The end of November brought another wedding to remember, filled with love, laughter, and stunning scenery. It was the wedding of Hannah and Sam; I first met Hannah not long after I arrived in New Zealand, and it was an absolute pleasure to watch Sam and Hannah go from dating to capturing their engagement photographs and celebrating their long-awaited wedding day.


Two people walking barefoot along a scenic beach with cliffs in the background.
Close-up of intertwined hands with an engagement ring against a knit sweater sleeve.
A couple embraces in golden sunlit grass on a hillside.
Close-up of intertwined hands wearing colorful bracelets and an engagement ring.
A distant view of a beach with rocky outcrops and rolling waves.
A romantic couple stands in shallow ocean waves at sunset with their reflection visible in the sand.
A couple embraces on a scenic beach with rolling hills in the background at sunset.
Two people playfully pose together at the edge of the ocean waves.
A couple holds hands while walking along a scenic coastal beach with cliffs and a seabird overhead.
A couple in casual beachwear embraces and smiles against a coastal backdrop.
A couple wearing matching sweaters shares an intimate moment on the beach.
Close-up of a couple holding hands on the beach, wearing casual summer attire.
Detailed shot of hands displaying an engagement ring with a solitaire diamond setting.
A couple shares an intimate moment on a clifftop overlooking the ocean at dusk.
People enjoying leisure time on a beach with driftwood and coastal scenery in the background.

The day began at a family friend's home overlooking the small town of Palmerston. The air was filled with excitement and anticipation as I joined Hannah, her mother, and her closest friends. Hannah was radiant, her joy and excitement evident. Adding to the specialness of the day, Hannah wore her mother's wedding dress, which suited her perfectly and added a touch of sentimental elegance to the occasion. 

Wedding rings nestled in the center of a bright yellow sunflower bloom.
Silver watch displayed with dried pampas grass and antlers in natural lighting.
Classic silver wristwatch with white dial displayed against antlers and foliage.
A makeup artist applying cosmetics during wedding preparations in a sunlit room.
Close-up of hands adjusting jewelry during wedding preparations.
Helpers assisting with the back of a white wedding dress.
Wedding preparation scene showing dress adjustments and final touches.
A woman in a white wedding dress poses beside a window with natural lighting.
Bride in elegant white gown with long train standing by window.
Wedding party walking along hillside path with scenic valley view.
A bridal party poses against a scenic hillside backdrop with mountains in the distance.
A group embraces in a joyful moment during a wedding on a grassy hilltop.
Four people stand outside a historic brick church building with leaded glass windows.

I then made my way down to St. James Church in Palmerston, where Sam and his groomsmen waited patiently for Hannah's arrival. With its timeless charm, the church was the ideal backdrop for their heartfelt ceremony. As Hannah walked down the aisle, the love and admiration in Sam's eyes were unmistakable. The ceremony was a beautiful testament to their love story.


Interior of a small church with wooden pews decorated with floral arrangements and a blue carpet aisle.
Church sanctuary with exposed wooden beams and pews decorated for a wedding ceremony.
White church interior featuring a wooden cross and stained glass window on the altar wall.
Church pew decorated with greenery and white ribbon along a blue carpeted aisle.
A small group gathers outside a stone church building in casual and formal attire.
Gothic revival stone church with a tall spire and arched windows against a bright blue sky.
Small group gathered outside a historic brick church building with stained glass windows.
Wedding guests chatting in front of a stone church building on a sunny day.
Scenic mountain road with parked cars and distant hills on a clear day.
Classic vintage car driving on a hillside road with mountain views.
Vintage silver Chrysler sedan parked on a hilltop road with mountains in background.
Person in pink dress preparing to enter classic white vintage car.
Passenger seated in vintage white wedding car with retro window louvers.
Black and white photo of passenger in wedding dress inside classic car.
Wedding party helping with white dress near vintage car door.

Hannah and Sam took time to greet their family and friends, sharing hugs, smiles, and joyous conversations. The love and support from their loved ones that came from far and near added a special warmth to the day, creating a sense of togetherness that was truly heartwarming. 


Couple poses with classic white car on sunny wedding day.
Classic white vintage limousine parked in front of stone church for wedding photography.
Elegant wedding scene with vintage white car against stone church architecture.
Beautiful wedding attire with flowing white dress and colorful bouquet beside vintage car.
Joyful wedding moment captured beside vintage white car at stone church.

