New Zealand bridal designers are up in arms over the news All Blacks great Richie McCaw’s bride-to-be, Gemma Flynn, is opting for a dress by an Australian designer for her big day.

Not only that, she’s being filmed for the TV series Say Yes to the Dress (starting on Foxtel’s TLC on Wednesday, October 26) so Australian designer Adam Dixon will get all the publicity and kudos if she walks down the aisle in one of his designs.

“Thanks, Australia, but we can find a dress for Gemma,” read a defiant headline in New Zealand’s Sunday Star-Times.

“Not content to let the Aussies dress our Gemma, the Sunday Star-Times asked three top New Zealand bridal designers to share their concepts for what she should wear,” the article said.

Designers Jane Yeh, Trish Peng and Tanya Carlson all weighed in on what Flynn should wear, from “pearl beaded French lace” to “60s Brigitte Bardot-inspired evening wear”.

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A post shared by Gemma McCaw (@gemflynn)

It’s unsurprising Kiwis are up in arms over Flynn’s decision to take her wedding shopping to Australia.

McCaw is one of the best rugby players of all time, playing 148 Tests, while Flynn is New Zealand hockey’s golden girl – competing with the Black Sticks at numerous Olympics, including Rio. They are Kiwi royalty.

It is a little bemusing to see her join a bridal cast with tiny budgets and far less glamorous lifestyles in Sydney in order to find her dream dress.

Don’t get me wrong. I really like the show – it’s irresistible to watch a bride try on loads of beautiful dresses, watched by a gaggle of largely female friends and families, who all argue as they try and agree on which dress the bride should say yes to.

The show is driven by the deliciously flamboyant designer Adam Dixon and his team of consultants, who have more than 100 years of bridal experience between them at his opulent Brides of Sydney salon.

The other brides to be

First up in the premiere episode is 23-year-old Talina who describes herself as excitable, happy and a bit crazy, with a budget of $2500. She brings her bridesmaids Kaylee and Krystal with her.

Talina is very excited about the fact that everything except the dress is organised for her big day. Oh, and just one other thing is missing – her partner, Jordan, has yet to propose.

Talina just needs her husband-to-be to propose and she will be set.

Morgan, who’s a 27-year-old trainee primary teacher from south-west Sydney, has a $3000 budget with plans for a rustic Mudgee wedding. Her mum Colleen and aunties Kath and Marg are with her.

Morgan’s got an open mind on what she wants to wear but her mum is absolutely determined the dress she chooses will cover up the tattoos she hates. She’s also not keen on Morgan showing too much of her breasts – labelling one of the choices “tacky, tacky, tacky”.

Talina loves a bit of glitz and, naturally, falls in love with something that costs almost twice what she can afford.

Morgan (pictured with store owner Adam Dixon) is open-minded about her dress but her mother wants her to cover up.

Thankfully, a compromise is found for both women and two rather glorious brides-to-be emerge and say “YES!” to the dress.

Flynn’s not in the series until episode six so we will have to wait a while to see whether or not she does too – or if she goes home to some of the New Zealand designers who have already got their designing hats on in case she changes her mind.