Instead Gemma opted for a custom-made gown by Auckland wedding dress designer Anna Schimmel, who was also behind Honor Carter's wedding gown.
According to exclusive coverage by Woman's Day, Gemma's dress was made of silk and featured a deep V at the back framed by exquisite beading and a dramatic hand-beaded veil. The bride accessorised with a pair of nude Valentino heels, earrings from Sutcliffe Jewellery and a bouquet of white hydrangeas and pink and white roses.
Gemma told the magazine: "I absolutely love my dress and my veil. Anna Schimmel is incredible. I never had the fairytale type of vision in my head, but I knew the look and feel I wanted - classic, timeless and elegant. Once I had the picture in my mind, I explained it to Anna and she drew it pretty much on the first go."
And judging by her new husband's reaction, the dress certainly had the "X-factor" she was after as Richie told Woman's Day: "When I saw her for the first time, I choked up a wee bit. I was blown away. I knew I would be, but more so than I thought. She was beautiful."
Flynn's bridesmaids wore dresses from New Zealand designer Moochi and Richie looked sharp in a black Ermenegildo Zegna suit.
