Clearly, that's not the end of the story.  Days later, after giving it a lot more thought, Trina realised that there was more to their friendship, and that Phillip was well and truly worth pursuing. Not wanting to wait until the morning, she ran down the road and into his house.  Right then and there she woke him up and asked him out. He was mighty pleased.

Phil and Trina got married at The Old Barn on a beautiful summers day.  The sky was blue and the clouds were fluffy.  What more could they have asked for?

Doesn't Trina's dad look as proud as punch of his beautiful daughter?  And who can blame him!

Nicky, you look gorgeous in blue!

The ceremony was full of special moments that showed how thoughtful Phil and Trina really are.  They even had a special moment that included their gorgeous baby Tyler. 

Married!

Beautifully shiny and dressed for the occasion, the Charger and the Valiant are Trina and Phil's other babies.

The boys were full of fun, we didn't have to try at all to get them to smile!

The girls spent all day smiling too!

What a dashing groom!

Hello Rarangi!

I love how Trina and Phil really are best friends.  Phil said that his first thought when he saw Trina walking down the aisle was the same as what he thought when he first met her, "WOW!"

Then back to The Old Barn for the reception and some rather amusing speeches.

I love it when my couples give me a few more minutes before we head home.  Trina is relaxed and looking beautiful, the evening light is gorgeous and I'm busy doing a happy dance.

Thank you Phillip and Katrina for a brilliant day.  We wish you both, and your gorgeous little man, Tyler, the very very best for the future.

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Anna's three bridesmaids were everything you want when you're choosing your bridesmaids.  Lovely, helpful and totally into the entire day. 

Anna looked like she had just stepped out of a bridal magazine, gorgeous!

Meanwhile, as usual, Paul is with the boys as they get ready.

Olin's groomsmen were his two brothers, which meant things were super fun and relaxed.  The day was also filled with thick Irish accents as Olin's family came over from Ireland to be here for the wedding.

As the boys arrive at Old St Mary's Convent, Olin is welcomed by a flood of guest cameras.  Here he's perfecting his paparazzi dodging tactics...

The music that Anna walked down the aisle with was the same music that was playing when Olin proposed.  Gotta love the attention to detail!

Most wedding guests don't seem to notice us too much, like Olin's mum on the left.  Some, however, enjoy finding ways to bring some of their fun personality into the shots.

The grounds at Old St Mary's Convent are superb. 

Olin had us cracking up all day.

During her speech Anna said that she not only loves Olin because of who he is, but who she is when she's with him.  You can just tell they like each other!

Rain?  What rain?  All they seemed to notice was each other!

This shot is kind of like one of those puzzle pictures.  The more you try and work out who is who, the more confusing it becomes.  Or maybe that's just me.

Jazz hands!

This is a good example of how Paul and I see things differently.  The shot on the left is mine (16-35mm 2.8L, for those of you playing at home) and at the same moment Paul was taking the shots on the right (70-200mm IS 2.8L).

Group hug!

On Anna's parents hazelnut orchard we found plenty of places to play.

The reception was held in the beautifully decorated barrel room at The Winery Riverlands.

These little signs were scattered around the garden area. Olin is a farmer, and clearly, farming is his life.

Once again we were able to sneak our couple out after dinner and right about the time that the light was soft and pretty. 

Anna and Olin, there is no doubt that you are perfect for each other.  Thank you for a fantastically fun day!

In other news: As usual, this time of year is producing floods of enquiries for next season. I think it must have something to do with New Year?s resolutions, and proposals over the holiday time. If you?re beginning to plan your wedding for next year, I would suggest you get a wiggle on and book your vendors as the season is filling up quickly!

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Thankfully good old sunny Marlborough put on a beautiful show once again and everybody had a fantastic time.

The girls got ready at Locks and Lashes, not that they needed much help to look beautiful - but Deirdre did a wonderful job.

The little note there is from Kerryn's Nan who couldn't make it to the wedding, so sent along the hanky and a brooch for the bouquet.  Don't worry Nan, if you're reading this, you were most certainly not forgotten!

I love it when Dad gets a first look.

Kerryn, you are a beautiful bride!

Meanwhile, Paul is with the guys at Vintners Retreat while they get ready.

And then onto Wither Hills where they wait in the cool (in so many ways!) barrel room.

Gene was as cool as a cucumber.  He wasn't even the slightest bit nervous, he said.  In fact neither was Kerryn, they were both cool, calm and collected.

