Heidi Horton Photography

Eight years ago today I married my best friend, my love and the person who makes me whole.

​Feeling all sentimental this morning I looked back over some photos and memories from the day we began our journey as husband and wife. There's a wee snippet below of our wedding day, with the song Never Let You Go by Evermore, which I walked down the aisle to.

We get asked all the time as wedding photographers about our wedding, what we'd change now that we've witnessed so many weddings ourselves. There's definitely things we'd do differently, awesome ideas we wish had been around back then etc - but there's no regrets. I got to marry my sweet, funny, handsome Matt and we've already shared so many wonderful adventures together in the last eight years. While it's easy, especially as a photographer, to get caught up in the pretty details, the epic photo locations and all the hype that comes with a wedding - the most important part of it all is the marriage itself. Ours isn't perfect, none are, but these last eight years have been filled with more happiness and love than I could have ever imagined and I'm still just as excited as I was on our wedding day to spend the rest of my life with Matt.

If I could pick just one favourite memory of our wedding day? Matt taking my hand and whispering 'you look beautiful' in my ear when I'd just walked down the aisle to him. I was a bag of nerves (I had the shakes, clammy hands & was struggling to remember to breathe!) but his words made me forget about everyone else in the room and my nerves disappeared. Even just the memory gives me those tingling goosebump, in-love feelings.

Back in 2017 I received a message from Scott and Hannah. They'd been engaged just 24 hours. They didn't have a wedding date in mind yet, but in their words "we needed to touch base so we can lock in our dream team photographers!!!" We always know we've found 'our people' when we get messages like this. It's a huge privilege when couples go out of their way to have us as a part of their day and we absolutely cherish the friendships we make because of it.

On Friday Scott and Hannah's wedding day arrived and we LOVED being there to capture all the fun, laughter, celebration and beauty! Scott and Hannah are a laidback, fun-loving duo and their day was a true reflection of that. Hannah had thought of every last detail and the day ran like clockwork. We were made to feel so welcome and we had many laughs with their epic bridal party.

These two chose the awesome Hawthorn Den just out of Gore for their ceremony celebrations. And having a first look timeline, where they got their portraits done before the ceremony, they had all afternoon to hang out with their guests in the garden before moving on to the RSA in Gore for the party portion of the day.

Hannah and the girls got ready at Bell's Cottage out at Hawthorn Den Inn. The cottage was filled with sunshine and laughter all morning.

Hannah had the cutest gifts for her bridesmaids including personalised makeup totes. There were tears as Hannah received a gift from Scott - hands down the most EPIC gift I've ever seen from a groom! A box filled with memories, letters and photos, with room for all the more memories they have yet to make.

Scott got ready at their home in Gore. I'm slightly obsessed with the guys outfits! They did well - relaxed chinos, navy jackets and shoes to match the bridesmaids' dresses.

During speeches later on in the night the subject of Hannah's slight addiction to online shopping was brought up. Funnily enough a package turned up on the morning of the wedding to Scott and Hannah's house - and the lads thought it fitting to get a photo with the courier! 

Hannah and Scott saw each other first at Hawthorn Den before getting their bridal party together for portrait time. Look at those smiles!

Scott and Hannah loved the greenery of Hawthorn Den and for their second location they wanted a forest look. The problem with a lot of forestry is the undergrowth and how dark it can be. I found a wee block of pines tucked in by the Hokonui's on the other side of Gore and I think we nailed the pine forest look these two were dreaming of!

So Scott is a twin and these cheeky buggers totally pranked me! I'd turned around to change a lens and they swapped in James. I adamantly contest that I was too busy giving posing instruction while looking through my camera getting my settings right to notice! Even Matt was chuckling away to the side of me. When I look at these two photos it's so obvious who is Scott and who is James, but at the time...I got totally tricked! ​​🤦🏻‍♀️

Jokes aside, this bridal party were so AWESOME - thanks team for such a fun day!

Scott and Hannah had their ceremony in the new Barn at Hawthorn Den Inn. 

Congratulations Mr & Mrs Coyle!!!

Family and friends spent the afternoon in the garden at Hawthorn celebrating before heading to the Gore RSA for the reception and a night of dancing.

We might have snuck into a couple of photos ourselves...​😜

Team Sugsy's thank you so much for choosing us as your photographers! We loved celebrating with you, your families and friends. It's been a heap of fun getting to know you both better and we're excited to see what the future has in store for you on this next adventure of marriage! x

BRIDE'S DRESS: Bride & Winter  |  BRIDESMAID DRESSES: Evolution  |  SUITS: Hallenstein Brothers  |  MAKE-UP: Brinly Weller at Scape  |  HAIR: Sarah Wallis & Cassie Crawford  |  FLOWERS: Lily Jackson's  |  CELEBRANT: Janine Byars  |  CEREMONY VENUE: Hawthorn Den Inn  |  CATERING: Heidi Blake  |  STATIONERY: The Avenue Design Studio  |  RECEPTION VENUE: Gore RSA  |  CAKE: Jude Taylor  |  MUSIC: Road Block.

Last week I had Gav and Julie in the studio to show them the photos from Baby Carter's newborn shoot. It's so much fun sharing the portraits with my clients and I was head-over-heels about this lifestyle, at-home newborn session!

Lifestyle sessions are all about capturing this stage in your life, nothing too posed & set-up - more just documenting the precious moments in time. Squishy wee toes, button noses, cuddles, sleepy stretches, wide eyes, rocking chair snuggles in the nursery. All that cute, priceless stuff that makes up for the total lack of sleep that comes with having a newborn in the home!

It's easy to see Carter is absolutely adored by Gav & Julie. Thanks for having me along to create these portraits for you team! Here's some of my favourites...

Gav and Julie, I can't wait to get these printed to you! Thanks heaps for asking me to take your first family portraits with Carter! I loved getting to meet Carter and I'm so happy with the photographs we created - before long these newborn days will be in the blurry past and you'll look at these photos and wonder at how little & perfectly squishy he was at just 12 days new! x