The most exciting part of the day was undoubtedly the bridal party photoshoot. We headed to Hannah's family farm, a place she often spoke of with great fondness. Hopping into the work trucks, we made our way up into the hills. The adventure of climbing the hills was exhilarating, with breathtaking views at every turn. Hannah's deep love for her family farm was evident, and it made the experience even more special.


Wedding party celebrates on a rocky mountaintop with sweeping views of green valleys below.
Double exposure wedding photo showing silhouette against mountain landscape with wedding party.
Wedding party stands in formation against rolling green hills and mountains on a sunny day.
A wedding party poses with a vintage blue car on a scenic hilltop with green grass and blue skies.
Wedding party gathered on a rocky mountain peak overlooking a vast valley landscape.
Wedding group poses on rocky outcrop with dramatic valley views and mountains in background.
Bridal party stands on mountain peak overlooking scenic green valley on clear day.
Wedding celebration on mountain summit with panoramic views of rolling hills and valleys.
Black and white photo of wedding party celebrating on mountain peak with scenic backdrop.
Joyful wedding party poses with raised arms on mountain summit overlooking vast landscape.
Wedding party poses on rocky mountain ridge with golden hills in background.
Aerial view of wedding party lying in rustic mountain grass wearing red and white attire.
Black and white photo of wedding party resting in mountain grass near parked truck.
Wedding party arranged on hillside with pickup truck and mountains in background.
Wedding party in formal attire poses on rocky mountain outcrop.
Group poses in white shirts and suspenders against mountainous landscape.
Small wedding gathering on rocky mountain peak with distant valley views.
Wedding group stands on mountain summit with scenic valley backdrop.
Wedding party gathered for picnic near red truck in mountain setting.
Wedding couple sitting on grassy hillside looking through binoculars together.
View from inside a car driving through mountainous terrain with dashboard and steering wheel visible.

As we reached the top, the panoramic views were simply stunning. The hills, the sky, and the natural beauty of the farm provided a magnificent backdrop for the photos and a quick picnic. It was a heart-thumping experience, especially for me, as I captured the joy and love of the newlyweds and their bridal party against this awe-inspiring scenery and held on for dear life as we adventured up into the hills.


Newlyweds stand together on a rocky mountain peak overlooking a vast valley landscape.

Afterwards, we headed to the sports hall to enjoy the reception festivities.

Tiered display of donuts decorated with pink flowers for a wedding dessert table.
White balloon arch and curtain backdrop setup against wooden paneled walls for wedding reception.
Wedding reception head table decorated with pampas grass and antler decor in rustic wooden venue.
Wedding couple performs playful dip dance move in front of reception head table.

Golden hour was incredible, and we wandered down to my family's home to capture beautiful portraits of the happy couple, even the calves had fun being part of the excitement.

Silhouetted couple embracing at sunset among tall pine trees.
Silhouette of tall pine trees against sunset sky with rustic farm buildings in pastoral countryside setting.
A romantic couple in wedding attire share an intimate moment at sunset beneath towering pine trees.
Couple embraces in golden sunlight while surrounded by majestic pine trees on their wedding day.
Wedding couple walks through rural field at sunset with rustic barn buildings in background.
Newlyweds stroll hand in hand through grassy meadow during golden hour near farm buildings.
A couple in wedding attire and plaid shirt stand together in sunlit field with cattle grazing.
Wedding couple walks through rustic farm setting during golden hour sunset.
Couple dances playfully in grassy field during sunset with pine trees silhouetted in background.
Couple shares romantic moment in sunlit field with pine trees silhouetted against dusk sky.
Wedding couple walks through pastoral field during sunset with rustic farm buildings in distance.
Couple sitting together in golden field at sunset with warm backlighting.
Wedding couple sharing intimate moment while seated in sunlit meadow at dusk.
Newlyweds walking together on hillside with white dress flowing in evening light.
Wedding couple silhouetted against sunset sky on grassy hilltop with pine trees.
Dancing couple in formal attire twirl on hilltop during golden hour.

The day ended wonderfully as Hannah and Sam headed off to Cromwell before soaking in their honeymoon in Fiji. 


Congratulations, Hannah and Sam! Thank you for allowing me to capture your beautiful love story.