And the bride arrives.

The ceremony was held on the roof of Wither Hills Winery, I think it may have been the first wedding they've held up there.  It sure did have a fantastic view!

And then they were married!

There was dancing back down the aisle.  Sometimes I wish I was a videographer!

The bright sun outside had us seeking shelter once again, and the barrel room was perfect.

Stunning!

Veils are impractical things, but I do so love them!

I actually have no idea what is going on here...

Then back inside where the restaurant looked amazing.

Momako is Gene's grandmother.  Although she doesn't look it, she's 90 years old.  She was so excited about this wedding and wouldn't have missed it, even though she had to travel from AMERICA by HERSELF!  What an amazing woman!  I want to be like her when I grow up!

Photos of weddings and loved ones.

I could look at old wedding portraits for hours.  So much history! I love the dresses, the flowers and the posing.  I wonder how long it will take before some of this comes back into fashion again.

Gene and Kerryn, thank you so much for choosing us to capture your special day, you both looked amazing.  We wish you the most fabulous life together!  Can't wait to show you the rest of the photos!

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Jared and Ainsley's wedding day was absolutely perfect.  From the gorgeous little church and the friends and family that filled it, to the celebration at the end of the day in the most beautiful and comfortable setting.  And the dresses in the tree.  Of course there were dresses in the tree, why wouldn't there be?

Ainsley had bought engraved cufflinks for her Dad and a beautiful brooch for her Mum. 

Lovely flowers, as usual, by Pink Poppie.

The wedding ceremony was held at St Francis De Sales church in Renwick.

Just moments before his bride walks through the door.

We love parents at weddings.  Sure, the day is about the Bride and Groom, but it's also about everything that went into making them into special people, all of the love and hard work of the parents.  From the nights spent up with a small baby, to the nights spent worrying about their young adult.  The encouragement and prodding into the right direction.  The hugs, the stories, the laughter.   I imagine that all of these things are reflected upon as they watch their child get married.  There must be a sense of pride to see that your child has turned out so well, and found someone suited so perfectly for them.  From what I could see, both Jared and Ainsley made their parents proud.

The day was hot.  Like, really hot.  Bright and sunny and everything that people wish for on their wedding day.  Of course we love good weather, but when it's THAT sunny it can take a little bit more effort to find perfect spots for portraits.  Thankfully Ainsley had found this beautiful place not far from her parents farm. 

The ladies looked absolutely gorgeous!

Paul called the beers 'man flowers'.  I guess he's right!

Doing the long grass thing.  I'm still loving it!

Ainsley, you are an incredibly beautiful bride!

Then back at Ainsley's parents farm we had some fun in the woolshed. 

This property means everything to Ainsley.  It's been in the family since her Grandad came home from war.  It's where her Dad was born, and it's where she grew up.  It's home to her.  So what better place to have the reception?  I can't say I was disappointed, the place is gorgeous!

The marquee was beautifully decorated and everybody had a grand old time!

Ainsley's Mum is a keen gardener, and has put countless hours of work in to get the gardens looking as amazing as they did.  Paul was in his element buzzing around capturing the details. 

As is often the case in high Summer, the light became magical after we had finished the portraits and everybody had gone inside.  Not to worry though, we had already planned for this!  Ainsley and Jared were happy to come out again after dinner to make the most of the amazing light and beautiful surroundings.

You're so MR DARCYish!  I squealed to Jared.  Every girl in the world has at one point wanted to marry Mr Darcy, I'm sure.  "Thank you!" replied Ainsley on Jared's behalf.  I could feel the silence beside me as Paul had no idea what I was talking about.  But Ainsley and I, we knew.  Mr Darcy is a catch.

This is Lauchie.  I call this shot kid in a barrel.   Isn't he just the cutest thing?

And then, the perfect end to a perfect summer day.  Mr Whippy came with dessert.  Brilliantly planned, and a surprise to the guests.

There's nothing like Mr Whippy (probably not his real name.....) to bring out the kid in everyone.

Jared and Ainsley, we didn't want to leave.  Your day just kept getting perfecter and perfecter (ahem, my blog, and I say perfecter is a word).  Thank you so much for sharing your day with us, we had a wonderful time!

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Nick and Jade's wedding was gorgeous, happy and full of smiles and hugs.  Jade looked absolutely radiant as she got ready at Locks and Lashes.  I've been quietly waiting for a veil like this one!

The wedding was held at St Mary's Church, and as usual, it looked fantastic.

