Nicole & Aaron {Eloped & Married]

Australian born Nicole went travelling with her friends to Europe one year. She expected to visit a few countries, have a fair few wines, a trolly full of laughs and to just generally enjoy her time travelling.
She certainly didn’t expect to bag a sweet Irishman while she was there! … But that she indeed did, and after 8 years together and many trips back to Ireland while now living in Australia. They have come quietly to New Zealand to tie the knot amongst the rich autumn colours  of Arrowtown.

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot
And by ‘quietly’, I simply mean it was just Nicole and Aaron, the wonderful Celebrant Phillipa Cook. And Doug and I as their witness’. Yes indeed, these two eloped.
This was a specially planned elopement they had told their family about before they came. So Nicole and Aaron still got a handful of traditional pre wedding treatment! But I’m guessing some people… are still to find out… so to those people… SURPRISE!!!

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot
Nicole and Aaron have holidayed in New Zealand just the one time. This time last year. It didn’t take long to A. Fall in love with the Arrowtown. And B. Fall in love with Arrowtown in the Autumn time. So all they knew when they booked their tickets was ‘We just want to get married in Arrowtown! The rest can more or less be planned when we get there!’.

They found Arrowtown House as their accomodation, and this is where they got ready. I loved Aaron’s shoes the moment I saw them… He did get a few compliments with anyone who did see them!

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot
And don’t get me started on how much I love Nicole’s shoes.

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot
Kirsty Lohmann, Make up Artist was there to help Nicole along the way to becoming a gorgeous bride!

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot
And here is our groom Aaron. Looking ever so dashing in his velvet collar suit with matching velvet tie. They almost struggled to find a velvet tie. Stoked they did in the end!

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot
Next door, the sun gently shows it’s face, the energy is a mixture of light, fluffy and excited.

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot
Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot
And before we know it, it’s dress time!

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot
While her groom chills out in the sunshine.

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot
And then Aaron wait by the Stop sign, waiting for that tap on the shoulder…

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot
Those smiles says a thousand words!

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot
They chose a wee spot in a park. The warm yellow leaves that encompass them, act as their guests.

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot
Phillipa Cook gave a beautiful ceremony.

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding
And just like that, they’re husband and wife!

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding
Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding
The day before we scouted some beautiful locations, so the next 3 or so hours were spent on a photographic tour around Arrowtown and Queenstown.

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding
Arrowtown was on FIRE!!!!

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding
Blue was Nicole’s colour. So a visit to the little blue door was in order!

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding
And back to the spot they had their first look.

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding
Oh Arrowtown and your quaintness! I love you!

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding
It was a beautiful Autumns day. Our next stop was Thurlby Domain to use this amazing property and have a picnic.

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding
We got to Bob’s Cove just on the cusp of dark. It was calm, serene and totally magical.

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding
The night did indeed end with magic!

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding
Nicole and Aaron. It was an absolute privilege to be your witness’ and capture your very special day. Thank you so much for choosing us and we wish you all the very best for married life and the road ahead!

Love Heather and Doug xox

Juliet & Henry {Married} Part 1

It’s 2013. It’s Two Thousand and Thirteen. It is TWO. THOUSAND. AND. THIRRRRRR-TEEEEEN. Doesn’t matter how you say it… I still can’t believe it.  2012 was a BIG year for us. Exactly this time last year we had a shot a grand total of 5 whole weddings in our wedding career. It felt like a seriously slow take off. But also truly worth it. Good things take time though right?… That small number of 5  between the 1st of January 2012 and the 1st of January 2013 soon jumped up to 35. We have a lot of amazing clients or even potential clients at the time of booking that took a leap of faith and booked us. I felt like a total fraud booking couples, not having very much to show them, but knowing in my gut that I could totally do it! I just needed the chance to prove myself. And to all those who took that leap of faith. Oh boy do I thank you greatly from the bottom of my heart.

2012 took us from The Marlborough Sounds, to Tekapo, to Blenheim and all the way down to Queenstown and not to mention… Canada of all places. We have been spoiled immensely with our locations and our amazing couples whose special days we have had the greatest pleasure of being apart of.
It’s a VERY good thing when you can mumble under your breath every 5 minutes with a gigantic smile on your face ‘I love my job, I love my job, I.LOVE.MY.JOB’ (might look a little weird to an outsider… so don’t go judging those crazy looking people talking to themselves, because who knows… they may just be the happiest people in the world! ;-)

So this brings us to the last wedding of 2012.

