Melissa and Michael, featuring their special fur baby Doug who walked them back down the aisle as Mr & Mrs Langley! 🤍 This was such a relaxed and fun day. We loved being there for photos and video! We left with our cups full, reminded of why we love our jobs so much.
Vendors:
Hair: @amyrose_hair
Make up: @charlottelouisebeauty
Venue: @brackenridgecountryretreat
Celebrant: @wendymorrisoncelebrant
DJ: DJ luke
Flowers: @jillfranceshavill
Video: @traveller.video
wairarapa wedding photographer
Tarureka Estate - Wairarapa wedding venue review and wedding photos!
Mr & Mrs Becker-Stewart! A true love story that dating apps can work their magic and these beautiful humans found each other! A laid-back guy from the Naki and a stunning registered nurse, an absolute perfect match these two ♥️ They are now living the dream together in Melbourne and came back to NZ to celebrate with friends and family on their wedding day at Tarureka Estate in Featherson!
Review of Tarureka Estate - Rustic Barn Wedding Venue Wairarapa, NZ
I wanted to share this wedding day as an opportunity to showcase Tarureka as a New Zealand wedding venue and why we enjoy photographing and filming weddings here! It’s located in Featherson at the bottom of the Remutaka Range hill, only a short drive from Wellington and Lower/Upper Hutt, so if you’re exploring venues in the Wairarapa or Wellington region this would be a great choice.
Get ready on site in the Historical Homestead
The homestead sleeps 18 people and has a bridal suite on the second floor. As photographers, we appreciate that everyone can get ready on-site for their wedding day. This makes it easy for us to go between rooms and spaces, if we have a groom getting ready at the same time a bride is having her hair or makeup done for example. The historic homestead has been recently renovated but holds its original charm and character. Once you’re ready for your ceremony and wedding day, it is only a 30-second walk to greet your guests.
Your wedding ceremony
Tarureka Estate offers an indoor and outdoor area for ceremonies which is great for all weather conditions. This is the outdoor area situated in a grove of trees. After your ceremony, guests are invited to the main lawn near the homestead for cocktails, canapes and games.
Wedding photos
The gardens at Tarureka provide backdrops for all your wedding photos however if you would like to go off-site with your bridesmaids/groomsmen/wedding party crew there are optional locations nearby! Most of the photos below are on-site (aside from the photos taken in the Olive Grove which are at a private property).
The Loft Barn
Voted as one of the top barn venues the loft was built in 1868 and is one of the oldest and largest barns in New Zealand. Since 2001 it has been running as a wedding venue. The top floor can be used for your ceremony and or reception, which seats up to 120 guests. The ground floor is where the bar and dance floor are located.
Brac and Bow Catering
At the time of writing this blog post Brac and Bow is the caterer for Tarureka and their food is delicious! The venue also offers BYO alcohol for no extra cost.
I also wanted to make a special mention to the wonderful Sarah McEvoy who joined me for part of this wedding day, she took some of the cocktail hour photos that I’ve shared in this blog. Two of my wedding packages include a second photographer so while I’m photographing in one area with the wedding couple, I have another person capturing some of the candid moments that couples often didn’t see on the day.
Our top Wairarapa Wedding Venues - Tarureka Estate, Brackenridge Retreat and Martinborough Tree Church
The Wairarapa has a range of stunning wedding venues for your ceremony and reception. This list showcases different venues with links to their websites where you can access more information!
TARUREKA ESTATE FEATHERSTON
Located in Featherston, Tarureka Estate has been voted as one of the world’s top 10 barn wedding venues. The 130 year old historic homestead can accommodate 18 guests, while the restored loft can seat 120 guests.
BRACKENRIDGE RETREAT
Brackenridge is a country-style wedding venue in Martinborough, Wairarapa. Their venue can host up to 130 guests for your reception and ceremony, and has a number of on-site cottages available for accommodation. We love photographing and filming here as everything is in one place and their team of staff and coordinators will have you covered in all areas making our job more enjoyable.
MARTINBOROUGH TREE CHURCH
Martinborough Tree Church is an outdoor ceremony space planted in 2015 which can seat 180 guests. They have recently expanded this venue to include a reception area called The Vue, a renovated 100-year-old historic woolshed. There are so many places on-site for photos after or before your ceremony.
LACEWOOD
Lacewood is a wedding venue located on Tuhitarata Estate, South Wairarapa. The 1860s homestead is surrounded by old English trees and formal gardens. There a number of cottages which can be used as accommodation for up to 22 guests and a barn for your reception which can seat up to 200 people.
ROSE & SMITH
Rose & Smith is a boutique venue at The Tauherenikau Racecourse, located 15 minutes from Greytown and Martinborough. Rose & Smith was named after the “Rose & Smith Builders” who built the newly renovated Racecourse Tea House in 1923. The Tea House can seat 200 guests and their onsite accommodate in The Ranch House can sleep up to 37 guests.