I love Nick's face as his bride walks down the aisle.

And his face when she arrives!

This wedding had a generous amount of gorgeous kids!

It's been two years since I photographed Richard (Nicks's brother) and Judy with their beautiful little Olivia and Calla.  TWO years!  Where does the time go? 

The weather had been threatening us with 'heavy falls', but thankfully they didn't arrive until after most of our outside photos were done.  Instead we had beautiful soft light to work with, and the slight rain that we did get only served to keep the flowers looking fresh.  Win win!

Gorgeousness!

The guys were keen to have a reconstruction of a race they had earlier in the day.  I think they look quite convincing!

It's a really great idea to pack a basket of goodies to take along to the portrait session.  Often you won't realise how little you've eaten during the day until after the wedding!

Nick and Jade had organised this gorgeous Ford Pickup for the portraits and just as the rain started to really come down, it was absolutely perfect!

It turns out when Nick gets warmed up he's pretty good in front of the camera too!

The reception was held at the new Renwick Sports and Events Centre.  It was just perfect!

Nick and Jade - thank you so much for letting us capture your beautiful day for you.  We wish you a very very Happy New Year and a very happy life together!

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"I could do that!" he said, to my surprise.

"Really?" I asked, rethinking my suggestion quickly.

"Yeeeeah," almost sounding offended.  "I do know how to write!" he said.

Paul and I wrote to each other as teenagers (LETTERS kids, not emails!)  Long letters, filled with nonsense and strange poetry.  I found a box of them recently.  It was 20 years ago and before we were going out. 

After a small pause, he declared that he could write it in poem form.  "This is about Ian and Chantal, because they have a story to tell......"  He paused again, and I could hear him thinking about the next line.

"DON'T DO IT!  Stop right there."  So to that end, I will write this post.  I may not be eloquent, but I won't put you through that kind of poetry pain!

The day began fresh but perfect.  Chantal and the girls got ready at the ever beautiful Locks and Lashes.

Chantal's Dad was thoroughly impressed with how beautiful his daughter was.

Meanwhile Paul was with the boys, and a happy but nervous Ian looked rather dashing.

The image on the bottom left completely transfixes me every time I see it, and I have no idea why.  I want to create some kind of explanation as to why it is so striking, but nothing comes to mind.  I just like it.  In fact, I love it.  Paul thinks I'm odd to like it as much as I do.  Well, frankly, I embrace odd.

Both the ceremony and the reception were held at The Winery Riverlands - which was formally Montana Brancott Estate. 

And the ladies arrive.

This was the moment that Chantal's parent were asked to give their blessing to the marriage. 

Which they wholeheartedly did.

Look at how Ian looks at his bride! 

This was one of those ceremonies that had everybody feeling it.  I looked around into the crowd and saw more than one person crying, and a whole lot of nodding in agreement with what Carol Taylor was saying.  It was beautiful.

Then we headed back to Locks and Lashes where Ian and Chantal had their E Session. 

Sometimes you just have to turn around to see an equally great shot standing right behind you.

Then back to Montana to have some final portraits before the reception began.

Beautifulness!  Look at the detail on Chantal's dress.  I was besotted with it.

The speeches were great.  This is Chantal's Dad welcoming Ian into the family.

Neil, Ian's brother was the best man. During his speech he said that Ian was a very lucky man and that he was a little bit jealous of him.  However, he pointed out that he does have more hair than Ian.  I guess you've got to look at the bright side.

The cutting of the cake was the funniest and most entertaining cake cutting I have ever witnessed.  I'm pretty sure they didn't intend to pull the entire top off the cake!

The rings were aaaaaamazing!

Chantal and Ian, what a wonderful day you had!  Thank you so much for choosing us to capture it for you.  We can't wait to show you the rest!  Have a fantastic first Christmas as husband and wife!

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Taryn got ready at the beautiful Monaco Resort Hotel.

Grandma's watch, utterly beautiful.

Amelie and Luciella were the perfect little flowergirls. 

Meanwhile, Paul was with the boys as they got ready.

This was Niklas' kiwi connection.

This was the first time we had shot at the Nelson Cathedral, and we were like a kid in a candy shop, without the sugar high.  So much to photograph!

The bride arrives.

This is most definitely the closest we have ever gotten to the glamour of a royal wedding, and most likely will ever get!  Unless, of course, someone knows of a royal wedding somewhere that needs some kiwi flair?  Feel free to hook us up... after this amazing day I think I could get used to this kind of grandeur!

