Coast meets country - Birdy & Jono at Ocean Beach

Hawke's Bay's Ocean Beach is a special place filled with memories for so many of us from this part of New Zealand. But for Birdy Hansen, this long stretch of coastline has a history so deeply connected to her family, it was impossible to imagine her wedding to Jono happening anywhere else. Michelle Fey and Rebekah Trafford illustrated her day with their images, and Birdy has relived the special moments here on our blog in her own words. As always, we feel so honoured that our couples generously let us share with the biggest, most personal day of their lives.

KATY + ANDREW - ESKDALE COUNTRY WEDDING

London locals, Katy and Andrew really wanted a proper Kiwi home-coming for their wedding, and so the lovely little locations of Eskdale and Bay View (where Katy grew up) set the scene for a gloriously simple and beautiful Hawke's Bay country wedding.

BEN + RUTH - COUNTRY WEDDING

Ben and Ruth are a chilled out Kiwi couple who believe in keeping it real. They wanted a wedding that reflected that, with a focus on friends, family and the things that matter rather than the complicated trimmings. A country wedding at the chocolate-box-cute church down the road from Ruth's parents' home was followed by a reception at the local hall of small Hawke's Bay settlement, Maraekakaho.

Getting hitched outside the box - Black Barn Market wedding

There's a wish-list most couples have when it comes to the perfect wedding. But dreams are sometimes hard to transform to reality, so I was absolutely stoked with the way Sam and Gareth's Black Barn Market wedding finally came together.

Matt & Jenna - Engaged. Te Mata Peak in the Golden Hour, by Eva Bradley.

Anyone planning a wedding knows they can be complicated. That's why we adore engagement sessions. They are, quite simply, about two people in love. There's no dress to fuss over, no bridal party looking on, no timelines to stick to beyond those set by Mother Nature and there aren't 100 people waiting for us to hurry up and be creative so the party can get started.

Pete & Emma - Craggy Range Winery, Hawke's Bay

We all know weddings are about love, commitment and happy every after. But one thing that became pretty clear as Emma and Pete's day went on is that it was also about having the most fun day of their lives, bar none. Happiness is one of the most intoxicating drugs, and by the time these two were spinning on the dance floor at Craggy Range Winery, my entire face was hurting from smiling so much.

Weddings by EvaEva Bradley28 December 2015Craggy Range, Hawkes Bay weddings, Weddings by Eva

Brett & Shelley - Mana Lodge, Hawke's Bay

There is something special about working with a couple who are high school sweethearts. A friendship and natural intimacy that has come from formative years spent walking along life's path together.

Chris & Melissa - Greenhill Lodge, Hawkes Bay

For a Hawkes Bay wedding photographer, the first country wedding of summer is an aphrodisiac a little like falling in love. Pair me and my lens with historic Greenhill Lodge with its jaw-dropping backdrop of rolling hills and it is hard to imagine a more perfect match

Emma & Matthew - The Mission Estate, Napier

Emma & Matthew embraced the low-light loveliness of autumn for their wedding at The Mission Estate Winery in Taradale, Hawkes Bay. It is one of those beautiful New Zealand winery wedding venues that offers glorious photography opportunities all in one place.

Tane & Sarah - Church Road Winery, Napier

The only thing better on a wedding day than the romantic low-lit spaces inside Church Road Winery is a splash of blue sky over the bright green vines in the hills above this Hawkes Bay wedding venue.

Tanya & Mal - Te Awa Winery wedding by Eva Bradley

When is it sexy for a Kiwi bloke to cry? When he sees his future wife walk around the corner in a sunlit garden, on the arm of her father and about to say 'I do'. Tanya and Mal showed me and their guests what love is supposed to be at their Te Awa wedding on a bright spring afternoon. And I didn't even have to resort to my usual stack of questionable jokes to get the crew laughing during our wedding party shoot.

Eva Bradley22 May 2014Hawkes Bay weddings, Robertson, Te Awa, weddings, Weddings by Eva

Rob & Caro - The Old Church

A truly autumnal wedding filled with low light, deep colours, and two people in love...and laughter. Rob and Caroline Herbert were married at The Old Church in Meeanee, Hawkes Bay.

Jeremy & Rose - Hawke's Bay Opera House & Terrace Views

Love is a little like a maze...sometimes you take a few wrong turns to find the right path. Long-term soul mates Rose and Jeremy Jones are one of those lucky couples who went right past all the dead-ends to lucky-in-love right from the start.

Ian & Sophie - Wedding at The Old Church, Meeanee. By Eva Bradley

Weddings are a serious business. Yeah right. In reality, the best weddings are full of laughter, and the bride and groom just can't stop grinning because they're so damned happy. That pretty much summed up the vibe and the look for Mr. & Mrs. Honeyfield when they tied the knot at one of Hawkes Bays most lovely wedding venues, The Old Church in Meeanee, near Napier

Eva Bradley4 April 2014Hawkes Bay weddings, Honeyfield, The Old Church, weddings, Weddings by Eva

Matt & Rhianan - Church Road Winery wedding by Eva Bradley

While the rest of New Zealand was in a fizz about the imminent arrival of Cyclone Lusi, this Hawkes Bay wedding photographer was feeling pretty relaxed. For a start...we just don't do cyclones in this part of the world. Added to that, we had one of the most glorious wet weather wedding venues up our sleeve. Church Road winery in Taradale

Eva Bradley20 March 2014Church Road, Church Road Winery, Hawkes Bay weddings, Rieper, weddings, Weddings by Eva

REAL NEW ZEALAND WEDDINGS

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