Henry & Helen - Mana Lodge wedding photography, Hawke's Bay

How to Get The Girl rule no. 1: when a pretty lady asks you to dance, turn her down. That trick worked like a charm for Henry, who swiftly followed up with rule no. 2: corner her on her way home and ask her out to dinner.The rest is history for Mr. & Mrs. Pennington, although it sure is a history worth telling. Knowing that Helen's heart was firmly anchored at Kairakau beach where she grew up, he made sure it was there that he proposed, on the steps leading down to the beach right in front of her beloved Granny's house. "Henry knew how much Kairakau meant to me. He said to his family 'you don't understand Helen until you see where she grew up' and so the fact that he now feels the same and would move there tomorrow made me know I was marrying the man for me," says Helen. That's why howling gales and steep hillsides weren't going to keep us from shooting their wedding photos there, as well as at their beautiful reception venue, Mana Lodge in Central Hawke's Bay. It was also the reason I was lucky enough to be involved in this beautiful day. "You were so easy to work with and we knew how incredible your pictures were that when we got engaged it was a no brainier, the first thing we wanted to do was book you in! I was so relieved that you were free on that day! From the sneak peek we have had we have been blown away!!" As you can see from the photos we shot at her Happy Place...being blown away is something the new Mrs Pennington does with complete and utter style.

The Dream Team: Photographer: Eva Bradley, Second Shooter: Andrew Caldwell, Dress: Helen Rodrigues (Sydney), Hair: Abbey Schofield, Makeup: Suzanne Hardy, Flowers: Lushka, Cake: MJs Cakes.

Eva Bradley is a Hawkes Bay wedding photographer. CLICK HERE to see more of her recent work.