Like any good wedding day, the Southland Bride of the Year event was certainly a day of sharing memories and family connections.
Held at the Ascot Park Hotel in Invercargill on Sunday, the show married brides of 2015 and 2016 with a vintage gown parade for the 165 guests as a fundraiser for Southland woman Bailley Unahi, who suffered serious spinal injuries after a balcony fell on her at a Dunedin Six60 concert in March.
It was particularly special for Brides by Donna Rae owner Donna Dawson, whose grandmother's 1920 wedding formal dresses opened the vintage show, while her own 2004 bridal gown was the last down the catwalk.
![Amelia McKenzie, left, and Kate Hartley, 14, both wearing 1940s dresses, look through the vintage wedding dresses ahead ...](http://www.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/c/n/b/b/q/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1cnb9j.png/1467577775609.jpg)
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Amelia McKenzie, left, and Kate Hartley, 14, both wearing 1940s dresses, look through the vintage wedding dresses ahead of the vintage gown parade at the Southland Bride of the Year show at Ascot Park Hotel in Invercargill on Sunday.
The satin, champagne colour, and long sleeves of the vintage gowns were not such a far cry from what we might expect brides to wear this year, Dawson said.
favouring deep ivory, golds, and "cafe" colours of champagne and beige, she said.
![Hannah Baker, 18, wearing a gown belonging to Renee Holland, who was married at Wyndham in 1920, left, and Jessica ...](http://www.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/c/n/b/b/p/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1cnb9j.png/1467577775609.jpg)
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Hannah Baker, 18, wearing a gown belonging to Renee Holland, who was married at Wyndham in 1920, left, and Jessica Macdonald, 16, wearing a 1930's gown, ahead of the vintage gown parade at the Southland Bride of the Year show at Ascot Park Hotel in Invercargill on Sunday.
"The sleeve is coming back in [and] satin is huge."
More than 40 vintage gowns featured in the parade.
Of about 10 entrants vying for the Southland Bride of the Year title, Stephanie Munro was named the winner.
![Wynter Mason, 2, left, her brother Harlan Mason, 4, and Kaia Peterson, 4, enjoy vintage high tea at the Southland Bride ...](http://www.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/c/n/h/5/d/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1cnb9j.png/1467577775609.jpg)
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Wynter Mason, 2, left, her brother Harlan Mason, 4, and Kaia Peterson, 4, enjoy vintage high tea at the Southland Bride of the Year show.
Second-place winner Rebecca Boutherway, who was married in her parent's garden on the family farm at Dacre in February, said she entered the competition just for the sake of being able to put her gown on again.
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It was a chance to enjoy her formal dresses uk and the whole experience of having her hair and makeup done without the business and excitement of her wedding day, she said.
"I never wear makeup."
![Bailley Unahi, 19, suffered serious spinal injuries after a balcony fell on her at a Dunedin Six60 concert.](http://www.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/a/8/7/a/m/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1cnb9j.png/1467577775609.jpg)
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Bailley Unahi, 19, suffered serious spinal injuries after a balcony fell on her at a Dunedin Six60 concert.
She thought it was great the competition had returned to Invercargill, and that it was for charity.
"It's a fun girl's day out."
Organiser Sandy Jefferies said she planned to bring the competition back to Invercargill again next year, though she wasn't sure which charity cause would be chosen.
![Southland Bride of the Year placegetters, from left, Abbey Grace Ramsay 3rd, Stephanie Munro 1st, and Rebecca ...](http://www.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/c/n/h/5/e/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1cnb9j.png/1467577775609.jpg)
Southland Bride of the Year placegetters, from left, Abbey Grace Ramsay 3rd, Stephanie Munro 1st, and Rebecca Boutherway, 2nd.