THE LANDING AT HOMEBUSH
The Landing at Homebush, located 5 minutes from Masterton, is an elegant country wedding venue with a number of outdoor spots for your ceremony and an indoor area for your reception of 140 guests. The main house is also available for hire with 4 bedrooms available.
Candid wedding photos and portraits of guests - Why I use a second photographer and examples of their photography
Second photographer included in Collections 3 & 4
Two of my wedding packages include having a second photographer with us for part of your day! This is a cost I take care of as part of our service and is provided as part of your package. My second photographer will take photos on the day and I do the rest from organising their start/finish time, editing the photos and handling delivery. Having a second photographer is great for weddings with 60+ guests. It means we can capture more of your guests and unique moments that you maybe didn’t see happen on the day (so often we hear back from clients with feedback that they love seeing the photos that took part during times when their attention was on other things). While I’m capturing the important parts and formalities, my second photographer is in the background capturing extra candid moments and is available to take photos of your guests. We will often do the rounds asking if guests would like a photo taken during cocktail hour (if we aren’t needed elsewhere) but we also encourage guests to ask us for any group photos they would like.
Photo opportunities that we love for candid moments
We love capturing the moments right after your ceremony when guests come up to congratulate you (it’s an exciting moment and guests start to forget we are there as they are more focused on you). I even suggest that couples add 5-10 minutes into their timeline after the ceremony for this part so we can capture some candid hugs and chats.
We also love weddings that provide games or entertainment during cocktail hour, if games are started at the right time one of us can capture this (keep in mind sometimes games can happen at the same time as the formal portraits with the wedding party/bridesmaids/groomsmen, where both photographers are likely away focusing on this). Some couples will allow extra time before or after their wedding portraits so they can join part of the cocktail hour. This allows us to capture some moments of you with your guests before the reception starts! I can provide suggestions and guidance on a timeline for this (my goal is not to keep couples away from guests for too long, we want you to be catching up with your favourite people).
A couple of things to note from our side of things!
Candid moments are not staged and can sometimes only happen in the right environments, they are never guaranteed to always happen like in these particular examples. Things like weather and a strict timeline can mean there may be less opportunity for us to capture photos of your guests. On the day of a wedding, we may need to prioritise taking certain photos over these candid opportunities. We also respect guests’ boundaries if they do not want their photos taken or if we feel the moment doesn’t feel right we will focus on other parts of the wedding day instead (we will photograph where we feel comfortable or welcomed).
My second photographer is with us for up to 4 hours on a wedding day and this is usually to help cover preparations, the ceremony and after the ceremony, they will often finish before the reception starts. During the reception, I will cover this part of the day on my own and will continue to capture weddings in both a portrait and candid style (and guests can still grab me for a photo when possible)!
These photos are credited to the amazing Jess Dewsnap who has worked with me for many weddings! She runs her own business as well so may not be available at every event, however, I work closely with other local photographers.
A second photographer can also be added to Collection 1 or 2 for an additional fee. * All of the information in this blog post is correct and up to date as of May 2024. Packages and services may change over time.
Marlee and Kieran - Photography and Videography at Parehua Resort Martinborough
Marlee and Kieran’s wedding day! Marlee grew up in Martinborough so it felt extra special photographing her preparations at their family’s farm where she grew up, it still felt like her home. When we arrived at the farmhouse she came out to the car to meet us, she had such a warm welcoming smile and was wearing her gumboots (relatable footwear as I grew up on a farm). It was our first time meeting in person as all our communication had been over email, we hugged straight away after and I knew we were going to have an awesome day with them! For their wedding I had a second photographer with me which meant we captured so many incredible moments from both angles, it also meant that while I was with Marlee while she was getting ready, I had Jess with Kieran and the boys for their preparation photos, so we could be in two places at once!
There were so many parts to this day that had so much thought, intention and love behind them. After their first look at the farmhouse, we drove to a point that looked out on their family’s farm, it was special getting photos here with the view. Their wedding venue was Parehua Resort in Martinborough. This venue has a ceremony area beside a pond under a row of willow trees. Kieran made the coolest backdrop for photos that you’ll see we used for photos after their ceremony. After cutting their cake, we headed out for some photos of just the two of them in the long grass and vines. I always enjoy this part for couples as they get 15 minutes to be together and take photos while no one else is around.
We stayed for the best parts of their dancing before finishing up for the day! We had our evening planned out carefully as the Remutaka hill closed on this night and we had to be at the hill at a certain time to be escorted over. Turns out we had heaps of time between finishing and needing to be ready for our adventure over the hill, so we got to enjoy a glass of wine with them before leaving! We left this day feeling so grateful for these kind and beautiful humans! Thank you for asking us to capture your special day.
Brackenridge Country Retreat Wedding Ceremony - Gemma and Sam
Congratulations to Gemma and Sam who tied the knot at Brackenridge Country Retreat in Martinborough! Karl and I documented their day from preparations through to when the party started with dancing.
