This week we gathered all our favourite wedding peeps at our gallery for an “End of Wedding Season” celebration.  We all work like crazy things during the summer so it’s  nice to get together socially out of ‘work hours’, especially to raise a glass in celebration of another great year of beautiful bride and grooms.

The wedding industry seems to attract very warm, positive people; by it’s very nature it is well and truly a ‘people persons’ job!  I looked around on Thursday night at all those lovely people in our gallery and was struck by how lucky Waiheke is to have so many top notch wedding vendors.  You really can source everything you need for your big day on Waiheke.  From experienced hair & make up artists to the new state of the art marquees available on the island… florists, wedding planners, celebrants…  it is ALL right here.  It goes without saying that the Waiheke Island venues are incredible of course, and I know this fabulous photographer…

Why pay your vendors extra money to travel to Waiheke when everything you need is available on the island.  Check out our links page to find the best on Waiheke.

Two things in celebration of Mothers Day for you today.  The first, one of my favourite photos from a wedding a year or two ago, a gorgeous mother/daughter moment from Toni and Matthew’s wedding day, as Toni walked up the aisle with her new husband.

The second, a share of a beautiful TED talk from spoken word poet Sarah Kay.  Some light and loveliness for your Monday… enjoy.

Cat and Toby’s wedding was our last one for the 2012/2013 wedding season (and I must say a hearty thank you C+T for your patience in waiting for this blog post!).  Their wedding day had an elegant simplicity to it, set in the beautiful and thoroughly New Zealand environment of Chardy Ridge.

I loved the style and laid back feel of their day, everything from Cat’s stunning A La Mode dress and the pre ceremony G&Ts, right down to the relaxed laughter during their ceremony and the understated bunches of gypsophila on the reception tables.  Yep, I reckon if I got married again, I would do it pretty much like this (except for the early morning swim Toby… I mean, really, what kind of man would throw his visiting English mates into NZ waters in April.  It’s just not cricket, is it?)

Oneroa Beach, here we come…

At Chardy Ridge, the bridesmaids and their exceptionally helpful partners and friends were madly at work decorating the reception and ceremony site

Beautiful flowers from Virginia at Waiheke Flower Gallery.  Cat’s make up was from Waiheke fave Charlotte from Island Beauty, and her hair was from Heather at Phoenix Hair Design

Love love love Cat’s look… sophisticated, elegant, and effortless

We headed off to a couple of island hotspots for our photoshoot, the ever popular Little Oneroa Beach being our first stop.

Large bridal parties are always a good laugh!

Back at Chardy Ridge the reception was ready and waiting in rustic chic style.  Cat and Toby’s guests gathered in the Chardy Ridge glade, awaiting the ceremony to be led by the wonderful Irene Armstrong (officially Waiheke’s most popular celebrant, as declared by the Births, Deaths and Marriages office).

Following the ceremony, Toby’s talented sister Sian and their friend Mark sang and played a couple of songs in their honour…. it was really gorgeous and special.

While friends and family mingled on the lawn following the ceremony, we snuck away to capture a few more images around the stunning Chardy Ridge environment.

gorgeous bridesmaids dresses from Coast in the UK

Thanks so much Cat and Toby, what a pleasure it was to capture your perfect wedding day.  I hope you enjoy your long awaited sneak peek! xx

It’s perfect timing that in the month that NZ legalised gay marriage, I get to share on my blog the lovely civil union of Caroline and Sarah, who were married at Mudbrick Vineyard on Easter weekend.

Caroline and her family got ready for the day at Claire’s Luxury Hideaway in Onetangi, a premium property which is always an absolute pleasure to shoot in.

Caroline’s bridesmaid was her stunning niece Anna, who tried her best to remember her ‘school tie days’ while helping Caroline try on the stylish retro tie Sarah had given her a part of her wedding gift.

Caroline’s navy pinstripe suit was from boutique suit makers Anton‘s in Australia

Sarah and her family had booked a place just around the corner which overlooked Onetangi Beach, one of Waiheke’s most popular beaches.

Sarah’s stunning gown was from Astra Bridal, with her hair and make up from the ever-awesome Sharon Kenny and flowers from Virginia at Waiheke Flower Gallery

Sarah was accompanied by her sister Emma and niece Aisha

love this

Sarah and Caroline wanted to do their photos before the ceremony so that they could spend more time with their guests following the service so they had a ‘first look’ moment before the shoot in one of my favourite locations…

It was such an emotional meeting when they first caught sight of each other…

Lance’s photo above – love it!

And then it was time for the ceremony to begin at Mudbrick, under the expert eye of Auckland celebrant Chris Mullane

We had a wee bit of time up our sleeves after the family portraits so we spent some time in the Mudbrick vines, taking advantage of the lovely light as the sun went down.

What an amazing wedding… Sarah and Caroline, your love is divine.  Thanks for trusting us to capture it xx