Nemo Featured Bride

Josephine Stewart

Vintage Textures & Family heirlooms

Josephine & Jake’s love story began during their Uni years and 6 years later they celebrated their journey together with their closest loved ones on their family farm in Southland.

It was important to Josephine that her wedding dress was unique and unlike any other, so when she tried on the Santorini from Our Linen Story Heritage Collection there was no question that this was the dress for her.

The gown ticked all the boxes; a one-of-a-kind flattering fit, while featuring a unique vintage textured french linen, under a beaded lace overlay. It didn’t take long before Josephine knew this was the dress she wanted to wear while walking down the aisle towards her future husband, Jake.

The Santorini gown speaks to the simple elegance of yesteryear, especially when paired with Josephine’s mother’s heirloom veil, making for an extra special day on the family farm.

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: Josephine Stewart (Turnbull)

Your Partner’s Name: Jake Stewart

PRE-WEDDING STORY

How and when did you meet your partner?

Jake superliked me on tinder, but we never messaged. Then we bumped into each other at Mardi Gras in our last year of Uni (about 6 years ago). We spent the night dancing & laughing which was the beginning!

What is the story of when your partner proposed?

We’d gone away for a weekend of adventures in our van. Jake suggested walking to the top of Mt Hamilton (which is his favourite mountain in Southland). It was really windy and cold up there, but it was cool looking out over Southland. I had the binoculars and was looking for our farm, & when I turned around he was on one knee!

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

Joesphine’s response: I love how kind, intelligent, fun, adventurous & driven Jake is. He always challenges me and makes me laugh.

Jake’s response: I love her smile and her ‘give it a go’ attitude. She’s kind & caring, pushes herself and makes me laugh!

How would you describe your wedding style in 3 words?

Relaxed, Fun, Personal

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

Exhanging vows, which were a surprise to each other, and making it ‘official.’ Then spending the day laughing & partying with out favourite people on the planet.

What was your inspiration when designing this bridal look?

I wanted something flattering but comfortable (not tight), that had texture & ideally a one-off piece. I also wanted something that felt timeless & different.

Is there one (or more) element of design that you're most excited about with your dress?

I love that the dress was made of vintage fabric, and that so much care had gone into creating it. The layers of fabric created beautiful silhouettes & textures that changed with the light. A personal favourite was the linen with ferns textured on it. Even better that it had pockets, and there is no other dress like it in the World.

After-Wedding Feedback:

What was the date & location of your wedding?

10th March 2023 // Dipton, Southland (on our farm)

Given one sentence, how would you describe your day?

Our day was easy going & fun!

What was the best feature of your day?

The people — everyone was laughing & smiling & bringing the vibes.

Did you use a wedding planner or self style?

Self-style

What were some of your favourite memories from your big day?

Jake’s Nana married us on the lawn of the family farm, which was super special. I also got to wear the veil my mum wore at her wedding, which was equally as special.

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

Being clearer about keeping phones away & off during the ceremony.

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

• Emily Kerse Photography (photos)
• Festival Farm (flowers)

How was the service Nemo and the girls provided for you?

So amazing! They listened to what I wanted, but also provided really helpful advice, such as which shade of white was best with my skin tone.

Would you recommend other brides to have their dress made at Nemo?

Absolutely! There is an amazing selection of beautifully unique dresses.

Whats one piece of advice you'd give to anyone planning their wedding?

You don’t need to follow traditioins or ‘rules’ or listen to other people’s opinions. It’s a day for you & your partner to celebrate with your people, so don’t let that stuff get in the way.

Also, have a Friday wedding! The Saturday after party is a rager because most people stay!

What were some of your favourite memories from your big day?

Jake’s Nana married us on the lawn of the family farm, which was super special. I also got to wear the veil my mum wore at her wedding, which was equally as special.