We did a first look before their ceremony in an olive grove on the property of a couple whose wedding I photographed back in 2018! It was near the same spot where we did their first look all those years ago, so it was really special being back in this location.
We lucked out with the weather. Did you know that cloud on your wedding day is not a bad thing! It makes the light so soft and we can take photos anywhere (makes our job much easier). The sunset broke through the clouds for not even 10 minutes during their reception. We didn’t think anything was going to happen but then it all changed so we quickly stopped eating our dinner and rushed out to catch it (dedicated clients, I'm all for it)!
The Weddingcoach NZ did the most incredible job of coordinating the whole day! It was the first time I’ve work with a coordinator and it blows my mind how much of a difference it made for us vendors and the couple. Everything was exactly where it needed to be and the whole day went so smoothly. Thank you Britt!
Martinborough Tree Church wedding ceremony - Becky and Rupert
Becky and Rupert tied the knot at Martinborough Tree Church and we had the most incredible day, from their preparations right through to their reception, there were so many beautiful moments for us to capture!
A highlight for me was driving out to Rupert’s family farm in Tora for bridal photos and the first look. I love being out on the farm and it felt so inspiring being at a new location. I don’t know anything about sheep and beef farming (despite growing up on a beef and dairy farm) but I do know how to make my way around a bit of poo and I still get a thrill from off-roading.
We also managed to get sunset photos in between their speeches! Sunset photos don’t need to be for 30 minutes, this is a perfect example of popping outside for not even 5 minutes to get the dreamy shots that you’ll see at the end of this blog post!
The best thing is if you want to see some of this beautiful landscape for yourself well you can because this is also where you go for the Tora Coastal Walk! Congratulations Becky and Rupert! Karl is currently putting together a highlight video which I can’t wait to share.
Peppers Parehua Martinborough Wedding Ceremony
Corona may have delayed their original wedding plans and restricted some guests from being there in person, but it did not stop them from having the best day! Congratulations Liz and Dom! Their intimate wedding ceremony at Peppers Martinborough was so special. They had zoom calls and Karl there to help capture the day through video. I'm so grateful to have been there to document the occasion for them!
Video by Traveller Audio & Visual, audio/singing by the Brides Sister.
Planning your Wedding - Wairarapa Wedding Venues
Picking a venue is usually one of the first things to check off your wedding planning list. We are so spoilt for choice here in New Zealand, especially if you are wanting an outdoor wedding!
The Wairarapa is a popular wedding destination for couples. It’s only a short trip over the hill if you live in Wellington, it usually feels a bit warmer and often gets better weather! If you’re a lover of wine, even better because there are a number of vineyards in Martinborough.
Here are a few of my most popular venues that I often photograph. This is only a small handful of what the Wairarapa has to offer. If you want to know more about my experiences at each venue, get in touch, I’d love to help you find the perfect venue.
POPPIES VINEYARD MARTINBOROUGH
Located in Martinborough is a venue called Poppies. This venue is surrounded by vineyards and offers two spaces for your wedding - an outdoor courtyard for your ceremony as well as an indoor space for your reception. The grounds are well kept and very picturesque!
THE LANDING AT HOMEBUSH
If you’re needing a venue wth accomodation for your morning preparations make sure you check out The Landing at Homebush located 5 minutes from Masterton. There are a number of spots for you to choose from for your ceremony such as the chapel vineyard, ivy archway or the gazebo.
MARTINBOROUGH TREE CHURCH
I recently discovered Martinborough Tree Church. If you want to get married in a chapel but also dream of an outdoor wedding then this is a venue worth checking out. The Church walls are made of hedging and large glassless gothic windows.
TARUREKA ESTATE FEATHERSTON - BARN WEDDING VENUE
If you’re looking for a barn wedding venue check out Tarureka Estate in Featherston. There are a number of different spots at this venue including gardens, a historic homestead, cottage and barn which is made up of two levels.
LACEWOOD AT TUHITARATA ESTATE
Lacewood is located in South Wairarapa and is surrounded by rural scenery. This venue is elegant and has a lot of history dating back to the 1840s. There are a number of different buildings consisting of a homestead, cottages and a large restored barn.
The Landing at Homebush wedding - Marie & Matt
Everything about Marie and Matt’s day was the ultimate photography dream! It was also really special having my sister and her partner as guests at the wedding, as well as my talented partner Karl who was shooting video. Marie looked stunning and The Landing at Homebush was the perfect location for photos.
A little snippet of Matt & Marie's special day! Filmed on the 30th of March 2019. Crafted by Traveller Audio + Visual for Jaymee Photography.
Video: Karl Mooyman
Dress: Maggie Sottero
Make up: Charlotte Wilson Beauty
Hair: Kirsty Macrae
Catering: Blue Carrot
Groom Suits: Barkers Menswear