Date: 29th of December 2012
Location: Queenstown
Couple: Juliet & Henry

I walked into a dream scene. I’m glad I’m a girl photographer, otherwise I would have missed all the greatness on the other side of this note.

Queenstown Wedding Photography
Canyon Lodges held the Catherwood family for a week. This is where Juliet was getting ready. Not to shabby when you get to see whats on the other side of the note and it’s not only a gorgeous bride, a beautiful dress…. but also the Shot Over River as your view. Oh this wedding was just horrible from the very beginning, truly truly horrible! ;-)

These are the only two white dresses Juliet has ever owned. Her Communion dress that her Mum made and her gorgeous gown that she’ll become Mrs Johnstone in.

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography
Something old, something blue. The booties are from Juliet’s Godson who’s parents couldn’t make it to the wedding.

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography
Dress time.

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography
Ellen and John have a long lasting marriage of over 30 years. 5 kids later, and just the one girl. They are pretty proud parents on their only daughter’s wedding day.

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography
As I begin an hour of one on one bride time with Juliet ‘Flaunting her Dress’ … Henry arrives at The Old Stables in Dalesfield to begin greeting guests.

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography
Juliet, look how stunning you are! And that infectious smile is to die for!

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography
The time to head off to the ceremony soon came around…

Queenstown Wedding Photography
This is Ngaire. She is an old friend of the family, she together with Henry and Juliet wrote the most beautiful ceremony.

Queenstown Wedding Photography
Henry was nervous. Really nervous… but even nerves can’t wipe the smile off his face when he see’s his bride for the first time.

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography
I loved the addition of two wines introduced into the ceremony. The Cab Sav represented Henry. Masculine, Robust, built to last, spicy and prone to indulge in celebration anytime. While The Merlot represented the feminine, soft, subtle, smooth finish of Juliet. The Merlot can stand on it’s own two feet and is appropriate for any occasion.
Once blended, these two wines take on a new and delightful sophistication which compliments the best of each others qualities.

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography
It’s official, they are married! It doesn’t end here though… There are Queenstown Mountains, Helicopters and the Skyline to look forward to… Follow me to PART 2

Queenstown Wedding Photography

 

Juliet & Henry {Married} Part 2

Feeling like you’ve missed out on something if this is the first you are seeing of Juliet and Henry’s Wedding? Well you would be correct.. Take me back to PART 1

We nipped away from the guests for a very short amount of time to get some photos around some gorgeous ruins on the property of The Old Stables. We only had a short amount of time as something was coming that the guests didn’t know about…

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography
Sorry to the guests who spent hour and hours on their hair that day. If only you had some warning, I bet you would have applied that extra bit of hairspray! :)

Queenstown Wedding Photography
The red roof below is where we left the guests to mingle a bit more while we take a little spin over Queenstown.

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography
First stop…

Queenstown Wedding Photography
…Cecil’s Peak. Juliet thought she would make my job truly hard for me. Queenstown… you are beautifuuuuul.

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography
Best mates on top of the world.

Queenstown Wedding Photography
Staring lovingly into each others eyes. Or more a ‘How dare you leave me’ stare from Camo there. :)

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography
This was Juliet’s idea. They are meant to fearing for their lives as they hang on the edge of the cliff. But Camo’s drama skills were just too accurate that it had everyone in fits of laughter!

Queenstown Wedding Photography
Lake Isabel was on the cards, but one small chat with the Helicopter pilot and we found that there was a little snow on The Remarkables so we thought we would make Henry and Juliet’s dream of having a ‘white winter wedding’ come true. Yip, it was blimen cold at this spot. But soooooo worth it!

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography
So we jumped back in the chopper and waited for our time to grace the reception with our presence. The reception is exactly where the little white flag is. Skyline Gondola, here we come.

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography
The speeches were entertaining that’s for sure. But I’m going to let the photos do the talking and leave it to your imagination as to why Henry received a giant spoon and why Juliet’s younger brother and MC, Michael has to where a helmet from now on!

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography
I love when the bride makes a speech. And this bride had a few rebuttals to make before commencing!

Queenstown Wedding Photography

Queenstown Wedding Photography
We made it in just before the rain came pouring down and thus ended a more perfect day than they could have ever wished for.

Queenstown Wedding Photography
Juliet and Henry. WOW. What a day indeed. From beginning to end you amazed me with your every choice, your relaxed and humorous attitude and your love for one another and for life. What a way to end a fabulous year. It was such a privilege being a part of it all.
Congratulations once again and the Happiest New Year to you both!

Love Heather & Doug xoxo