Heidi Horton Photography

I must be feeling nostalgic today because I started going back through all our wedding galleries (this is what happens when wedding season ends, I get withdrawals haha!) and I realised that we've shot 75 weddings over the last 6 years! I wanted to see what that looked like as a collage...

And man seeing all our weddings put together like this gives me all the feels! So proud of the small business we've built. Thankful to Matt for sharing the journey with me. Grateful to all our #heidihortoncouples for choosing us. Excited for more to come. Reminiscing all the fun we've been a part of. Joyful to have documented so many special memories with our cameras. Awe at how far I have come as a photographer (and Matt!). Glad to always be learning. Confidence in our style & approach. Disbelief at how many hours worth of editing this means I've done! Happy to be a photographer and a dream chaser. xx

Brent and Nicole's Hawthorne Gardens wedding was a day of utter perfection - the celebrations, the autumn light, the fun, the love and all those gorgeous wedding moments that complete the day.

These two incorporated many special and sentimental details into their wedding including having their fur-babies Toby & Oscar at the ceremony. Nicole wore heirloom rings from both sides of the family. Brent and Nicole also planned their day to be laidback with plenty of time just to chill out with their bridal party, hang out with guests and enjoy the day - which is something we are always huge advocates of.

Brent and Nicole's wedding is the last of our summer season and what an awesome season it has been. I know I have probably said it in every blog post this summer but each & every wedding has been so much fun to be a part of, there's been a truly cruisey vibe with no rushed timelines and all our couples have made their wedding days uniquely their own.

​I'm so excited to share Brent and Nicole's blog with you!

While Nicole and her ladies got ready at home, Brent and his two groomsmen Brad & Brad got ready at the Kelvin Hotel.

It was awesome to be back at Hawthorne Gardens in Invercargill. Brent and Nicole were married by the lovely Sharyn Payne under the weeping willow tree. I believe Sharyn married both Brent's siblings too! So cool. And check out those cute-as-a-button flower girls and pageboy!

Things got a little teary as Nicole walked down the aisle.

After the ceremony guests enjoyed drinks & food in the gardens while listening to live music by Dene Allen. Such great weather too - it hardly felt like autumn. Brent you picked the date well!

Okay get ready for portraits galore! I may have gone a little overboard with the size of this blog but I have SO many favourite images, I couldn't help myself! Sorry (not really) if it takes ages to load!!!

Brent and Nicole took a little time out in the afternoon to place flowers on Nicole's mum & grandparent's grave. A beautiful way to include & remember their loved ones on the special day.

We finished the afternoon with a picnic & portraits amongst the pines...

The Kelvin Hotel was looking fabulous for Brent and Nicole's reception. I always love photographing here - the room has gorgeous light, it's well set out and the staff are so friendly.

How stunning is that wedding cake, made by the Urban Kitchen!

Speeches were heartwarming and filled with good punch lines.

After dinner the bridesmaids organised the always hilarious shoe game...

And then it was time for the first dance.

Brent and Nicole snuck upstairs for a couple of quiet minutes to themselves on the balcony of the Kelvin and I made the most of the soft hues of the evening sky.

Congratulations again Mr & Mrs Fowler! Wow, what an incredible wedding day! I'm so excited for you to see your highlights blog. Thank you for having us as a part of your wedding - we have LOVED getting to know you both & wish you a lifetime of happiness in your marriage.xo

DRESS: Brides by Donna Rae  |  HAIR & MAKE-UP: Headhunters Hair & Skin Clinic  |  FLOWERS: Lily Jackson's Flower Company  |  CELEBRANT: Sharyn Payne Celebrant  |  CEREMONY VENUE: Hawthorne Gardens  |  CATERING: Southern Graze  |  RECEPTION VENUE: The Kelvin Hotel  |  CAKE: Urban Kitchen  |  MUSIC: Dene Allen  |  STATIONERY: Hollie Cooper.

I walked into the girl's house in the morning, where hair & make-up preparations were well underway, and within the first minute of being in the room Tamara and her bridesmaids had me laughing. Like full on belly-ache laughter. That set the tone for Scott and Tamara's beautiful wedding day - full of laughter and fun! No exaggeration - our cheeks were sore from all the laughs we had with the bridal party during portrait time! Of course we knew to expect a fun day as Scott & Tamara's photographers because their engagement session last year was filled with plenty of laughs too.

It has been so great getting to know these two awesome individuals. Their love story is a gorgeous one; from the initial first date right through to a mountain top proposal (although Scott may have been incredibly hungover at the time due to a surprise rugby win the night before!) and their wedding day was the beginning of a new chapter in their love story. Enjoy these highlights of their beautiful day...

The guys got ready at Glendhu Bay while the girls spent the morning in Wanaka.

Scott and Tamara's ceremony was officiated by their friend and wedding celebrant, Laura Thomson. Complete with a stunning view of the lake.

The weather was absolutely stunning, turning on an uncharacteristically hot autumn day! So we found some shade at the station to hang out for a picnic while we began portraits.

I still don't think Scott or Tamara realise how photogenic they are, but they totally rocked their portrait time.

After portrait time, when we got back to Glendhu Station, the bridal party had a team huddle - a circle of gratitude. Maybe these guys have a secret name for it, but whatever it was I absolutely loved it. They took 5 minutes out of their day to bring in the love and take turns sharing what they were grateful for or their favourite moment of the day so far. How flippin' awesome is that?!

The woolshed at Glendhu Station is now officially one of my favourite reception venues! I adored the rustic warmth of wood and the indoor/outdoor flow. Scott and Tamara had set it up exceptionally with beautiful floral elements and gorgeous detailing.

The laughter and celebration continued into the evening, with introductions and speeches followed by that hilarious wedding shoe game.

There was some good ol' competition for the bouquet toss!

And then it was time for the first dance as husband and wife. Scott and Tamara aparently 'just Youtube'd some dance moves' and I was hugely impressed!

We snuck outside for a few minutes at the end of the night...some quiet time to just be together for the newlyweds and a chance for me to have a little fun with after dark photos.

Congratulations Team Wills!

​Thank you for having us as a part of your wedding day. We loved celebrating with you both, your friends and family. It has been a pleasure getting to know you on your wedding journey & we look forward to seeing where this new adventure of marriage takes you. First stop your honeymoon!!! I hope you have landed safe & sound. Ahhh so jealous just thinking about Raro! xx

DRESS: Brides by Donna Rae  |  MAKE-UP: Radiance Skin & Day Spa  |  HAIR: Absolutely Fabulous Hair  |  FLOWERS: Emilie at Replenish & Co.  |  CELEBRANT: Laura Thomson  |  VENUE: Glendhu Station  |  CATERING: Delicious Catering  |  CAKE: Made with love by family & friends  |  STATIONERY: Patterntwo Creative Studio  |  MUSIC: Robert Glen.