Both our stunning New Zealand bride and groom had such a bright and fun energy and were down for any shenanigans needed to make this wedding AND wedding photoshoots perfect.

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“Oh yeah, I don’t mind dragging this dress through the mud—I’m gonna chop off the bottom to make it a cocktail dress after anyway,” Laura joked. Good on ya, Laura, good on ya… cuz we’re totally the types to do a “trash the dress” shoot at the end of the evening! (Hey, it’s the photos that make the memories, right?)

Even though Auckland’s summer has had a bit of a long(ish) rainy start, we (that’s including the whole bridal party!) anxiously held on to our hopes about the potential of an outdoor ceremony.

Tania and Greg, our amazing Deer Valley Auckland wedding venue hosts, helped keep every step of the wedding moving smoothly and flexibly. We were lucky—though the forecast said different things (doesn’t it always?), the afternoon managed to stay dry and clear for an amazingly touching ceremony. From a Māori pūtātara calling, to a placing of the Korowai, Laura and Ngā had a wedding ceremony that had it all.

Post ceremony, Laura and Ngā had an absolutely divine cocktail hour setup filled with amazing wedding decor, wedding games, and so much more! (Probably some of the most competitive wedding jenga I’ve seen—the whole party gathered to spectate!!). Oh, and I do have to say, Laura and Ngā might have one of the most fabulous bridal parties yet.. I mean, a brides(man) dropping down into a full split is a first for me!

The couple shoot continued with some tender moments in Deer Valley’s overhanging interior and a VERY sassy game of Connect-4—Laura’s favorite game, so we’re told :O Can we say the competition runs in the family now?

While waiting on the ever-changing rain filtering in and out, we DID manage to sneak out for a quick pre-evening shoot with the beautiful Deer Valley namesake deer.. Greg (on his tractor!) pulled them down for the nightly feeding and our couple braved the to get those in-the-moment nature snapshots <3

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Behind the scenes of shooting this lovely wedding at Deer Valley.. and us having Laura and Nga run around in the rain with the deer!!

Once we were all done playing in the rain with the deer (so proud of Laura for having walkable rainy-day shoes), it was time for a lovely, lovely emotional reception full of tears and toasts. Songs were sung, and Ngā even received a haka that thundered through the marquee. Then.. it was time for the first dance and then PARTY TIME!