I've been looking forward to Sarah and Callum's wedding since our engagement shoot a few weeks ago.  As it turned out I was right, again, and Sarah looked magnificent.  She's the kind of bride that looks great in every shot and this was the kind of wedding that makes my life a joy.  I know I'm there to do my job, but sometimes I've got to remind myself that I'm working.

Gorgeous flowers that suited the theme of the wedding perfectly!

Men's buttonholes are surprisingly difficult to get right.  I think perhaps someone should run some classes on how to put them on...

Sometimes it can be a group effort.

Little girls make me smile.  A lot.

The car arrives, and we're ready to go!

Buttonhole done to perfection, courtesy of Mum.

See?

Sarah is positively glowing as she arrives with her Dad.

The wedding was held in the barrel room at Montana.  I love it!

We were able to go to the gorgeous Peppertree for photos.  OH. MY. GOODNESS.  That place is awesome.  

There were so many delicious little spots to take photos.  I never wanted to leave!

I love it when a picnic basket is packed for the photo session.  You would be surprised at how helpful food is for a wilting bridal party.  Happiness is increased by about 72%.  Give or take.

How's this for a backyard?  Insanely awesome light.  Gorgeous couple.  More happydance by me.

Beautiful fantasticness.  I'm fairly sure you can put those words together.

I love this.

Callum was so cool, he just owned the day.

Sarah has got to be one of the most graceful brides I've come across.

Arriving back at Montana, let the fun begin!

This was a shot from earlier in the day.  It's such a stylish place!

Filling it with people adds quite a bit of happiness.

The children were given chips, and didn't even have to wait for the bridal party to come back.  Brilliant.

Sarah and Callum, a massive thank you for including us in your beautiful day.  We had such fun!  Can't wait to show you the rest!  See you soon.

Even more photos on facebook!

Vendor Shoutout:

Hair and Makeup: Marlborough Day Spa

Gown: Bernadette Thomas

Venue: Montana

Celebrant: Carol Taylor

Kat and Chris know how to have fun, and they sure do know how to plan a great wedding.  Their special day was filled with so much laughter and fun, and their genuine happiness to get married to each other.  Add to this some lovely soft light, happy guests and great shoes...

Gorgeousness.  Supreme gorgeousness.

Super cute kids add that bit of innocence as well as the element of *Oh My Goodness What Are They Going To Do Next?* Hayley looked like a princess! 

A beautiful bridesmaid, Clare's dress even matched the awesome shoes.  Win-Win right there.

Add a pinch of awesome wedding dress, and Kat looked absolutely stunning!

Kat got ready at the home she grew up in, I think it always makes it so special and even more sentimental, but that's probably because I'm a bit of a sap at the best of times.

Must have awesome long veil and you can guarantee a happy photographer.

A doting Dad completes the at home picture beautifully.

The details were brilliantly planned! 

This is one of my favourite shots of the day.  Look at how Travis is looking up at his Dad.  More kid gorgeousness.

This is moments after Travis told Kat that she looked 'pretty'.  Love that kid.

Nervous and excited all rolled into one.

Old St Mary's Convent has the cutest little church, awesome venue!

What a gorgeous and adoring bride!

Kat's Grandad turned 100 recently, and I think that deserves a mention, don't you?

Coolest location for the group shot!

I'm not really used to being on that side of the camera, but Travis was a natural.

Hayley spent a lot of time running away from me, but that's ok, it made for great pictures!

Old St Mary's Convent has some beautiful spots!

Then we headed off to this fantastic red barn I stumbled across earlier.  We're always so grateful when people are happy for us to photograph on their property.  Thanks so much Graham from Vintage Antiques and Furniture, your place is spectacular!

Kat was so happy to be marrying Chris!

Chris knew how to work it!

It was supposed to rain during the afternoon, pour in fact!  Well that's what Metservice told us.  Thankfully they were about 6 hours wrong, so we were able to enjoy the beautiful diffused light.

I love the chemistry that these two have together.

Cute!

Kat's dress was absolutely stunning, made by Bernadette Thomas, who always does a beautiful job.

Meet Trevor.  Trevor is a girl cat (!) and full of curiosity.  She most certainly wanted to be included in the photoshoot!

Trevor got in amongst the dress at every opportunity.

We were just about finished when we stumbled across this totally awesome tractor.  Chris said that if he could name it, he would call it Dougal.  Dougal the tractor.  I thought that was a good idea.

Thanks Kat and Chris for an amazingly fun wedding.  All the very best with your big move this week, and wishing you both much happiness for many years to come.

