Mr and Mrs Williams

It was Valentines Day 2020, and we were officially on count down to Dana and Aaron's summer wedding! I drove out to meet Dana and Aaron for their wedding rehearsal. It was a beautiful day, the sun was out in full force and the sea was glistening with the light on the water. I arrived to find a hive of activity. Family and friends were busy putting the finishing touches to the venue. Dana had been so organised with all her wedding preparations so it was great to see it all pulled together and looking fantastic!

The wedding rehearsal went off without a hitch, and it was great to get meet the rest of the bridal party before the big day. If I can, I always try and be at the wedding rehearsal as it's a great way for me to check in with the bride and groom and make a note of any changes or suggest prime photo spots for on the day.

Dana and Aaron chose the Nocton Woolshed in Clevedon as their wedding venue. This beautiful site is run by a lovely local family and a blank canvas for those who want to add their own personal touch to their big day. The venue has a rustic feel to it which makes for plenty of photo opportunities and it has the bonus of being a short drive from Maraetai Beach. 

The Ladies

Dana and her bridal party stayed at the house next door to the venue. This is a perfect location for the bride to relax and know she is close by to the venue for any last-minute preparations.

On the morning of the wedding, I arrived to find hair and makeup in full swing, and breakfast underway with a glass or two of bubbles to settle any nerves.

One of my favourite parts of any wedding day is capturing the bride and her girls getting ready. Dana had chosen her sister and two best friends to be her bridesmaids, and it was great to witness lots of laughs and banter between them. Clearly Dana had picked the right ladies to be by her side on her big day.

The Fellas

As I spent the morning with the girls, my second shooter Chris was hanging out with the boys at Dana and Aaron's house. Once the boys were ready, they drove down to the beach to trim up the wedding cars before heading to the venue for the first look.

The First Look

Before we knew it, the time had come for Dana to head down for the first look. This is a chance for the bride and groom to see each other before their ceremony so they can really enjoy that moment together without lots of eyes on them. It's always so heartwarming to see the groom's reaction to his bride and of course, there's usually a few tears as all the build-up and preparation finally comes together.

After the first look at the venue, we had some bridal party photos before I whisked Dana and Aaron away for their bridal portraits at the beach. This was a great opportunity for them to spend some time together before their wedding guests arrived and shared in their celebrations.  

The Ceremony

Full of laughter, tears and a whole lot of love, the ceremony was officiated by the lovely Emma Love. It wasn't long before Dana and Aaron were pronounced man and wife and then the real celebrations of the day began!

Reception

After the ceremony and group photos, Dana and Aaron entered their reception to raucous applause before the speeches began. It was a fantastic evening of food, drinks and dancing and I was so very honoured to be asked to capture Dana and Aaron's special day.

Congratulations again to Mr & Mrs Williams!