Emma & Calvin Morgan

14.01.23

Wai Rua Escapes, Whangarei, Northland, New Zealand

A train driver and a nurse walk into a bar… no seriously though… these two are. no. joke! Their love, AND their wedding day is something out of a fairy tale! And little ol’ me was privileged enough to join them and their families on one of the best days of their life, and I am going to be super bold, as say that I left as a friend, not a photographer. <3

The day started at Emma & Calvin’s home in Whangarei with the girls getting ready along with Emma’s mum Nikki. <3 They have a beautiful flower and vege garden out the back that was just beautiful for photographing the details.

Making my way over to the stunning local gem, Wai Rua Escapes just 10 minutes out of Whangarei, I visited Calvin, his groomsmen and his father, David in the pool room with a bar! How cool? The boys tell me that they played some pool that morning, and despite thinking they were blinking good, one game might have lasted an hour… haha.

Emma and her bridesmaids made their way to the “Cottage” at Wai Rua to put on their dresses, pop some bubbles, and take in the rest of the morning before the ceremony. We took some time together to get some gorgeous solo portraits amongst the flowers. The front porch of the cottage was one of the most beautiful spaces to photograph these moments. And woah - check out that dress?! And those shoes?! Damn!! 😍

The ceremony was held in one of the many lawn spaces available at Wai Rua with their closest friends and family. After sharing their vows and love with one another they exchanged rings and their first kiss as husband and wife! Emma & Calvin exited their ceremony to guests blowing bubbles and were BLOWN AWAY by a surprise dip half way down the aisle!

The bridal party then trekked up the driveway to the gorgeous shaded and tree framed space for some of the most fun and fabulous photos!

The reception was held down in the marquee at the bottom of the hill next to a mini lake (is a mini lake a pond?). Calvin & Emma entered to applause and started off the evening with some of the best speeches I have ever heard. I (and like all of the other guests) could not help but full on belly laugh, AND shed some heartfelt tears.

We finished off the evening with a stunner Northland sunset in the back fields behind the marquee. Emma & Calvin got to spend a moment alone ( well, kinda, I was paparazzi-ing them I guess, but they got to be cute so it kinda counts ). Sitting was definitely a challenge - I’m looking at you Calvin! And created some of the best smiles/laughs of the day.

Thank you so much Emma & Calvin, for choosing me to join you on this incredible day! I absolutely had a blast chatting with your family and friends, dancing with them, eating, drinking and enjoying this small but significant part of your life! All my love, and all the very very best! <3