Planning her wedding to Richie McCaw helped Gemma Flynn cope with Rio Olympics stress

Richie McCaw and Gemma Flynn at the Chasing Great film premiere. Photo / Norrie Montgomery.

Black Stick Gemma Flynn has revealed that the planning of her upcoming nuptials to Richie McCaw helped her cope with the pressure in the lead-up to this year's Olympic Games.

In an interview with Skywatch, Flynn explained what it's like to plan a wedding with arguably New Zealand's greatest All Black.

"While focusing on the Olympics it was good having a nice balance, and being able to look forward to the wedding and talk about that; that's how I dealt with it," she told Skywatch.

However, she said preparing for the games in Rio, where the Black Sticks finished fourth, had left her little time to plan the big day. But with her major sporting commitment for the year over, she was enjoying turning her attention to the wedding.

"This whole year I haven't had the time to make appointments to go and do all that I've wanted to do, but I always thought that post-Rio would be a great time to enjoy and organise everything for the wedding. It's nice to be able to do something (for the wedding) now and have a bit of a look with the girls."

She said she and future husband McCaw were "very relaxed" about how they wanted the day.

"He's a typical male; he said, 'I'm happy if you're happy' - which is great. I've given him some jobs that he is happy to go away and do.

"It's what you make of it, and I don't want it to be stressful."

Flynn is scheduled to appear on tonight's episode of Say Yes to the Dress: Australia, a show where "bridal couturier" Adam Dixon helps women design their wedding dress.