…and so on….

Well brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr on the weather lately …. I’m not a winter girl I’m afraid, my hands and feet hate functioning in freezing weather.  My toes curl up in misery balls and only close proximity to a fire makes them appear again….so to see the sun blazing outside today is awesome (although as any good South Island kiwi knows, we only get those beautiful clear sky, sunny days AFTER a -3 frost the night before….and it takes nearly all day for the ice to defrost, and by the time it does, it’s night time again and another frost is on it’s way….sorry that’s all kind of a depressing description of winter down here, isn’t it!).

Upside to winter?  Spring is on the way!  ….other upside?   GORGEOUS WINTER WEDDINGS!~

Whilst I forewarn any of you that are enquiring about winter wedding bookings with us, I do have to wear my fingerless gloves and warm socks….. I also confess that I love winter weddings for their intimacy, warmth, romance and golden glow.   Summer weddings are quite different; they are bright, busy, guests wander outside, the sun heats everything and blazes down on everyone ….colors are bright, popp-eeee (is that a word?) and the pace of the day is upbeat, fast, loud, etc.   Just like Summer.

Winter weddings on the other hand are slower, guests tend to stay inside, gathered in small intimate groups, near fires, lit by warm glowing lights, candles, etc.   Colors are more muted, initimate, closer.  They are quieter…I guess because everyone is generally in a more closed-in environment.   The pace of the day is also slower, kinder.

So which do we prefer?   BOTH!   I love the thrill and chase of the summer weddings, but also the deep colors and ambient warmth of the winter one’s.

Doug and Andrea’s wedding was a perfect example of a wonderful Winter wedding….married at St Joseph’s Church, with their Reception at The Great Hall, on a day when showers passed by frequently…but the weather forecast was for POURING rain and gale-force cold winds…..they totally lucked out!   We had passing showers, and the evening was so mild and so calm, that we took them for a wander over to the cute Bed & Breakfast they were staying out, and even shot some images there too!

Andrea is stunning…there is just nothing more I can say…as I feel the images say it all.   When she walked in the church, I was close enough to hear Doug catch his breath, and I don’t blame him…in fact I would have been shocked if I’d not heard it.  She was a “vision”…seriously.  On top of which they are just the nicest couple….both to everyone around them, and to each other!   Their friends had helped setup them meeting at a BBQ,  at a time when Andrea thought there might not be the perfect guy out there, but as soon as she spotted Doug..and he her….the adventure began.   All credit to your friends you two…..they got it just right!

Gorgeous Bride, Handsome Groom, Wonderful Bridal Party and a set of family/friends who adored them…..it was seriously the most perfect day!  …..  dinner was an intimate affair at the Great Hall, with just a small selection of  their Family etc there, then we managed to steal them away for some evening shots (see that gorgeous golden glow?   that’s winter ambient light for you!)……while their Party guests arrived at the Hall for an evening of supper and dance (band was The Crystal Set)….who we can highly recommend…..they were fabulous!

It was just lovely to stand back and watch all the interaction, love and laughter between everyone there…..to feel the warmth from heated room and all those in it…. listen to the funny and heartfelt stories about the couple, and be a part of the beauty and romance that made up Doug and Andrea’s fabulous day!   Thanks you guys!   We think YOU and your wedding…rocked!

Gallery up at end of week

…had to laugh today as my son takes a picture on the Iphone, messes around with it for a bit and then holds it up and says “look Mom, Olden Days”….ummmm Ethan, that is a Black and White photo…it’s actually called “Classic”….    Today I feel ancient!

Enjoy the Slideshow….with some “Olden Days” images included!  LOL.

Okay the veil and images should be a dead-giveaway that this fun, amazing couple are now MARRIED! …but they have lived together on a farm in Marlborough region for awhile, so it is goooooddddd to be able to say MARRIED!  LOL….. What a fantastic day!   Beautiful clear blue skies, warm (okay slightly chilly wind but nothing a jacket couldn’t cure!) and of course a wonderful fun bridal party….including Fran (Johanna’s sister) who we had photographed when she married Mark in February.  The girl’s mom should go into wedding co-ordination now because two weddings in a few short months is a huge learning curve for anyone, and she did an amazing job of helping Johanna pull together the vision she had for her day.