And they are declared husband and wife!

Their reaction as they come out of the church says it all.  Bliss.

The traditional German log cutting ceremony was another first for me.  Traditionally the bride and groom must cut a log together as their first difficult task, or obstacle, in their marriage. If it's a clean cut it means they work together well.  And as it turns out, they work together really well!

And while we're busy doing cool stuff, how about releasing some red balloons?  Great idea!

Before we left for the portraits, we snuck Niklas and Taryn up some super awesome old stairs we'd found earlier. 

Taryn, you are A-maz-ing.  Beautiful, inside and out.

Then off to Rabbit Island with the attendants for some fun!

When I spotted this long grass, I knew we simply had to get in there!  Have you noticed I've got a thing for long grass lately?  Good thing I don't have hay fever!

Beach time!

I could have photographed these beautiful sisters all day!

Paul was committed to the cause and ditched his shoes and socks and waded out in the water to get this shot. 

Then it was off to Petite Fleur at Seifried Estate for the reception.

Niklas' speech was utterly gorgeous.  I could feel hearts melting all around me.

Niklas and Taryn, you cannot know how much we appreciate the way you invited us to share your day with you.  You are sweet and funny and utterly perfect for each other.  We can hardly wait to show you the rest of your photos!

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On the bonnie bonnie banks of Loch Lomond is where Duncan got down on one knee and surprised Lorna by asking her to be his wife.  It couldn't have been a better place for Lorna, it was her favourite place in the whole world.  And it was absolutely perfect, so perfect in fact, that Lorna spent quite a bit of time squealing and 'ahhhhing' and when he finally asked her if that meant "yes" she told him that indeed it did.  She was just so excited, she had forgotten to answer.

You could not find a couple more perfectly suited to each other.  They look at each other with THAT look.  You know, the one that makes you melt inside. 

Duncan is a deer farmer.  He totally loves deer, in fact, they both do.  They speak so warmly about deer (when they behave, the deer I mean) that it almost makes me want to get a pet deer.  Well, almost.

Lorna is a vet, a large animal vet.  She looks so gorgeous and glamorous that I can hardly imagine her hanging out with dirty big cattle beasts all day!  But she assures me she does, so I'll just take her word for it.  But right here, right now, Lorna, you are drop dead glamorously beautiful.

Deirdre from Locks and Lashes is doing Lorna's hair and makeup for the wedding in January.  I love it when my brides organise a makeup trial right before our E Session.  It's a great idea to see how you feel the makeup looks on the pictures before the big day. 

I know diddly squat about helicopters.  (note: diddly squat is a real word) but one thing that Duncan taught me is that the Hughs 500 was responsible for helping start the deer industry in New Zealand by capturing the wild deer back in the 80s.  They're quite powerful for their size and highly manoeuvrable and Duncan loves them to bits.  We were lucky enough to get close enough to one to take some shots up close and personal - thanks RidgeAir!

Then, before it was time to go home, we took a super quick trip to the tree.  You know, THE TREE.  It's a great tree.  An awesome tree, in fact.  It doesn't look like a whole lot in real life, but on photos it looks waaaaaay cool. 

Duncan and Lorna, thank you so much for driving all the way up here to have a session with me.  You guys are fun, cute and super easy going and we're so grateful that you've chosen us to capture your amazing day in February!  See you soon!

Niklas had always felt drawn to New Zealand, so came over to study here.  Taryn was also studying law and was looking for a contact from Germany, as she's always felt drawn there.  The two met, and love blossomed!  Now they live in Germany and next week they'll be getting married here in New Zealand! 

Deirdre from Locks and Lashes kindly let us use her property for the photos.  As usual, it looked fabulous!

I don't really have state the obvious, do I?  But I will.... Taryn, you are going to be the most exquisite bride!

Niklas was the most patient, obliging and kind guy.  Did I mention good looking?  Yes, well that too!

Niklas and Taryn remind me a lot of Paul and I.  No, Paul can't put me on his back, and even if he could, I can assure you it wouldn't look anything like this!  No, what I mean is how they are with each other.  They have spent nearly every day together for the last couple of years - they're inseparable.  They look after each other and really seem to be soul mates.  What's more, Taryn is apparently an amazing cook, that's probably where the similarities stop, actually.

Niklas and Taryn, it was a joy to get to know you both.  We're so excited about the wedding, and the amazing day you have planned.  We'll see you soon!

