Sue McKenzie purchased her wedding gown – a Maree du Maru model – from Vinka Lucas in Auckland in 1966 for her wedding the following year. "The style was chosen for an autumn wedding and I loved the simplicity and elegance of the gown and felt very special in it." Sue wore the gown again later that year when she won the Otorohanga Bride of the Year competition and again in the Waikato competition. In 1968 Sue and her husband went to live and work in Fiji. "In those days Fiji was still a Crown Colony and as Ian was joining the Civil Service we were given a list of things we needed to have on hand. This included a formal evening gown." Sue altered her wedding gown so that it could be worn as the required evening gown. The neckline was changed to a plain scoop, the sleeves were shortened slightly to elbow length and the train was removed. "Because it was so hot in the islands I didn’t wear it after all so it was returned to be stored away for all these years. I also kept the train and the string of crystals which were removed along with the train." Sue also kept her bouquet. "At the time we married having a plastic bouquet was a very new and popular idea and I was persuaded it was a good option as I would have something to keep."