We are bringing back an edit of our top-performing real weddings from the TJ archives. These are our very best weddings that our audience has loved the most, and the ones we think are still very relevant and aspirational.
My good friend is married to Aimee’s cousin and organised a barbecue double date in a cunning attempt to set us up. Aimee didn’t realise what was at play until I texted her later that evening to ask her out for dinner.
Six weeks later, we had our dinner date — it’s safe to say it was a pretty good fish and chips. We are usually the ones behind the camera, shooting weddings and elopements, and we feel very fortunate to do that as a full-time job.
My favourite hobby is surfing and surf photography, Aimee loves exploring the Sunday markets and we both adore the ocean, which is why we live on Auckland’s West Coast. Aimee’s second love is New York, and she was in the States visiting friends when I surprised her by buying a ticket there. We headed upstate into the woods, exploring small towns and meeting amazing locals along the way.
On the day we rented tyre tubes to drift down the Delaware River, I popped the question. There was no dropping the knee, just the two of us cruising in the sun with a few beers, watching the world go by along the banks of the Delaware.
The last 18 months of our lives have been the craziest. We designed and built our first home, then decided to host our reception on the property, although it wasn’t finished. We were still painting and planting the week before the wedding! We were also running our photography business during its busiest time. It was a huge hurdle in our relationship, but we came out the other side laughing, and it was so special to host the reception on our front lawn. Or what little lawn we had at the time.
Aimee’s cousin spent hours designing our signage and we made our trestle tables from trees milled from Aimee’s family farm up North. We were already inseparable after three months of dating, so married life doesn’t feel too different, although we’re now ready to add a puppy and a piglet to our family so it must be serious.
Photography: Jessica Sim | Bride’s Dress: Harriet gown and Mason top by Grace Loves Lace | Groom’s Suit: Hallensteins Brothers | Ceremony location: Parihoa Farm, Muriwai | Videography: Lato Photography |Hair: Amelia Rush | Makeup: Natalie Dent | Celebrant: Lana Searle | Cocktail hour guitarist: Lee Gray | Groom’s bow tie: The Two Guys Bow Tie | Beverages: Boutique Bar | Band: Winsome Lost | Styling: Two Foxes | Teepees: Topkata | Groomsmen’s bow ties: Mrs Bow Tie | Reception venue: Hog Hill Barn | Gift registry: The Lovely | Seating & Braziers: Arkade | Cakes: Adele at Catroux