Even more photos on facebook!

Vendor Shoutout:

Hair and Makeup: Marlborough Day Spa

Gown: Bernadette Thomas

Venue: Old St Marys Convent

Flowers: The Flower Box

Every now and then I come across someone who is inspirational to me.  Last night I stumbled across two such people - not literally, thankfully.  Cute and friendly and fun, and totally into each other, Krissy and Brendon are everything you want in front of the camera.

They were born only five days apart, in the same town, in the same hospital but only met when they were 16.  Like all of the best love stories, they were best friends long before they fell for each other. 

This is Buddy.  He totally knows how to work it!

Completely fabulous, you'd never have any idea of the hard work that's gone on behind the scenes for them to look this good.  Krissy has lost 40kg, let me write that in words in case you missed it.  FORTY KG.  That's 88 pounds.  Brendon has lost 33kg!  Any of us who are battling with a bit of extra winter weight will appreciate how much work that will have taken.  These guys are legends, and a total inspiration to me.

I totally want to be like them when I grow up.  Totally.

They laughed the entire evening, and the time just flew by.

I love Brayshaw Park, it's got so much character!

Then off to the riverbank where the setting sun lent us some of its beautiful light.

I had asked Brendon to kiss Krissy's cheek.  I tried to explain to him exactly what I meant, and thankfully Krissy stepped in and gave him a demonstration of what I was after.  Awesome.

These guys are great fun.

Beautiful!

After an hour or two of romance, I asked them if they could be a little more fierce.  I love this!

I've somehow missed this factory thing in Blenheim all these years.  I have no idea what it's even for, but it makes an awesome backdrop!

Brendon, Krissy and Buddy - you guys are awesome.  Thanks so much for all of the fun we had.  March just can't come soon enough!

I love to photograph people.  It might seem like a funny opening statement, but there you have it.  I love it.  I think what I like most about it is the surprised look on people's faces when they see themselves on a photo that they actually like.  You see, most people don't like photos of themselves.  They don't like getting their picture taken, and they'd rather get their teeth pulled then smile for the camera.  I totally get that.  I'm just the same.  But that's ok, at least I know I'm not alone.  The challenge is just to let go and have fun.  Once you start having fun you have that spark in your eye, and that's always a winner.  Sarah and Callum had that very spark whenever they looked at each other, they were so cute together!

I went out to their property for our engagement shoot, it was early evening and the light was just perfect.  Vineyards as far as the eye could see, it was absolutely gorgeous!

Callum proposed to Sarah at a picnic on the beach (awesome!)  Sarah said she didn't even see it coming - well done Callum, extra points for that one!  The wedding is in a few weeks, and I'm soooo excited about it.

I love this one.  I love love LOVE it.

Such a gorgeous couple, it's going to be a beautiful wedding!

Ah yes, here are those vineyards I told you about.  How's that for a backyard?

Jack joined us for the first few photos, but as he was just a little bit too enthusiastic, he was tied up for the rest of it.  Poor doggie, you can just see the 'woe is me' look in his eyes.

"Pleeeease love me."

In his spare time, Callum makes his own wine too, in his man shed.  Could this shed possibly be more awesome?  I don't think so!

Thanks so much for sharing your gorgeous property with me Callum and Sarah, and being such great models.  I'm so excited about the wedding just around the corner!  See you soon!

She was the third child in a brood of seven that took the long trip from Holland to Australia to start a new life.  It wasn't too many years after they had settled in that baby number eight came along, another little sister (ME!)  Annemiek loved that little critter from the start and would do as much of the mothering as she possibly could.  Soon after I came along, our family became a travelling music band, and although I hardly knew what was going on, I was most definitely the cutest.  (sorry guys, my blog, I can say whatever I want)

This was us performing in Amsterdam over 30 years ago.  I was the teeny tiny one there and Annemiek is the one on the far right (as well as two other sisters and my Mum).  These were the days when wearing matching clothes was hot, and you scored bonus points if they looked like curtains.

This is Annemiek now.  Married to Robert for the last 25 odd years, they're great fun to be around.  They've been performing music together as long as I can remember, although always in Australia.  They're such great entertainers.

Annemiek and Robert moved to Nelson six months ago when Mum was first diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.  And they'll be moving themselves and their music to Blenheim this Summer.  *cue little sister happy dance*

Robert is the most amazing guitarist.  And, as if that's not enough, he does some fantastic art too.  Cartoony kind of stuff, with real personality.  He's such a funny guy, the good kind of funny, not the strange kind.

