Heidi Horton Photography

Dave and Katie's love story started a new chapter on Saturday as they began the adventure of marriage. In front of their family & friends at Borland Lodge, Dave and Katie said 'I Do'. 

I first met this awesome couple almost two years ago. One of Katie's good friends is a photographer friend of mine too and I have her to thank for the recommendation! From our very first meeting I could tell Dave and Katie were laidback, fun-loving and total soulmates. It's been such a pleasure getting to know these two during their wedding planning journey. As we drove out to Borland Lodge on Saturday morning I knew we were in a for a beautiful day filled with laughter and some very special memories.

Because Dave and Katie had their whole weekend at Borland Lodge everyone got ready out there, the ceremony was on the lawn and the party was in the hall. It made for such a cruisey morning of preparations on the wedding day and we didn't have to look far for all the amazing backdrops for their portraits.

Katie you looked stunning!

Katie and her Dad shared a few hugs before the ceremony.

Dave and Katie wrote each other letters to read in the morning.

How gorgeous is all this detailing for the ceremony?!

That moment when you see each other, grab one another's hands and all the nerves of the morning disappear.

Thank you to the wonderful Megan Graham for this photo of us with our beautiful couple! This is definitely the first time I've been able to hand over my camera for this shot without having to show the person how to drive it haha. Megan probably knows more about my camera than I do!

While guests headed over to the big reception hall, we braved the rain clouds and created some beautiful portraits of the newlyweds while having a very entertaining afternoon with the bridal party! Dave and Katie had told me right at the beginning of wedding plans they were looking forward to how much fun they'd have with their bridal party crew on their wedding day. And team, you were awesome!

Katie was such a chilled out bride. It didn't worry her one bit that it was raining and her dress was getting soaked from the wet ground! Katie was so happy to have just married her best friend.

I love a kissing in the rain shot!

We drove up to the Borland Saddle lookout and we ended up being up above the clouds! No rain and an epic moody view! The perfect finish to portrait time before heading back to the party.

I loved all the little details of Dave & Katie's reception. When we arrived back to the Lodge all the guests were ready and waiting to continue the celebrations with Mr & Mrs Sellwood!

Dave and Katie - thank you for having us as your photographers! We have loved getting to know you both and it was so much fun being a part of your wedding day. Matt and I wish you all the happiness in the world for your marriage! We hope you enjoy these highlights from your fabulous wedding day - many more photos yet  to come.xx

DRESS: Love Me Do Bridal  |  MAKE-UP: Bridget at Beauty Boutique  |  HAIR: Melissa Harvey & Carmen Wright  |  FLOWERS: Cathy's Flowers  |  CELEBRANT: Sharyn Payne  |  VENUE: Borland Lodge  |  CATERING: Barbeque Bill  |  CAKE: Sonya Chaney.

Te Anau turned on stunning weather last weekend for Dan and Kayla's wedding and what a day of love and celebration it was! It's hard to call our job as photographers 'work' when we get to spend our weekends celebrating in style with couples we come to call friends. We were lucky to also know some of Dan and Kayla's family and guests already, with the world being as small as it is. From the minute I walked in the door of the salon in the morning I was greeted with welcome and the sound of laughter & fun surrounded us all day. In fact Dan and Kayla's bridal party were definite contenders for the Most Fun Bridal Party Award!

The styling of Dan and Kayla's wedding day was a perfect reflection of the gorgeous couple and their down-to-earth nature; from the country accents of cowboy boots and denim jackets, through to the incredible haybarn ceremony venue out at the Pullar family farm. 

Dan and his groomsmen began their day out at the farm. 

The ceremony venue, a beautifully spruced up haybarn, looked picture perfect...Logan you might have a new Te Anau wedding venue business in the making!!!

Officiated by local celebrant, Rachel Williams, the ceremony was sweet, fun and filled with precious memories.

Dan and Kayla's furbaby; Jax made sure his presence was known during the ceremony - overseeing everything and filling any gaps with a couple of barks. ​😍

Dan requested the rodeo grounds as a location for portraits as he's been involved in the rodeo scene for a number of years now. I love when couples have locations that are special & significant to them, but I did wonder what I would be able to create photographically within the rodeo ring. It turns out these are my favourite portraits from the whole afternoon!

​A huge thanks to all the lads and ladies at the rodeo on Saturday who paused their activities for us to enter the yards and take these portraits!

Last stop was the lookout. With so many gorgeous spots for photos, I could never get sick of photographing weddings in Te Anau - it might just be my favourite Southland destination. 

