Not going to lie, I love all the couples that engage with me, and Alyce & Ben’s Wanaka Wedding was no exception. These two bought some fresh country air to their wedding, complete with a stunning dress, flat caps and two pair of New Zealand’s legendary Red Bands. The wedding ceremony took place at Wanaka’s Holy Family Catholic church, reception celebrations at The Venue, separated with a helicopter ride and mountain top photos. An incredible story I felt hugely grateful to be part of. 

Connection. That’s the key word I always feel when shooting this type of occasion, and Nikita & Owen’s Queenstown Elopement was no exception. Visiting from the much warmer Queensland, these two were treated with a much cooler but stunning day. There was emotion spread throughout, from the anticipation during preparation, to the first look, to the heart-felt vows on top of the Remarkables. An incredible experience that I felt honoured to document.

Love can be as strong as you want it to be. Imogen & Logan proved this to be true during the lead up to their Wanaka wedding. Studying and working across the globe and organising a wedding is no easy task, but through a supportive family and pure dedication, these two knocked it out of the park! Criffel Station were hosts to the special occasion, there were heart-felt vows, beautiful sunshine and helicopters — all a photographer could ever wish for! Aaron from Amico Films in Sydney even jumped in at super short notice to create an incredible film on the day. Absolutely epic!

Jamie & Andrew’s Cromwell wedding was even more beautiful than I anticipated. Having known these two for a while beforehand made fitting in with a camera to capture their wedding story absolutely seamless. Preparations begun on their family vineyard with the surrounding Pisa Range glistening in the warm sun. There was an abundance of laughter, good vibes and all round an incredible day shared by two incredible people — stoked to be able to be part of it!

Visiting our lands from Maryland, USA, Heather and Dan's Wanaka couples session was nothing short of epic. In amongst the summer wedding season, we managed to sneak an hour session in right as the sun was setting over Lake Wanaka. These two were connected right from the get go, and had no qualms about getting their feet wet or hiking up to one of my favourite lookouts. My kind of couple! 

Ange & Cam held absolutely beautiful Queenstown wedding at Millbrook Resort. Along with many of their guests travelling over from Australia, they were treated to a cool rainy day with a few Plan B's taking place. Nothing phased these two though, in fact I think they embraced the natural turns of their day more, evident in their persistent smiles.

Shannon & Chris took the time to stop in with me for a Wanaka couples session. It was only for an hour, but that was all we needed to get to a location I'd been wanting to shoot for a while. Visiting from Maryland, USA, I found these two an awesome couple to photograph, constantly drawing closer to each other — perhaps it was partly to do with the howling westerly wind. We hit it off nicely over sunset, capturing the real wild essence that Wanaka has to offer.

Venturing out into the start of the Motutapu Valley and Glendhu Bay amidst New Zealand's freezing winter conditions? No problem for Imogen & Logan. This Wanaka engagement session sums up exactly why my family and I chose to move here, having such rich scenery and raw wilderness right on our doorstep. Bringing couples into these special places gives me a real kick, especially when they're as fun and connected as these two! 

When winter hits Central Otago, getting out and amongst the elements is only for the adventurous. Coryn & Caleb were just that. They held their Queenstown wedding straight after a good snowfall and the temperatures barely got over 3ºC. Their intimate ceremony was tucked away in the historic Thurlby Domain, followed by a venture about the Crown Range with a signature Queenstown sunset, then warming up again at Postmasters in Arrowtown. An incredible day all round!

Possibly one of my most memorable wedding stories. Joce & Tim's Criffel Station wedding in Wanaka was easily the decider that locked in our choice to move south from Canterbury in 2015. We had always been in love with Wanaka, this just sealed the deal. Kicking off nice and early we gathered all of the little moments that show the bridal party's transition from fully relaxed to some beautiful emotional excitement. Local legend Ralph Fegan handled the wedding in great form amongst the epic surrounds that Criffel Station has to offer.

Some people just click. They work together beautifully as a team and make you feel welcome, like part of the crew. Clare & Hayden are just those people. Organising their Ohau Lodge wedding from the North Island didn't seem to cause any troubles at all, though Lake Ohau known as 'The Place of Wind' certainly lived up to its name. Raw and beautiful landscapes are abundant around here, as was the evening festivities. One of my longest days behind the camera, and one of my most memorable.