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Shan and Aaron met at Waikato University, both International Students from China and both with the same last name. What are the chances? Thousands of miles away from home, meeting the man of your dreams from your very own country. It was meant to be!
Since graduating in 2010 they moved back to China and now live in Shanghai. They are getting married there at the end of the year, but not before a trip back here to New Zealand where their love began.
This brings us to an email I thought couldn't possibly be true. Shan found our little blog, all the way over there in China, and decided that she wanted US to photograph them for their pre wedding photos here in New Zealand. We read the email, answered it and then dismissed it as one of those emails, because A) I had never heard of the custom of having a pre wedding shoot and B) It seemed fanciful thinking that they would choose us! BUT wait! It was absolutely true!
Seems that this small town girl needed to learn a thing or two about Asian wedding traditions! So just in case anyone else is as naive as I, here's the lowdown:
Here in New Zealand it is customary to have our photos taken during the wedding day. However, in Asia it is quite normal to have a pre wedding shoot. The couple, and in this case much of their bridal party, get dressed into wedding clothes and create images that will be displayed at their wedding.
I was in heaven. We had time. Hours of time. We made the most of the fabulous Marlborough scenery and wandered from place to place following the light and getting to know each other as we went.
Once again Deirdre delivered the goods in both Shan's hair and makeup, as well as providing a beautiful starting point to our photographic adventures.
I loved showing off our amazingly beautiful province. I loved the fact that the rain that had been taunting us for days disappeared and left us with a crisp and beautiful freshness in the air. I loved how Shan and Aaron were fully into it. Like, really into it. I mean, coming ALL THE WAY FROM CHINA kind of into it. This was my happy place. I never wanted to leave.
Aaron is one seriously cool guy, and he's a lover of photography, which makes him even cooler.
Beautiful ladies!
After our play at Locks and Lashes we headed over to Old St Mary's Convent. I knew the trees would be all kinds of cool, and as the light softened up as sunset approached I knew things would only get better. And they did!
I called out for them to act like they'd just won the Lotto. I think they'd be happy...
I can't actually remember what it was that I said that got this reaction. Maybe it was just the fact that I was lying in the foetal position and they had no idea what this crazy photographer was going to do next!
And then back to the romantic stuff. Shan and Aaron have such a natural and happy way with each other. It's beautiful to watch.
Shan, your gorgeous smile was the first thing I noticed about you.
And then the race was on. The sun was setting and we had to get across town to THE TREE. It was worth the effort. The light was sublime!
Shan and Aaron are clearly beautiful on the outside, but they are also beautiful on the inside and that's what makes for lovely images!
Just like a fairy tale!
As we were walking along the track people passing would nod and say 'hello'. To me this is just normal. But Aaron commented on how friendly everyone is here. Thank you Blenheim folk!
Turns out Shanghai boasts 13 Million people. That's a lot of people. If you walk to the supermarket you're not likely to ever see anyone you know. That would weird me out.
And then, after the sun had set, we headed over to Wither Hills Winery where they were to have a celebration dinner. They had a room to themselves, all set up, beautifully warm and the fire was crackling. The ladies got dressed into something less formal and a lovely relaxed day slipped into a lovely and relaxed evening.
Before we said our goodbyes (rather reluctantly, might I add!) we wanted to do something just that little bit special for Aaron and Shan. In China it is rare to see the stars, yet in little 'ol Blenheim they are out for all to see. Paul was super keen to create this image which included the stars shining brightly. I think he's done an amazing job!
Shan and Aaron, it was an amazing experience to spend the afternoon with you and your friends. We feel super privileged to have been given the opportunity not only to photograph you, but also to get to know you. If ever we find ourselves in Shanghai we will be sure to look you up!
Vendor Shoutout:
Hair & Makeup and Photo location #1: Deirdre, Locks & Lashes
Photo location #2: Old St Mary's Convent
Photo location #3 : The Tree, Harling Park
Dinner and Photo location #4: Wither Hills Winery
Every now and then you get a blind date that goes right. Like, really right.
The kind of right that sees a gorgeous young couple like Monique and Liam finding each other, falling in love and getting engaged.
Liam asked Monique to marry him on the banks of the river, after a long walk in her 'inappropriate shoes' she was wondering where on earth they were going. They were going to get engaged, that's where!
Next January they're getting married and we'll be there to take photos! Woohoo!
Thanks Monique and Liam for taking the time to come and have some fun with me! Bring on January! We'll be there with bells on!
Well, that's not entirely true, the "Very nearly almost married" part of the title. Truth is, they're already married, but they're having another wedding tomorrow. So it's their second wedding. To each other.
Some people like each other so much that they like to have TWO weddings. Hayley and Fergus were married last year in Mauritius, a small private wedding with just the two of them and their parents. Beautiful, personal and just what they wanted. But they also wanted a slightly bigger wedding with their family and friends, and tomorrow is the day! And we can't wait!
For those of you who are still left thinking, "where the heck is Mauritius?" like I initially did, it is 870km from Madagascar. Does that help? Off the southeast coast of Africa. It's a beautiful Island and a fantastic place for a holiday, and a wedding apparently! It was also the only home of the now extinct Dodo bird. For those of you playing at home.
So watch this space next week! Hayley and Fergus are both gorgeous and crazy in love. It's going to be beautiful!
Libby stood there all cute and pretty with her dotty dress and red cardi, and I smiled. I smiled because I knew as soon as I saw her that this was going to be a magical shoot. Then, as soon as Peter walked around the corner, I was totally hooked on them. These guys are the real deal. It's the way they look at each other, even when the camera isn't pointed at them. The way they smile and REALLY mean it. The amount of happiness bubbling out of them. They're getting married on Saturday, and we're going to be there and we can't WAIT!
Thank you Deirdre and Mary Jane for your gorgeous work on the hair and makeup! You guys rock!
This is their mean faces. Peter looks frightening enough, but Libby still just looks cute.
The meanness didn't last long!
Libby and Peter, you can't even imagine how much I am looking forward to Saturday. It's going to be all kinds of awesome! See you soon!
I'm ok about Summer. In fact, I figure the sooner we say goodbye to the summer that was (or, in fact, was NOT) the sooner we'll be able to say hello to Autumn and the amazing colours and light that delights us in March, April and May. So I'll take the fleeting warm days that are left, like this beautiful one presented below, as a bonus.
This weekend Anna will marry Luke, and come rain or shine, we're going to have a GREAT day! See you soon guys!
Gorgeous!
"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!
