Well, it is a well-known old wives tale that rain on your wedding day is a harbinger of a good marriage but Monica and Dwayne were probably a little sick of being told that because they got married on the first of the ‘weather bomb’ days to hit NZ over the last couple of weeks! It was wet. Very wet. Indeed.

All the day before the wedding and all through the night heavy downpours were followed by even heavier downpours and when I woke up on the morning of their wedding, ALL I could think about was Monica and how devastated she was going to be.  So, I turned up to Te Toki Retreat where Monica and Dwayne were getting ready for the big day with my heavy-duty umbrella and my wonderful husband/second shooter/umbrella holder extraordinaire not quite knowing if I was going to find a little stress bunny bouncing up and down in the make-up chair where my chilled out bride should be!

But after all these years I really should have known better than to think that a bride as fabulous as Monica would let a little rain ruin her day! I knocked on the door and shook the raindrops off to see Monica and the girls happily being pampered by the un-stressable Ashlee Kellett and one of her team, Lexie.  Champagne was being supped, music was playing and Te Toki Retreat exuded the warm welcoming glow of love and happiness.  My bride was as cool as a cucumber.  And I was happy.

Monica looked absolutely stunning.

Over at the boys house, the handsome groom Dwayne was… well,  grooming.

Monica and Dwayne chose to do their photos before the ceremony so they had a ‘first look’ which was set up by their wedding planners, the lovely Jenny and Jan from Waiheke Island Weddings  -  I love those first look moments!   

Before we headed out into the elements for our shoot we did a couple of shots in some of the indoor areas at Te Toki Retreat.  It had been a couple of years since I had photographed a wedding there and I had forgotten how gorgeous it is.  (We have a few weddings booked at Te Toki next season so I am really looking forward to shooting in their stunning outside spaces as well.  Minus the rain.)

We headed to the Historical Village along the Onetangi Straight to start our shoot before carrying on to the Onetangi Sports ground.  Am totally digging the brown boots!

Weather Bomb?!  What Weather Bomb?

Dwayne and his brothers were completely classic – what a laugh. 

Taking the golf course flag captive – I mean, if you can’t play golf on your wedding day then when can you??  These guys were laugh out loud funny!  That golf course photo cracks me up every time I see it!

Getting some air…

Bad photographer moment ahead…  I had bought some new umbrellas for the day to add to my kit – some nice translucent white ones, you understand, but unfortunately just failed to notice that they were minuscule!  Fit for a five year old!  Hmmmm, bit of an oversight there, Emma.  Smooth.

OK, enough messing around – onto the serious stuff… 

Rawr!

 

This shot below is our waiting for the bus shot (she says as if that’s a set shot!) – I love how completely cute Monica looks while Dwayne is Mr Serious.

I’m not sure if you are meant to fall in love with your own photographs but this image really flips my switch…

So all the while we were shooting, the weather has been getting improving little by little until we get to the ceremony AND THE SUN COMES OUT!  Talk about a Crazy Weather Day!  Mudbrick Vineyard was looking it’s lovely self, still wet with raindrops glistening everywhere.  Monica and Dwayne had their ceremony down in the Potager’s Bistro – it was a loving, funny and emotional ceremony; a delight to witness.

We had just enough light left after the ceremony for a few more shots around the Mudbrick grounds.  This one below was meant to be an ‘off with their heads’ shot but I liked Monica’s beautiful expression too much.

Check out that blue sky!

Thanks Monica and Dwayne for being SO cool, calm and collected on your wet wedding day.  You and your bridal party were so much fun to photograph – we had a ball!  Wishing you much success and happiness for your future together… xx