Rotorua Government Gardens - Blue Baths {Auckland wedding photographer}

Jo & Regan get married in Rotorua {NZ} Government Gardens - Blue Baths at the Gazebo, such a beautiful location. It was a honour for me to drive from Auckland to be their wedding photographer and capture so many wonderful moments, full of love and laugher!

I met couple before for their engagement session in Auckland Botanic Gardens, so meeting them again on the wedding day was like seeing an old friends! Day went just magical, and so perfect! Dancing took a special part of the day, guests been dancing away right after 7 pm {i never saw such incredible movement with so many people dancing together Macarena, Bruno Mars and so many other songs including a Baby Shark} :)

Couple shared their love story: “We met online (find someone) in June 2014. Our first date was at the Hamilton Lake, Regan bought us coffee and we sat and talked for hours. It was perfect.” Proposal: “At the top of a turret at Warwick Castle, England. He had incorporated our close friend to take photos. It was amazing.” So beautiful memories!

Great Creative Team:

Dress - Astra Bridal Bridesmaids dresses - mix bridal Suits - Hallensteins Flowers - Flaxation Bridesmaid necklaces - stone arrow Make up - Haley Mana Hair - Mel Freeman Hair and Styling Celebrant - Pastor John Ferris MC - Uwe Mana DJ - Pulse DJ’s

and New Zealand wedding photographers - L & L {Levien & Lens photography}

Enjoy this celebration highlights!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}

First Look - Bride and Groom pre-ceremony photo session {Auckland NZ wedding photographer}

You know a lot of couples prefer to not spend much time away from the guests between ceremony and reception as they want to have a quality time with friends and family. First Look is a great solution for have pre-ceremony photo session right after getting ready moments and save the time in between of important for newly weds events. As an Auckland wedding photographer I captured a lot of traditional weddings when bride and groom prefer to see each other at the ceremony site when bride walking down the aisle and groom waiting to meet her. I understand this special tradition and meaning behind it.

But if you not mind to see each other before the ceremony First Look can be a great option for make your timeline special and flawless. You still get those special emotions as groom will be waiting for you turning back to you {he usually wait for quit a long time, so all emotions became really intense and ready to explored with happy laugh or tears at moment when bride gently touch groom's shoulder or close his eyes, or maybe even give a little kiss - whatever feels more natural to your couple}.

Its amazing moments to captured, so much mystery, intrigue, waiting moments, expectations and then happy positive emotions with smiles and tears in the eyes. Im as photographer and romantic person in love in this tradition {so popular in USA, Canada and Europe}.

Right after the first look we can do a family shots (if they are around}, bridal party and bride and groom intimate session and then with no pressure move to ceremony and reception. 

Some couples also considering to do first look and intimate session between ceremony and reception as they want to do pictures in different location and change atmosphere. Its still save the time between ceremony and reception. 

Usually bride and groom session can take between one and two hours {depends on location), so sometimes guests waiting for couple been back to reception after few hours {including family formals and bridal party shoot}; with first look option with time go down to 30 min - 1 hours {depends on amount of extra images required by couple}.

So as we mentioned first look worth to consider if you want to:

1. save the time between ceremony and reception;

2. not make guests wait for a long time; 

3. get interesting experience with non-traditional wedding timeline;

4. make the best out of such emotional moments along with bride and groom {and their close family, without all ceremony guests}

5. get all intimate photos done before the ceremony and move it out of the way.

Consider:

1. First look not suit traditional couples who prefer to see each other on the ceremony site.

2. Sometimes time before the ceremony not best for pictures as light not so soft as at late afternoon {but if its scheduled at morning you can still get beautiful photographs; and also good photographer can take pictures even at noon bright sunny weather}.

3. you can always entertain the guest with  games on the grass, cocktail hour, snacks and positive things. Most of the time they are enjoying each others compony and happily laughing {if you have a second photographer on site he can capture these happy moments what you are missing being on location bride & groom photo session}.

4. obviously first look will be an intimate moment so all guests can't see bride's and groom's first reaction when they seen each other after getting ready.

So its your call what traditions closer to your couple and what can perfectly fit in your wedding day timeline. Its great to know all options and consider some other ways of wedding planning!

For photographers I would suggest to have a second shooter / assistant who can capture the moments from different angles and with different focal length for give a gallery variety. {thank you Matt and Fengjin for assistance on Langham Hotel wedding!}

Also note: you can make a similar idea first look with bride's dad. Its unforgettable memories!

Less words more images! Have a look at firsts look from our recent wedding in Langham Hotel with Basma and Mohamad. Such amazing and emotional moments! Love is all around :)

Enjoy it and contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}

Langham Hotel Wedding {Auckland-NZ weddings photographers} Basma and Mohammad

What amazing day in Langham hotel {Auckland, NZ} celebrating Basma & Mohammad's wedding with their families and friends. It was truly special event! {need to say I never before captured any weddings all day long in the hotel environment, truly interesting experience for photographers :)}.

There was so much positive emotions, love, fun and beautiful atmosphere around. Hotel stuff and all wedding vendors worked together for create a stunning weddings atmosphere with bride and groom getting ready, first look at Great Room, family formals, bridal party shoot around and couples intimate session around the hotel and outside {Grey room, lobby etc.} - so many beautiful places. The evening take over with beautiful reception {amazingly decorated tables and stage with chandeliers), hand made chocolate items on each plate, flowers around and much more. Enter the reception, traditional dances, speeches, bride and groom first dance, father and daughter dance, cake cutting, and guests dancing away, so much fun with awesome people around!  

Couples Love story started about 3 years ago at a mutual friends graduation. Funny enough they had mutual friend during 10 years but never seen each other before! There might be a special time for it :)

The Proposal was really romantic:

Basma: "Mohammad surprised me with a beautiful dinner at one of my favourite restaurants, then took me home and there was a path of candles from the door leading into a heart outside in the courtyard. It was sunset and everything was perfect. Then once he got down on one knee and I said yes, the whole family appeared and we celebrated".

Their wedding was just amazing!

Great creative team:

Dress: Sottero and Midgley from Astra Bridal; Suit: Munns; Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Makeup: Sam Hart; Hair: Amelia Motuliki
Flowers: Fadia at Flowerpak - Flower Factory; Cake: Sweet Bites Cakes; 
DJ: DJ BAGHDADY. Light - La Lumiere. Event coordinator in Langham - Anna.
and Auckland-NZ wedding photographers - Levien & Lens Photography {thank you Matt and Fengjin for assistance! You done a great job :)}

Enjoy this gallery!

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}