Coast Meets Country

I’m letting the pictures do most of the talking for this delicious Hawke’s Bay wedding at Hygge Cafe at Clifton Bay. Enjoy!

So they could crack straight into partying with friends and family, bride and groom Lee-Ann and Jay shared an intimate First Look a couple of hours before their wedding at Hygge. I love shooting weddings this way. I set up the moment so it’s quiet, beautiful and shot from a distance so instead of trying to take in 100 guests and deal with the emotions of walking down the aisle, the couple get to focus exclusively on each other and share a few hours of what I like to call ‘wedding foreplay’ before the big event. It also gives us the flexibility to shoot photos pretty much anywhere we like in Hawke’s Bay without time pressures.

The Te Mata Peak lookout on Tukituki Road isn’t an easy place to get to during a busy wedding day, but it was only a short drive from our First Look location and gave me the chance to do what I love to do best at Hawke’s Bay weddings…and that’s capture the region’s epic landscape with a love story right at the heart of it. Bright midday sun isn’t ideal but I shot this series wide and saved more intimate closeups for shady spots and sunset.

Just as the sun started sliding down a bit lower towards the hills of Te Awanga, Lee-Ann walked down the aisle at Hygge to share her vows with Lee, in a ceremony that was emotional and full of laughter in equal measure.

My favourite part of shooting this wedding was a 10 minute burst we had beside the Hygge with Lee-Ann and Jay’s children and the bridal party. Candid, unposed and full of the connection cuddles I love capturing as a Hawke’s Bay wedding and family photographer, the sun was finally in my happy place behind everyone and the bleached tones of summer made the classic B&W colour scheme really pop.

The best part about Hygge Clifton Bay is that one minute you can be shooting with the Pacific Ocean and dramatic cliffs of Cape Kidnappers and the next you can spin around and shoot the sunset feeling like you’re in the middle of the countryside….all within a stone’s throw of the venue.

The Dream Team:

Venue: Hygge Clifton Bay

Bride’s gown: Astra Bridal, Hamilton

Bridesmaids: Blak Bridesmaids

Suits: Rembrandt Menswear