Steph and Aidan's day was perfection.  It was filled with serious and tender moments, and loads and loads of laughs.  Just my kind of day!

The bell at the end was a gift from Aidan to Steph for their wedding. 

The flowers.  Oh my goodness - coolness! The flowers were done by Stacey at Bellebird Design Flax Flowers & Art.  They are made of flax and incredibly gorgeous.  I suspect I'll be seeing a lot more of Stacey's work in the future!

The celebrant had obviously asked both Aidan and Steph what it was that they loved about each other.  As she read out the different points, you could just see their faces light up.  Clearly they adore each other, like really really adore each other!

Every wedding has an 'Uncle Bob'.  It's the person who has a good camera and is keen as mustard to get the best shot.  The 'Uncle Bob' at this wedding was a small boy.  I think he'll be giving us a run for our money in a few years time!

We headed over to Steph and Aidan's old school.  We spent some time hanging out by the tree that everyone carves their names into before finally graduating, yes, Steph is doing bunny ears.

Steph you are breath taking!

Generally I would be the one lying in some ridiculous position to get a shot like this, but Paul, in his drive to get the best shot every time, got there before I could.

See? 

Small girls are not always cooperative, but they are always cute!

Steph is not only beautiful, but she's also extremely creative.  Go and checkout her handiwork over at G is for Giraffe.

Steph wears her watch every single day, she told me, so what better place to wear your watch than on your flowers?  Also Grandma's brooch, very precious.

I love the way that Aidan adores Steph.  You can tell that Steph is everything to him, she's a very lucky girl indeed!

I've never come across this game before.  How small can you make your face?  I think I'll be playing it, possibly by myself in random places.  I reckon it will go down well...

Both the ceremony and reception were held at Marlborough Vintners Hotel.

We found some light to die for inside.  happiness....

This is a photo of me showing them the photo I took of them.  Even I have to read that sentence slowly to understand it.

Steph and Aidan, it was our absolute pleasure to capture your amazing wedding for you, thank you for choosing us.  We hope you're loving Bali! 

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He didn't like her, well so it seemed anyway. He kind of picked on her. And if you were to have told her at the time that she was arguing with her future husband, she probably would've scrunched up her little nose at you. After all, when you're 11 boys are yucky.

Fast forward several years and a grown up Aidan finds a grown up Steph on Facebook. It took a couple of weeks for Steph to see past the little boy she remembered and discover the man that Aidan had become. Love blossomed, and on Saturday they're getting married!

It's my job to discover who my couples are and capture that, kind of like a time capsule. It didn't take me long to discover who Steph and Aidan were. They were 100% pure fun. It's almost like they were made for each other, they're entertaining each other constantly and making it very easy for me to get to know them. I was in stitches. I like them.

I suggested they might want to pretend to be a tree.  Aidan made an okay tree.

"But I want to be a bush!" He exclaims.

And now, a log.... of course.

Steph was what is known in our household as one of ballet's "big girls". When my girls were four and five and at ballet, Steph was everything they wanted to grow up to be. Steph was a "big girl". Steph was all kinds of awesome. Funny now that my girls are the "big girls" at 14 and 15. How time flies!

We had our E Session at Rarangi as it is special to both of them.  To Aidan because he used to live there as a kid.  And to Steph because her Nana used to live there.

A romantic stroll along the water's edge?  Not likely.

This is "Lover's log".  We had to go and have photos there.  But romantic photos?  Not so much.

This seat has been donated in the memory of Steph's grandparents, Fran and John Wilks.  What a beautiful thing to remember someone with.

Steph and Aidan, Saturday is going to be an absolute blast if our E Session is anything to go by!  Bring it on!

Chantal mentioned that she loves the wide open spaces, and the beautiful New Zealand landscape.  So we followed the light and the sky to some gorgeous spots. 

I wish I could show this one to you HUGE, then you'd see the full impact.  I think it would make an amazing canvas!

I gasped when I saw Chantal's engagement ring.  It's absolute perfection, I've never seen another one like it.  Turns out that most engagement rings look like that in South Africa.  You see, you learn something new every day! 

Chantal, you are gorgeous!

This is the second Ian I have photographed in a month.  And although that might not be astounding in itself, how about the fact that they've both just become Chartered Accountants and they both live in Christchurch?  Seems to be a strange coincidence...  (clearly small things amuse me).

