As we started drifting off to sleep deep in the night after a delightful day with Chantal and Ian yesterday, I had an idea.  "Would you like a turn of writing the blog?" I said to Paul.

"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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Vendor Shoutout:

"She makes my heart make an extra beat when she smiles at me."  It was the perfect statement to round up a perfect day.  Niklas adores Taryn, and she adores him right back.  The way they look at each other, sometimes just a sideways glance and other times she leaps into his arms with her big beautiful smile and kisses him.  If anybody deserved a perfect day, Niklas and Taryn did, and that's just what they got.  Perfection from the very moment we arrived, to our final goodbye hugs. 

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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Vendor Shoutout:

"By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes, where the sun shines on Loch Lomond, Where me and my true love spent many days On the banks of Loch Lomond..."  (imagine me singing that with an incredible voice and a gorgeous Scottish accent trailing off into the distance before the lyrics turn too sad to suit this blog post)

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!

"That's really neat, Niklas" was what Taryn's Dad said when Niklas asked if he could marry his daughter, from the other side of the world in Germany.  Within moments Taryn's Mum was also on the phone with an excited "Ohhhhh!" which obviously meant she also thought it was neat.

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!

In everything give thanks... It was a Bible verse long before it became an American Holiday.  Thanksgiving.  What a great time to remember all of the things we have to be thankful for.  I'm especially thankful for my family and friends and our amazing job.  Anybody who has seen us shoot knows that we love what we do.  We are utterly blessed to be able to take photos of gorgeous people like Aidan and Steph.  And we are incredibly grateful to all of the amazing couples that continue to hire us to capture their day for them.  We've been doing this for years now, and I still pinch myself. 

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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Vendor Shoutout:

Back then she didn't like him.

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!

They were casual acquaintances, and hadn't seen each other in years.  Then she popped up out of the blue, and although all she wanted was a house to rent, his offer for a coffee date was accepted.  In no time at all they were best of friends and planning to leave South Africa to start their lives together in New Zealand.

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!