In August 2026, Arnold Cottage at Te Awa Lifecare was transformed into a beautiful celebration of weddings through the generations for our Wedding Belles Exhibition. Residents, families and staff generously opened their wardrobes, photograph albums and memory boxes, sharing treasured gowns, photographs, invitations, shoes, veils, christening gowns and keepsakes – some dating back more than 100 years.

But Wedding Belles was about far more than the dresses. It was about the people who wore them and the memories stitched into every gown – weddings on wet and windy days, handmade dresses, family heirlooms worn by more than one generation, changing fashions and wonderful stories of love and family life.

Adding another beautiful touch to the weekend were stunning floral arrangements and bouquets generously donated by Frankie & Flora Flower Truck and Ivy Florist. Their flowers complemented the gowns perfectly and helped bring a little more wedding-day magic to Arnold Cottage.

The exhibition also supported Women’s Refuge, with entry, raffles and the generosity of our community raising an incredible $1,135.

We’ve captured some of those very special stories below, along with photographs from what was a truly memorable weekend at Te Awa.