Ian and Chantal are the kind of people I wish lived in little old Blenheim. I think we'd be great friends. We just chat chat chatted away. That's the thing I love about this job, constantly meeting new and interesting people. People experiencing one of the happiest times in their lives, and I get to take pictures of them. What's not to love?

Chantal and Ian - you guys are great.  We can't wait to shoot your wedding next month!  See you soon!

Getting ready in her childhood home is something precious to any girl. 

And her mother.

This brooch that belonged to Grandma has been worn by all of the women in Kat's family.

Meanwhile Paul was over with the boys, and caught some very special moments himself. 

Kat and Josh were getting married at the St Michael's Church in Waimea.  It's the kind of church that made us go "Ooooooooo" when we first turned up to do a quick scout.  The possibilities made us talk extra fast.  Well, it made me talk extra fast.

Inside and the wait for the girls has begun.

Any moment now....

And there she is!

I wasn't close enough to hear exactly what Dad said as he gave Kat away.  But I love the expressions!

The vows were so incredibly heartfelt, so sincere, I don't think there was a dry eye in the church.

Married!

Sometimes you get the perfect mix of location, light and gorgeous people.  Ding ding ding!  We have a winner!  I was busy trying not to do my happy dance.

Josh and Kat had organised a double decker bus to take themselves and their guests back to Kat's parent's property where the reception would be held in the most beautifully decorated marquee that you ever did see!

Sometimes it's a good idea to shoot in the general direction that everyone else is shooting in. 

But sometimes it can be worthwhile turning around and seeing what is going on behind you.  Sometimes that is actually the shot that you want.

And every so often, you need to look where no one else is looking.  Sometimes that's where you'll find a story more powerful than anything else.

Josh spent the whole day grinning.  He seemed so absolutely over the moon with Kat.  It was almost like he had won the lotto, but better.

And WOW who can blame him for feeling like the luckiest guy alive? 

Josh and Kat had chosen a really fantastic bridal party.  They were helpful, funny and fully present.  Well done guys!

You guys are so gorgeous, I can barely stand it.

Kat's Mum and Dad have spent countless hours getting their property ready to host the celebration.  It was immaculate.

You guys are so fab, you even make the (ahem boring) traditional pose (for Grandma) look like something fresh out of a magazine.  You've made both me (and Grandma) very happy.

Josh and Kat, you had the most spectacularly beautiful day, and we are so grateful to have been able to be part of it.  Thank you.  We can't wait to show you all of the rest of the beautifulness!

Vendor Shoutout:

Gorgeous flowers by Nina at Pink Poppie.

Natalie is a complete natural in front of the camera.  She's one of these rare beauties that knows exactly what to do when a lens is pointed at her.  I've been told by her family that she's had that skill since she was a little girl.

Neither Sean nor Natalie had attendants, no bridesmaids or groomsmen.  Natalie said that Sean's Dad would be as close to a bestman as you could get.  Apparently these two are great friends.

And there was certainly no lack of friends!

This medal, tied to the flowers, belonged to Natalie's Grandma.  It was blessed by the Pope and Grandma wore it pinned to her clothes every single day, that's how special it was.  And now it belongs to Natalie, and it's a part of her wedding day.  Beautiful.

Sean and Natalie decided to see each other before the ceremony.  I love this series of images!

Seriously, Natalie, you are freakishly good at this!

This is a very special pocket watch given to Max, Natalie's son, by Sean. I love little things like this, because, quite honestly, the little things are the big things.  Sean, you're a great guy.

And this is Max.  Perfectly adorable!  He's a real credit to you Natalie.  It's rare to find a boy who is so open, friendly and a joy to be around.

Waiting for the bride to arrive.  A large percentage of the guests came from England to be here for this very day.  By the end of the day my 'inside voice' sounded like a character from Coronation St.  I like to listen to accents and wish I could do them!

How is this for an amazing setting to get married in?  We were hugely blessed to have the rain hold off for us.  It was spitting and threatening to rain all day, but when it came time for the ceremony it was absolutely perfect.

Max read out a poem which had everybody saying "Awwwwwwww" a lot.  I heard it behind me in stereo.  It's times like this that I wish I were a videographer.  Trouble is, I'm rubbish at video, so I'll just stick to photos.

Natalie and Sean wrote each other love letters about what this day meant to them.  They've kept them sealed and put them in this bottle, to be opened in ten years.  What a magnificent idea!

The guests approve.

This is Theo.  Gorgeousness right there.  Apparently I was funny!

Then some portraits on the shore.

