I met with John and Sarah a couple of weeks before their big day to go over the plans for their photos. The original plan for the wedding service was to have it at the Trig Station on the farm but due to the changable weather Hawke’s Bay had been having Sarah had got cold feet and opted for the ’safe’ option and booked the Iona Chapel. So, when I got to their house this particular day John was a little unhappy (so-to-speak) about the aformentioned decision – he told me that he was quite happy to marry Sarah in wet weather gear, he didn’t expect all the guests to head up to the Trig if it was raining, and he could even rustle up a spare set of wet weather gear for the celebrant, but for whatever reason Sarah wasn’t keen (girls – go figure!). So as Sarah and John explained the way the day would pan out and where they wanted their photos (weather permitting) I was getting a clear picture – casual, relaxed images taken at the Trig Station (with or without the wedding party in them) and a few more down on the farm.
John and Sarah married on 10 April 2010 at the Iona Chapel. Daylight savings had arrived the weekend before and everyone was still reveling in the last of the summer warmth. The ceremony was at 3pm and I’d been with Sarah and her ladies since 1pm. Everyone was a little anxious but with the hair and make-up done and the dresses on, the day was starting to feel a little more real. Sarah, Kate, Robyn and I headed around the corner to a little oasis on the peripheral of Hastings for a few photos with Sarah’s parents and attendents before heading into Havelock North. By the time we arrived, almost on the dot of 3pm the guest were all seated and John was waiting eagerly at the alter. It was a short ceremony that ran without a hitch. The smile on Sarah’s face as she left the chapel was evidence enough of a perfect day.
We raced through the family and group photos so we could get to the Trig Station before the light began to fade. The bridal party and I left the guests to make their way out to the reception while we raced out to the farm and exchanged the wedding vehicles for two 4WD’s that would take us to the top of the world. The view from the Trig Station is just breath taking! You can see all the way out to Bear Island and along the sandy beaches of Ocean and Waimarama and back toward Napier and along the Marine Parade through to Westshore and along to Bayview and Whirinaki. When we got there and the bridal party piled out of the vehicles you could hear the exhalation of breath from everyone – the ceremony was over and they could all relax! We spent a bit of time at the Trig Station and enjoyed the view before heading back down to the reception. John wanted a few shots with a rusty old lorry that he’d fallen in love with over the years and then back down to the homestead for a few family photos with Mace, their beloved black lab.
It was an amazing day and the bridal party was buzzing – these were people who truely knew how to enjoy themsleves!