The tears when Johanna’s dad gave her away were so very beautiful, one of those really touching moments in a ceremony where a parent realises that the child they have raised is now going to start their own family tree and begin a new life, under a new name with the love of their life…..so emotional and so intrinsically beautiful and one of the reasons we love what we do so much, it’s a privilege to be allowed to not only witness but photograph those kind of intimate moments for a family.

Married at the wee church in Woodend, then off to a beautiful country lodge for the Reception.  Daylight savings had of course ended, so with the late afternoon wedding, and travel time to the event, we were moving super fast to get there before the sun was completely gone.

I’ll let the rest of the images tell the story……the fun of getting ready, the stunning cake (wow!!!!), atmosphere at the reception which was so fantastic, and the rocking dance, which started out slow, but as you’ll see these two really roc ked the dance floor!    Enjoy your peeks you guys!   Gallery up shortly

Up for ANYTHING (and I seriously mean that!..as you’ll see…) but also just so much fun and so in love!  What a fantastic wedding!

Surrounded by wonderful family and friends, they got married at the St John of God and had their Reception at the Riccarton RaceCourse.    Weather (you know that is a VERY important thing on the day..and about the only thing none of us have any control over)…and today it behaved (must have been that talking to I gave it the night before …yeah right!).  Warm and Sunny.

The ceremony was just so touching, the singing, the family laughter, intimate moments and even the Minister who pulled out a box of Lego to demonstrate his point on Marriage (very very clever!) and certainly had everyone laughing.   Weddings are so amazing!!!  (yes we really love what we do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!…and I love using exclamation marks too LOL)…but really they are!  They are full of a huge range of emotions; laughter, tears, sorrow, joy, fun, seriousness….and so much more.   That is exactly the reason Erick and I shoot two different styles on the day…..and we talk to couple’s we meet about their wedding being like an amazing symphony…and we shoot as though we are the conductors, which in some ways we are, since we need to make sure the couple run on time, know what to do for the best images, where we are shooting based on light and backgrounds, etc.  Like any GOOD symphony, the Wedding Day has ebbs and flows, and we talk to our couple’s about that too….and I LOVE it when a couple “gets it” ..you can suddenly see it all click to them, and then they start to get excited…and that is the best bit of meeting with clients, when the leave saying “Oh my gosh, I’m so excited!…..I can’t wait for the day and the photos”…(and brides, that is a double bonus when the Groom says that too!).

Michelle and Joe were like that.  Simply Awesome.  Full of ideas, full of love, full of excitement for the day and their photos.  So when we showed them shots of a half-demolished building and explained our ideas, they totally got it and immediately said “yes”.   After all who wants a whole lot of photos of you in a park or field?  Let’s mix it up!!!

Michelle you are stunning!!!!  Beautiful inside and out.

Totally fun wedding party…and how cool were the cars?   My first car ever was a wee Morris (aka Tank) and I loved that car….and even drank a bit of it’s petrol by accident (long story for another time!)…so the wee cars were like fond friends for me. Fun location to shoot, and then we travelled to Riccarton…and of course had to race the couple outside for this amazing sky!  Seriously…can you believe how lucky they were to get this?  Erick and I just gasped when we saw how amazing it was!

..and then there was the dance!  Check out the end of the slideshow…so good, so funny and such a surprise for their guests!  I loved the guests faces ….total shock LOL     Enjoy your peeks guys!  …and your Gallery is up too!!

My fav:

E’s fav:

We’ve also started adding a few out-takes to our posts…yes it takes a lot to put myself out there, but I’m determined to lose some weight this winter! …..and we have a whole list of new things that will be launching then too!  Watch this space!!!!!!