What a handsome couple!

Sean was wonderful and patient while we had fun with the portraits.  In fact, he even admitted not minding them so much.  Thata boy Sean!  That's how it's done!

Captain Natalie.  Ah yes.  Why not!

When we arrived back on land, Natalie had one more spot lined up for us to shoot.  Blue boatsheds!  Yusss!

The reception was held at the Waikawa Boating Club in keeping with the nautical theme.

Bradley Guy is an absolutely brilliant young piper. He even had everybody clapping along and really getting into it.  Well done Bradley!

Another formation of Australia.  I promise I didn't set it up like that!

A cheese cake.  A cake made of cheese.  With little mice on the top.  How completely perfect!

Sean and Natalie, what a wonderful day!  Thank you so very much for inviting us to share it with you.  I can't wait to show you the rest of the photos!

Vendor Shoutout:

Celebrant: Carol Taylor

Flowers: Pink Poppie Designer Florist

Dress: Jane Yeh

Boat: Beachcomber Fun Cruises

Catering: The Quest Catering Co

Reception Venue: Waikawa Boating Club

Cheese Cake: Canterbury Cheesemongers

Karl has a thing for planes.  I asked him, as we were driving to Omaka Aero club if he just liked them or actually worked with them.  "I just like them," he said.  A friendly slap from Francesca reminded him to finish the story.  "He's a pilot," she said. 

Why is it that pilots get extra cool points?  I mean, if he had said he was a bus driver, I'd still like him just as much.  However he flies planes, and that's just super cool.  I'm such a girl sometimes.

Karl had managed to get us access to this beautiful beast, an old Chinese war plane, which he actually does know how to fly.  Not that you'd get Francesca doing loops with him, she said. 

Francesca is as sweet as she is beautiful, and that's really saying something.  She tells me that she's been a blog watcher since 2008 (gasp!) and that she had always planned for us to photograph their wedding, well before they were engaged.

Then we headed off to Rarangi, where the light had me making all sorts of girly squealing noises. 

Francesca, you are perfection!

Double Rainbow!

Rarangi is special to Karl and Francesca as they spent many hours here when they were teenagers.  On a visit back to Blenheim last year Karl surprised her with a proposal, on this very spot.  Well, we think it was this very spot.  After some discussion, we decided to assume this was the very log he proposed on.

She said yes.

I've been to Rarangi many, many times.  I have never seen it as beautiful as this.  The colour, the stillness of the air, just the right amount of mist and a gorgeous couple.  It was the perfect end to a perfect shoot.

Francesca and Karl, you guys are absolutely great.  Thanks so much for taking the extra time to play with the light and have some fun with me.  Can't wait til March!

Joanne and Ian live in separate towns, Joanne in Wellington and Ian lives in Christchurch.  Long distance relationships can be hard work when you have to travel every second weekend to spend time together.  But what is that old saying?  Absence makes the heart grow fonder.  And it won't be long, soon enough they will be living in the same city as husband and wife!

Ian has just completed seven years of study to become a Chartered Accountant.  Seriously!  SEVEN YEARS!  That's commitment for you and a thoroughly awesome achievement!

Beautiful Joanne is not the slightest bit afraid of the camera.  She was an absolute joy to photograph.  She said it goes way back to the days of self portraits in the bathroom with her friends.  The light in a bathroom is usually pretty good!  So mothers, please note, if your teenage daughter spends a generous amount of time taking photos of herself - let it go.  Some photographer, somewhere down the track, is going to thank you for it!

Joanne had told me that she loves colour.  So I knew exactly where there were some gorgeous orange wildflowers!

Ian proposed to Joanne on a weekend away together.  It was absolutely pouring with rain the whole weekend, except for a small window of time and Ian seized the opportunity, took Joanne up a hill, got down on one knee and proposed.  The experience left him with one soggy knee, and also a fiancé!

We had a little bit of time before Joanne and Ian had to get to the airport, so I asked if they had any ideas about where they might like to go.  "What about your tree?"  I almost wanted to hug Joanne.  Of course!  The TREE!!

Apparently Ian is quite a mover on the dance floor, he showed me some of his moves.  Yep Ian.  You tha man!

Thank you so much Joanne and Ian for coming to see us during your weekend together.  I'm so looking forward to the wedding!  See you in a few months!

And blue shoes.  You've got to love the blue shoes, don't you?

Molly Rose was the perfect flowergirl, patient, happy, and absolutely gorgeous.   

