Grace Libero

Breathtakingly Beautiful Post-Wedding Shoot in New Zealand

Article (news)

New Zealand Post-Wedding Shoot

<div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750836004725new zealand bride shoot 7.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo by Felix Yu</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>The COVID-19 pandemic feels like ages ago. It was an unforgettable time in the lives of people all around the world. While it came with painful memories, for others like couple <strong>Dustin </strong>and<strong> Carmela Cheng</strong>, it was the beginning of a beautiful adventure called marriage. </p><p>Dustin and Carmela envisioned a destination wedding in the picturesque <strong>New Zealand</strong>. They planned to do a pre-wedding shoot there, followed by the wedding of their dreams. But fate had other plans. Because of the pandemic, they had no choice but to cancel their original wedding plans. Instead, they held an intimate wedding in Manila back in October 2021. Despite the limitations, their wedding was beautiful nonetheless. </p><div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750836411269new zealand bride shoot 16.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750836525846new zealand bride shoot 15.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750836561386new zealand bride shoot 9.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>&quot;But my husband and I agreed that by the time we could travel again, we would still at least do our wedding shoot in our original destination,&quot; Carmela said. &quot;New Zealand was the destination we wanted because it perfectly captures everything about us. A perfect road trip destination, it’s surrounded by cozy lodges, breathtaking mountain views, stunning blue glaciers, charming gardens, and cute animals—everything we love together.&quot;</p><p>Three years later, that time finally came. They marked their third wedding anniversary with a post-wedding shoot that&#x27;s truly one for the books. </p><p>Dustin and Carmela took their relationship to new heights, quite literally, as they flew miles away to New Zealand to hold shoots atop a mountain in Wanaka and amidst icebergs in the Tasman Glacier. </p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center">[[PHOTO ALBUM]]</div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><p style="text-align:left">Carmela recreated a magical moment as a bride, wearing a lavish masterpiece by go-to wedding gown designer <strong>Patricia Santos</strong>. &quot;I’ve always wanted a ball gown for my wedding gown. I dreamt of a piece that was timeless and classic—something I can always look back at with no regrets! My wedding gown had to be grand yet restrained, with every little detail whispering ‘romance’. And I knew that Patricia Santos could help me achieve exactly that.&quot;</p><p style="text-align:left">For Carmela, visiting Patricia&#x27;s atelier for the first time, it was love at first sight when she laid her eyes on a ready-to-wear piece from one of the designer&#x27;s bridal collections. And so, the bride&#x27;s request was to recreate something similar. &quot;During my first visit to her atelier, I felt that she understood my vision, taste, and style. We fit a few pieces she had there so I could figure out the finer details of how I want my gown to be,&quot; Carmela recalled. &quot;Then the process began—she first showed me the hand-sewn floral lace patterns that would envelope the gown. Then, fitting after fitting, I finally saw the finished piece with the addition of thousands of crystals all over for that extra sparkle with every move.&quot;</p><p>&quot;She really loved the dress the moment she tried it on in our atelier, but requested some modifications to suit her personality better, like softer and more sparkling fine glitter tulle as base,&quot; Patricia told <strong>Metro.Style</strong>. &quot;We also filled the gown with hand-beaded embroidery to make it more special and intricate, and finished it with scattered Swarovski crystals.&quot;</p><p>The result: A dreamy creation that looked so divine it matched the unparalleled beauty of the fairytale-like destination that is New Zealand.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750837641948new zealand bride shoot 6.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><p style="text-align:left">Photos by <strong>Felix Yu</strong></p>

<p>Dustin and Carmela tied the knot during the pandemic and marked their third wedding anniversary in the dreamy destination where they were supposed to get married. </p>

Dustin and Carmela tied the knot during the pandemic and marked their third wedding anniversary in the dreamy destination where they were supposed to get married.

This Couple Revisited Their Dream Destination Wedding With a Breathtaking Post-Nup Shoot in New Zealand

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This Couple Revisited Their Dream Destination Wedding With a Breathtaking Post-Nup Shoot in New Zealand

Grace Libero

Published Jun 25, 2025 04:20 PM PHT

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Updated Jun 25, 2025 04:31 PM PHT

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