Cheers to bridesmaid Hayley for taking our photo with the gorgeous couple!

The wedding reception was held in the Fiordland Events Centre which looked nothing like a hall, with metres & metres of frost cloth draped everywhere making it feel more like stepping into a wedding marquee!

Congratulations Mr & Mrs MacFadgen! Thank you for choosing us as your photographers - we loved celebrating with you both, your epic bridal party and your families! I hope you love your blog, there are so many more photos to follow. Happy honeymooning! xx

DRESS: Brides by Donna Rae  |  MAKE-UP: Merin Williams  |  HAIR: The Fringe Te Anau  |  FLOWERS: Lily Jacksons Flower Co  |  CELEBRANT: Rachel Williams  |  CEREMONY VENUE: The Pullar Farm  |  CATERING: Food Affair Gore  |  RECEPTION VENUE: Fiordland Events Centre  |  CAKE: Karen Priestley |  MUSIC: DJ Kelly.

I still remember Aimee's very first email to me with her excitement about being newly engaged; her soulmate had just asked her to spend the rest of her life with him! Aimee also mentioned in that first email how she loved every new blog post I shared and had begun going back through the archives reading past wedding blogs too! This was about when I realised we'd just found a new #heidihortoncouple! 😍

It was a few months after our first email contact that we were able to meet Joel and Aimee though as they live in Sydney. They pretty much planned their Southland wedding from there, all while Aimee was busy completing her PhD too! But Aimee was well organised and as you will see from the photos, she thought of everything.

On Saturday Joel and Aimee married in front of their family & friends at Hawthorn Den, beginning a new chapter of life together and we loved being there to document it all! The weather...well it's Southland, so we got almost four seasons in one day - but that didn't stop the celebrations one bit. Hawthorn Den looked amazing! Every last detail was gorgeous. The stars of the show, Joel and Aimee - well their smiles say it all. Congratulations friends! x

Aimee and Joel wrote their own vows, which had me teary at the ceremony!

Time to get into that gorgeous Morilee by Madeline Gardener wedding gown...

While Aimee got ready at the Hawthorn Den cottage, Joel spent his morning at the family home.

Joel and Aimee opted for a first look - seeing each other before the later ceremony. And as far as first looks goes their's was incredibly sweet!

As we finished up portraits blue skies filled the valley just in time for their garden ceremony. Joel and Aimee were married by Shane, a family friend who actually many moons ago used to babysit Joel! 

Hawthorn Den's new reception barn was looking incredible for it's debut! Joel and Aimee were Jan's first ever wedding in the barn. The atmosphere was fabulous with the crackling fireplace and banquet style tables for the guests.

The evening was cosy, filled with laughter and plenty of toasts.

Food extraordinaire Jude Taylor did all the catering! ​😋

And in lieu of a first dance Joel & Aimee opted for a game...the shoe game! If you're not familiar with this fun game, it's where the couple sit back to back with one shoe in each hand (one their own, the other their partner's) and they're asked a series of questions, answering by holding up the appropriate person's shoe. Questions include; who made the first move, who wear the pants in the relationship, who's the tidiest...and so on.

Jude Taylor also created this beautiful wedding cake, which was cut by the newlyweds and followed by a stunning looking dessert!

Fun fact: Joel and Aimee were our 60th wedding couple! Made even more memorable by being back at our favourite venue; where we got married ourselves back in 2011. 

To the new Mr & Mrs Walsh, thank you so much for sharing your incredible first day of marriage with us! We loved being a part of this wedding journey with you and we've gained wonderful friends in the process. I hope your day was everything you dreamed of and we know the future holds beautiful adventures for you.x

DRESS: A Morilee by Madeline Gardener design from Perfect Day Bridal Sydney  |  MAKE-UP & HAIR: Jenna & Clare from The Sanctuary Beauty & Hair  |  FLOWERS: Conna Mitchell  |  CELEBRANT: Shane Kelly  |  JEWELLERY: Michael Hill + Staghead Designs (groom's ring)   |  VENUE: Hawthorn Den Inn, Gore  |  CATERING & CAKE: Jude Taylor (Taylor Made Cakes)  |  MUSIC: Matt from Nightlife DJs  |  OTHER DETAILS: Inkberry Calligraphy (vow booklets) + Peg Creative (ring box, caketopper & guestbook) + Paris & Pine (signs, glassware) + Zacari  Food Co (cookie favours).