Castaways wedding: Robert and Pei {Auckland couples - family photographer}

Castaways is a perfect location for a wedding! Thats what Robert and Pei chose for their celebration with close friends: ceremony on top of a stunning hill above the beach and reception in a restaurant with amazing views, one of the best in Auckland! Its such a pleasure to see couples and their family and capture all important moments for years to come, to be their wedding photographer!

We met with this beautiful people on their engagement session {check out their pre-wedding photo shoot highlights in our Blog!}.

Couple shared their story: “We met at work and bonded over several on call shifts together, team dinners/events and mutual friends/colleagues hangs. We eventually really got to spend some quality time together at a close mutual friend's birthday party and really bonded over our shared culture, interests, faith and upbringing. It just felt so organic and simple from the get go and we really hit it off from there. We would have been together just over 2 years by the time of our wedding.” The proposal: “I had very elaborate plans I was contemplating but the ring I bought was made available to me much much earlier than anticipated and I just couldn't wait to start our lives together and I knew we both felt ready for it. We have a joint day off on Waitangi day and the weather was great, Pei planned a day of hiking, beaches and cafes and I figured this would be the best way to catch her by surprise. We eventually spent the afternoon lying on the sand at Castor Bay in a secluded part of the beach and I knew this was the place. There were some minor highjinks but we got there in the end”. :)

Great creative team: Wedding Dress: bought second-hand from Stillwhite by Maggie Sottero Wedding dress alterations: Shirley at I Sew 4 U Bride's shoes: Merchant Bride's make-up: Face by Chelsea Bride's hair: Yu Yu Celebrant: Pastor Michael Huffman MC: Patrick Cho and Auckland best wedding photographers - L & L {Levien & Lens photography}

Enjoy highlights of this perfect day at Castaways Resort {Waiuku, South Auckland}:

Castaways Resort beautiful wedding {Auckland weddings photographers}

Im so excited to share with you Kelly & Lik’s Castaways Resort beautiful wedding, such a beautiful Auckland venue located right next to Kariotahi beach with stunning views, maybe best in Auckland. Such a honour to be chosen to capture these weddings moments as couples photographers.

This beautiful celebration begin from first look on the top of the hill, ceremony inside {wind was extremely strong, which not stand on the way of beautiful celebration}, but helped to create some stunning photos at couple intimate session on the beach where we sneak out at reception.

Enjoy highlights of this gallery - Castaways Resort. Great creative team: Celebrant = Nicky Taylor

Makeup and Hair = Ruth Baron and L & L - Olga Levien, Auckland wedding photographers.

Wedding Photographer Society Awards - September'17 {New Zealand weddings photographers}

Excited to share with you exciting news - photograph from Jenny & Andrew wedding in Castaways where we honored to be a wedding photographer just won a Wedding Photographers Society Award - September'17. Its a pleasure to be in company of such a talented photographers from all around the world.

Thank you so much our amazing couples for sharing with us such a special moments, we appreciate the opportunity to spend time with such awesome brides and grooms and their close friends and families in gorgeous places around New Zealand and beyond.

Looking forward to wedding season 2017-2018, starting rolling this Saturday with the first wedding in Waitakere. We are so excited to capture the first wedding of the season!

Look forward to chatting soon with all our clients/friends shortly and capturing such amazing moments as this awarded one:

Jenny & Andrew {Castaways, Auckland} - Wedding Photographer Society Award

Jenny & Andrew {Castaways, Auckland} - Wedding Photographer Society Award

Contact me with any questions!

x Olga & Matt

Castaways Resort {Auckland wedding photographers} Jenny and Andrew

Jenny & Andrew

I'm so excited to share with you highlights of my last wedding of this summer season in New Zealand - Jenny & Andrew get married in Castaways resort {Auckland, NZ} surrounded by their close friends and families. It was amazing outdoor wedding {as its get close to winter season we had such a cold wind on the top of the hills and freezing weather, but its not stand of the way of this beautiful couple celebrating their special day with their guests}. Couple contacted me looking for their wedding photogpraher just few months ago, I just love these sort of short notice weddings! I been happy to provide them a custom wedding photography coverage. 

It was great to meet all their friends and families {some come from all around the world, including China}.

Couple's romantic story: "On May 4th 2017 we will have been together for 3 years.. We met at a party through a mutual friend who has a habit of setting people up without them knowing! Andrew took me out for an ice cream at the Auckland Domain where, as Andrew's good fortune would have it, we happened upon a jazz band that was playing. We then went out on a hike in the Waitakere and watched the sunset."

How was made a proposal: "Andrew took me on a surprise long weekend holiday to Paihia and Russell - it was a warm November Guy Fawkes evening and he proposed under the stars on the balcony where we could see the fireworks across the harbour in Russell. He admitted later he was supposed to propose when we hiked up the Pinnacles in the Coromandel a few weeks earlier - but his plans got rained on - literally!" Such a romantic story!