And here is our beautiful Kylee. 

Braydon was the bearer of the rings.  A responsibility he took very seriously.

The wedding was held at Drylands, and although it was a little bit nippy, we were thankful that it wasn't raining like it was at the rehearsal the day before!  Nope, the sun was out and everybody was happy.

Introducing Adam, watching as his bride arrives.

This is one of my favourite shots of the day.  When your baby gets married even tough men find it hard to keep it together.

And best friends can be rubbish at being tough too.

He got the girl!

As we were waiting for family to come for the group photos I spotted this huddle to keep Granny warm.  Priceless.

We decided to shoot at Pollard Park, and I'm ever so glad we did!  The little red bridge, the trees and the thousands and thousands of daisies made this the perfect choice!

Kylee, you are spectacularly beautiful!

A fun and crazy bunch this was!

A week ago I had never even met Adam and Kylee, they live in Australia and we only had contact through emails.  Now I feel like they are my bffs.  It's amazing how when you spend a day with someone and all of their nearest and dearest you really get a feel for who they are.  And I like who Adam and Kylee are.  I liked them even before they brought us chocolate wedding cake, I liked them even more after.

Then back to Drylands where there was more cuteness to be found.

Adam and Kylee were so easy to direct, no matter where you put them they always look gorgeous and totally in love, simply because they are!

It's not usually too easy to steal a couple out of their reception for the sunset light, but Adam and Kylee allowed for that and went along with all of my funny ideas. I was in heaven! Sitting wasn't a problem.  In fact, I could be so bossy as to even get them to lie down!

See?

Back inside and the speeches had everybody laughing.

And then the dancing began!

Before we headed home, Kylee insisted we indulge in the photobooth.  This is exactly why we usually stay on the other side of the camera.

The very last photo before we got in the car and we were treated to a shooting star - a very fitting way to end the day!

Adam and Kylee, you guys are the real deal.  Thank you so much for inviting us into your big day, for making us feel welcome and appreciated, and for the chocolate cake.  Let's not forget about the amazing chocolate cake.  I can't wait to show you all of the rest of the images!

Vendor Shoutout:

Our first characters are Heather and Doug (engaged and married) who have become more than clients, they're now our friends.  They're also photographers.  Paul was keen to show them a few tricks with the flashes, and so we set a time to have a fun shoot together.  I'm more of an available light kinda girl, so it was a good chance for me to get more practise with working with the lighting equipment as well.

When Paul suggested that I could be the model I quickly thought of another plan.  I put a call out on Facebook and before you know it two beautiful ladies were chosen to be our 'brides'.  Along with their longsuffering husbands. 

Clare and Brent were photographed by me back at the dawn of this blog in 2008 and sadly I never got to do their wedding photos in Rarotonga as I was too busy having babies at home.  So when this opportunity came to have a shoot, Clare jumped in boots and all.

Leanne and Aaron hardly need to be introduced.  Leanne designs our gorgeous Queensberry Albums along with a whole bunch of other goodies at Vanilla Hayes.

So now that we know who everyone is, you actually get to see some photos!

Massive thanks to Mahi Wines for letting us use their very dark barrel room.  It was perfection!

While Paul was working with Heather and Doug and doing all sorts of cool backlighting, I snuck away to find the light that I like working with.  Natural light!

Clare, you are absolutely stunning!

Then I went and stole Leanne and Aaron, just to shake things up a bit.  I love this.  I love it a lot!

Leanne, I told you that you were smouldering!  Don't be doubting me!

And look at how dashing Aaron is! 

I'd also like to point out that Leanne's hairpiece was the one I wore when I got married 16 years ago.  See?  I am stylish after all....

It turns out that Clare and Leanne are actually close friends. They even used to live together while they were studying. 

I had asked for ideas for our shoot, and what was suggested?  tug of war!  Of course!  It's perfectly natural to expect two brides and two grooms to do this on a Monday morning.  So before we headed home we simply had to have a game.

Then, when the girls decided to take on the boys, things got a little bit more serious...

Massive thanks to Nina from Pink Poppie for the flowers.  She was given pretty much no time to prepare and yet still she came up with absolute gorgeousness.  Nina, you are a star!

Also thanks to Darnelle Bason and Chloe Sutherland who stepped up at the last minute to volunteer to do the girls makeup for us.

So now that you've seen my side of the story, pop on over to Heather's page and check out what she did!

Thanks to everyone for such a huge effort, it was fun!