Sam and Dan’s Backyard wedding, Kumeu, West Auckland   

There is no one way to do a wedding. I’ve attended many over the years and the best ones are filled with personal touches.

My son goes to Sam for therapy riding and I have the utmost respect and admiration for what she does. I was thrilled when she asked me to be her wedding photographer.

Sam and Dan were married in an intimate ceremony at Gracehill Vineyard Estate on a Thursday morning. We took some photos of them with their bridal party at Gracehill before heading to one of their favourite beaches, Maori Bay. Dan and Sam drove there in his pride and joy, with me following and just about keeping up! 

This time was just for them; we walked and chatted, they snuggled, and we captured some fabulous images. Dan’s one request was for a burn out photo in his car, to which I replied absolutely! I’m up for just about any photo request and love trying something I haven’t done before. If you have something in mind, just ask me… I’ll probably say yes!

We returned to their home in Kumeu for their beautiful backyard DIY wedding. A relaxed afternoon followed with grazing tables, beers in ice buckets, hay bales to sit on, a bouncy castle for the kids, dogs and of course, cars! Since horses are Sam’s passion, we snuck away from the festivities for a few minutes to take some photos with her horses.  

I loved how everyone chipped for this wedding, with friends and family helping with the food, decorations, cake, everything! Whatever your budget, you really can have the wedding of your dreams. My advice? Make a list… decide on your number one priority, and work downwards, allocating your budget where it’s needed from there. For Sam and Dan, photography was near the top of their list, to ensure they had stunning forever memories of the day they tied the knot! 

Let’s chat about your wedding over a coffee or a glass of wine - give me a call or send me an email, I'd love to talk to you.