Great was to have an amazing day in Castaways! Enjoy this video highlights and gallery with my favourite photographs!

bride standing on balcony {Castaways - Auckland wedding photographers}
bride getting ready {Castaways - Auckland wedding photographers}

Great creative team:

Cake - Isabelle Edmonds
Band - Twistin’ The Swing 
Make-up - blush baby (Nicola May)
Rings - Andrew's is made from Dinosaur bone, meteorite and titanium
Bouquets and boutineers - made by JJ Luo
Dress - tailored by Christine Taylor
Celebrant - Cameron Stuart
Suits - Hallenstein Brothers
Castaways Resort staff were amazing - especially Kim and Kyle {notes from the bride :)}
and Levien & Lens Photography - New Zealand and destination wedding photographer

Let me know if you have any questions!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}

New international publication in German magazine Hochzeitsplaza {New Zealand wedding photographer}

Im so thrilled to receive news about new publication of Juliette and John's wedding in German magazine - Hochzeitsplaza. Its really exciting to see thIS beautiful gallery published in overseas publication. Its a first time when I see my wedding story right up in German language, really interesting experience {lucky we have Google translate :) }.

Im appreciate Juliette and John shared with me so special for them moments. This wedding in Castaways resort was unforgettable, full of romantic and fun atmosphere. I enjoyed every single moment and been amazed by our results - so stunning and emotional photographs!

Double pleasure one of our pictures won an NZIPP Iris Awards in Wedding Classic category! Its so special.

Enjoy this publication - "Juliette und John's idyllische Hochzeit in Neuseelandand" and contact me with any questions!

Kariotahi Beach wedding feature Be Minked {Auckland couples-engagement photographer}

Its such a great pleasure to see my photographs published by Be Minked, international wedding magazine. This beautiful wedding in Castaways, Kariotahi beach {Auckland} was so memorable with full of fun and positive emotions atmosphere.

Juliette & Jonny such a stunning couple, their photographs deserves to be featured and goes live around the world!

Thank you so much! Happy future together!

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}

Castaways Resort - Kariotahi beach wedding {Auckland lifestyle couples-engagement photographer} Juliette and John

What a beautiful wedding in Castaways Resort (Kariotahi beach, Auckland) I been captured with Juliette & Jonny; just amazing couple and meant to be with each other. I been shooting their engagement party in April last year; what a warm and cosy atmosphere it was. I been really thrilled to be invited to capture their special wedding day!

It's even more meaningful for me because Juliette is my very first friend that I met in New Zealand in my first year when I joined ice skating coffee club (I been doing figure skating for 5 years back in Russia :). She is a presenter at Radio New Zealand concert. We both love ice skating, dance and more :) it was a big honour to capture these beautiful moments for this stunning couple.

Juliette & Jonny met each other on tropical island on holidays few years ago and thought they never met again, but it was destiny :) Jonny moved to Auckland and started to work just few buildings over from Juliette's office and they met each other again and together forever from this point :) They have amazing story of relationship (there even been a moment when Juliette drove to rescue him in Northland where he was diving, luckily all finished good, but it was really strong check of their relationship). This couple meant to be with each other!

Creative team what made this wedding so special:

Dress: Parkland Bridal & Shirley from I Sew 4 U- Dressmaking & Alterations
Makeup: Catherine Campbell Make Up
Hair: Sam Graham from Framed Hair & Beauty
Shoes: Trousseau - bridal & evening shoes
Cake: Isabelle Edmonds
Flowers: Rosemary McNoe
Band: Twistin’ The Swing
and Levien & Lens Photography ;)

Day started from getting ready moments in nice Castaways chalet with amazing views to the ocean, what a great place to be! It was emotional moments with first look with Juliette's dad and time with all her close family and 3 bridesmaids (one of them Rosemary is Juliette's sister, she also made gorgeous flowers bouquets for bridal party: need to mentioned other sister Catherine created make-up for her, what great family support!). Juliette's veil is very special and kept in family for a few generations, what a beautiful tradition!

Then we moved towards St Anthony's Catholic Church in Waiuku, Auckland where wedding ceremony was held. It's such a beautiful place with nice Christmas display and warm atmosphere. Music and amazing, singing made this ceremony special as well. Scotland national music finalist at the wedding with couple walking down the aisle as husband and wife! 

We not missed the family formals after the ceremony, it was a big fun with so many relatives from both sides and also little ones - nieces and nephews (8 kids in total!).

Then became time to have rest and relax on the top of beautiful hills near Kariotahi beach, where we made bridal party shots and intimate session for bride and groom. Amazing views, beautiful landscapes and couple's emotions and connection made this location shoot really special. I love to give my couple time to be themselves and get a peaceful moment in between of this hectic day :)

Reception been held in Castaways Resort Restaurant on the top of the hill with stunning views, where we get a chance to sneak to a few shots before the sunset in between of speeches, cake cutting and first dance.

What beautiful memories!

Congratulations Juliette & Jonny! Happy future together!

Enjoy this video and gallery!

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}