They've called themselves MOODSWINGS, you can check them out at www.moodswings.co.nz.  Go on, have a look.  I think they're pretty darn awesome!  There's more of these photos there too, as well as sound clips.

Their kids have all grown up and left home now, so all they've got left is this little fella.

It's allllll about the guitar.

Oh yes, not to forget Widdles, their dog.  They love this dog so much that they actually flew him over from Australia!  How's that for true love?  I can't really blame them, Widdles is a pretty nice little dog.

So if you're around Blenheim this FRIDAY (29th) and SATURDAY (30th) evenings, Moodswings is performing at The Clubs of Marlborough.  Stop on by, it'll be fun!  The more the merrier!

I woke up with a spring in my step on Saturday morning, WEDDING DAY!  I knew that Lisa was going to be gorgeous, and that Mark was going to be the perfect, most adoring groom.  I was right on both counts. 

As I write this, I am surrounded by my beautiful family, out in the country.  We've all gotten together (7 out of 8 of us kids from all over the world) to give Mum her biggest wish.  That her children be around her, enjoying each other and making music together.  Mum is becoming more frail by the day, but the joy that I see in her face as she soaks in the family she has loved all her life somehow softens reality.  Looking through the images of Mark and Lisa's most spectacular day remind me again of what is really important. Love.  When all is said and done, it's these moments and so many others, that mean the most.  It's the most amazing privilege to be invited into people's beautiful moments, to capture and preserve them. 

It's a 'Mum moment'.  I love it.  I love it a lot.

The girls got ready at Locks and Lashes, and Deirdre most certainly did a fantastic job, as always.

Lisa was absolutely breathtaking, and I couldn't wait to see Mark's reaction when he saw her!

Lisa is the BLING QUEEN.  I danced a silly little jig when I heard about all of the amazing detail that she had planned into her day.  Awesomeness Lisa, way awesomeness.

Nina and her amazing crew from Pink Poppie orchestrated the flowers.  Another little jig right there.  This Ostrich feather fan has been in Lisa's family for generations, it's just soooooo beautiful.

The wedding was held at beautiful Woodend Gardens.  It has got to be the most superbly preened garden I've ever seen.  Lisa loves gardening, so it was the perfect spot!

Lisa's family is one of the sweetest, most sincere families I've come across.  In fact I was considering popping Rose, her Mum, into my handbag and taking her home.  She didn't stop smiling all day, her little girl was marrying the love of her life.

Mark was so nervous, and excited.  He was a joy to photograph!

Beautiful.

I like these people, I like them a lot.

The shoes were to die for.  More bling.

Have you ever seen a man happier with his gorgeous bride?  This image says it all.

If ever you're planning a wedding in Spring, prepare yourself for the possibility of a bit of wind. 

Such a fairy tale wedding. Woodend Gardens, I love you.

The flowers matched the dresses so well, I could barely stand it.

Then onto Lisa's Grandad's place for some rustic country pictures.

Of course, more BLING.  Amazing bling.

Mark and Lisa, thank you so very much for letting us into your day.  We thoroughly enjoyed every moment, and can't wait to show you all of the other moments we've captured!  Enjoy your honeymoon!

I love the way they just lie there, doing nothing.  I love how their little knees tuck up into their chest when you cuddle them.  I love the smell (mostly...), I love the tiny noises, the way they just fall asleep for no good reason at all.  Ah, newborns, I love them.

Meet Stella.  She's as yummy as they come.  All of nine days old, and utterly adored by her proud parents Glenn and Carina. 

Don't you just love how they fold right back up when you put them down?  Amazing.

Glenn and Carina have the most stylishly decorated house, Stella's room is just to die for.

Could they be prouder do you think?  Doubt it.

Harry seems fine about the new addition to the family.

Carina looks fantastic, really really great. 

I love baby crying photos - they're a lot quieter than the real thing.

Beautiful little family!

Babies seem to have this inbuilt rulebook about pooing.  'When possible one must poo on the whitest thing one can see.  If Daddy is around, he should also be pooed on.'  Carina could hardly contain herself laughing.  Thankfully Glenn saw the funny side of it too (after the shock wore off slightly), and I was able to capture an entire series of it.  I love this even more than the posed baby on Daddy's chest images.   Welcome to parenthood guys!

Thankfully parents have an amazing propensity to forgive.

Thanks so much for inviting me into your home to capture your beautiful family.  I feel utterly blessed to have been able to photograph your engagement, wedding and now your perfect little girl.  It's been an amazing year!