Me..issuing some posing instructions…and saying something random!  (probably talking non-stop!)..and Erick who is always soooo funny…but I have no idea how “surfing” got involved in this shot! (it’s in his Hawaiian blood obviously!).   We also love the shot of Michelle and Joe pointing up at the sky (it’s in the Show) as Erick and I sometimes wait until the kids are in bed, then we sneak out to their trampoline with our pillows and blankets    The Night Sky is so amazing!!  We used to fight to see who could spot the most shooting stars, but these days there is so much junk up there…you are guaranteed to see at least 5 satellites…the trick is knowing what is made of rock and what is made of metal!

Emma! you have been so patient!  As most of you know, Erick’s mom had a scare diagnosis with Leukemia and it had us on edge as we waited to hear back what was going to happen.  We didn’t want our wedding couple’s to know, as we are 190% committed to them on THEIR day….and we didn’t want them to have to even think about us! …..especially since we meet all couple’s before we take a booking, and so we know what an amazing bunch of people we are working with!  The season passed without a hitch, no gear failures (yes we both carry full backups! but you still like to shoot with your “baby” rather than turn to your second body for the day), no stressed out couples ….seriously! every couple we have ever worked with has been AMAZING!!!!!….so the only thing we really have had to deal with is Erick’s mom being sick….and she’s doing good, she’s seeing specialists and they are making a “plan”…I’m not honestly sure what that exactly means!  but the next few weeks will tell!  …anyhow, back to Emma and Rich….

Another fantastic couple….from Australia…..surrounded by friends and family and what a party atmosphere!  Right from the time I turned up to do Emma’s getting ready images, the air was buzzing, there was so much laughter, then tears, hugs….and then rain!  Yes good ole’ Canterbury decided to pull its’ four seasons in one day trick and we went from a hot sunny day where we could see right across Sumner out to the far ocean, to dark storm clouds rolling in a few hours later…and then it started to rain.  I love the images of Emma’s dad helping her out to the car, and her so cute bare feet! (see Gallery Show below)

On the way out to Trent’s the heavens opened and it just pounded down on the roof of the car….you know it is a bad one when your wipers are on “3″ and your still having trouble seeing out the window! LOL.    Just as we all pulled into the Trent’s driveway, it stopped.  I kid you not!  It was pounding, then it was just quiet.  As Emma stepped out of her car (shoes on now!), the air was so fresh and clean smelling, and all the greenery just sparkled….and the atmosphere inside the Vineyard was electric waiting to see how amazing she would look.  Rich was standing at the front with his crew, looking slightly nervous but mostly just happy…and ready to party.

Well Emma didn’t disappoint…that girl has a gorgeous figure, and she rocked it out in her beautiful gown…and when Rich saw her he couldn’t stop smiling, and the two of them spent the rest of the ceremony going between laughter, intimate looks at each other, and heartfelt tears.   The photos have been a joy to edit.

After the ceremony the party really began!   Fantastic! and once again those darn clouds rolled in and sat ominious overhead, so we did all their group and Romantics at the Vineyard itself…tucked away from the Guests who carried on the celebration.   When Erick and I left, the speeches had just begun, but as we walked outside, we could hear the ribbing and cat-calls from guests, the clink of glasses for toasts and laughter throughout the building.   It was like that Black Eyed Peas song….. TONITE’S GONNA BE A GOOD NIGHT…OH YEAH!!!

Enjoy your long-awaited Sneaks you two!  Gallery will be up in 48 hours!….Hugs and thanks again for being so understanding towards us!

Funny stories from the day…..me asking Emma where the bridesmaids dresses were, as I’d already photographed the flowergirls one’s…only to be told that they WERE the bridesmaids dresses!  Ummmm….it’s a compliment right girls???  They were just so tiny!  I think I’d get a thigh in one of them!  Totally jealous here!

Erick and the boys of course had to find the biggest gun in town….and then play on it! ….but Rich used to play on it as a kid.  So Rich..officially…I think you have the biggest gun there is.  No pun intended.

..and we couldn’t resist asking Emma for a photo when she stood under the wine barrels and we realised that she had a halo on her head…we all cracked up laughing…and Emma (the angel that she is (pun intended)..played it up for us) LOL….

…all photos of the funnies are at the end of the Slideshow.