on the wedding day was definitely one of my most memorable experiences!
Full tide was at lunchtime and the marquee had flooded – Amber my stylist and I were knee deep in water setting up the tables and polishing gold cutlery wading in water. When the tide went out we had to sweep out the seaweed and wipe down all of the chair legs before the guests arrived for an inside ceremony. Thankfully everyone had an amazing day even in the cyclone and luckily that night when the tide came back in it wasn’t as high and didn’t come into the marquee and flood the dance floor again.
We have all been affected by COVID-19 in some way, what pro-active things have you been doing during this time business-wise?
I have teamed up with the talented Raglan Photographer Anne Paar and we have just launched Coastal Elopement Co. an Elopement and micro wedding business for couples who want to elope to our magical coastlines of Raglan, Mount Maunganui & the Coromandel.
We specialise in bespoke micro weddings and modern elopements and create unforgettable experiences for ocean lovers who want to get married by the beach.
Led by a team of experienced wedding enthusiasts, we take care of all the beautiful details.
Muse Photography 
Muse Photography The Official Photographers 
Aaron Sami
Do you have any advice for couples when it comes to styling their weddings and working with a stylist?
Contracting a Stylist is a luxury item but it may be one of the best wedding investments you make.
We guide you through the whole process and take the stress out of your special day by creating a styling journal in the months leading up to your wedding with all the styling elements of your day. From the arrival and the ceremony to cocktail hour, the reception and all the areas in between. We spend months designing, sourcing and planning to make your wedding every bit as gorgeous as you dreamed it would be.
On the day we set up the ceremony and reception areas so you or your family members or friends don’t have to be running around on the day, you can just sit back and relax have a glass of champagne and know that we have everything under control.
We style the reception area, set the tables, arrange the wedding signs, install the lighting, and make sure the bar is fully stocked for the party ahead.
Personally, what pro-active things are you doing to stay happy?
Making time to catch up with family and friends, yoga & fitness class and having creative exciting projects on the go.
What are you most looking forward to in the future?
Flying back up to Europe over the Euro Summer to go see my bestie in Switzerland (whenever that will be).
Visit The White Wedding Club website here, and Instagram here.
Visit the Coastal Elopement Co. website here, and Instagram here.
Feature Image by Muse Photography
