Anam Cara Gardens, Kapiti Coast wedding venue review - Georgia and Hayden

Anam Cara Gardens is one of our favorite venues in the Kāpiti Coast and we love when clients book us for photos and videos here!! The venue is spread across 10 acres of serene garden settings, includes an indoor venue and two separate spaces for getting ready making it the perfect venue with everyone on site for your day. Their venue has a capacity for up to 120 guests, and includes a modern commercial kitchen for caterers and a bar for BYO. Pick from 6 different ceremony locations and many areas for photos, including the beach which is only a short drive away for sunset photos.

Teresa and Tim are so great to work with as the venue’s owners and hosts, we can wholeheartedly recommend their venue to all of our couples. Here is a recent full-day wedding that I photographed at Anam Cara in January 2024. This was an 8 hour package, which included a second photographer for 4 hours*. We covered Georgia and Hayden’s preparations through to their first dance and sunset photos (although on this occasion we didn’t get much of a sunset down at Ōtaki Beach but we still took the opportunity to head out for 15 minutes). The examples here show parts of the full day, it is a longer blog post to scroll through but I hope it shows couples the variety of images they can receive from a wedding of this size. If you love these images and want to reach out about your wedding at Anam Cara Gardens, please do!

* With the mention of a second photographer helping me with this wedding, my packages and inclusions are subject to change in the coming years, however second photographers will always be available for packages. A special mention to Jess Dewsnap who helped me with this day!

All the talents 👇🏼
@anamcaragardensweddings
@paperswanbride @heracouture
@wildvioletcosmeticink
@styledbynicky_o
@rembrandt1946
@traveller.video
@jessdewsnap (the best second shooter!)

How to create a wedding timeline? Tips for couples getting married!

Planning a wedding is like putting together the biggest party of your life! You’ll want to create a timeline of events so you and your vendors know how the day will run. It’s likely that you’ve never had to plan a wedding before so I’ve put together some ideas to get you started.

LIST THE IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE DAY

Start with writing a list of all the important parts of the day and then put them into an order that you’d like to see things happen. Your list might look like this.

• Hair and Makeup

• Groom greets guests at the ceremony venue

• Ceremony

• Family Photos

• Bridal photos

• Reception entrance followed up opening speeches

• Dinner

• Cake Cutting

• More speeches

• Dessert

• Sunset photos

• First dance and party!

HAIR AND MAKEUP START TIME

Set a time that you need to be getting into your dress (usually 30 minutes before you need to leave) and then work backwards. Your hair and makeup artist will be able to suggest a start time based on how many people they need to do.

I’ll usually arrive 2 or 1.5 hours before the ceremony for preparation photos, this is always plenty of time for the bride and then 1 hour for the groom.

CEREMONY, BRIDAL PHOTOS & RECEPTION ENTRANCE

Your ceremony will likely only be 20-30 minutes long. Allow 10 minutes for guests to come up to you and congratulate you afterwards (I love this part for getting some candid photos of you and your guests). Then you can start your family photos, I usually allow 20-30 minutes for this.

You will want photos with your wedding party squad (bridesmaids, groomsmen, bridesmen, groomsgals, your besties etc!) This is when your photographer will want to set aside some time specifically for this part as it's when you'll get the best portraits, some call it a 'bridal shoot'. Often couples will ask to not be away from their guests for too long, I suggest 45 minutes to 1 hour for this part which is always plenty of time if we aren’t needing to travel far, keep in mind each photographer will have a different preference for this.

If you’re doing a reception entrance this is usually straight after bridal photos. Sometimes there is wiggle room here to add in a speech or two before dinner. You’ll need to set a time for dinner with your caterers but it’s usually around 6/6:30pm.

Following these guide lines your timeline might look like this

• Ceremony 3pm

• Family photos 3:30pm

• Wedding party photos 4pm - 5pm (1 hour)

• 30 minutes wiggle room here incase family photos or the ceremony ran over etc

• Reception Entrance 6pm

• Speeches 6pm

• Dinner 6:30pm

FIRST LOOK & LATER CEREMONY

If you want a later ceremony you could plan to do your bridal photos and a first look before the ceremony. This means you have more time to be with your guests after the ceremony. Your timeline might look like this

• First look 2:30pm (if your photos are at a different location to the ceremony then you may want to start earlier at 2pm)

• Wedding party photos 2:30pm

• Ceremony 4pm

• Family Photos 4:30pm

• Reception entrance 5:30pm

• Speeches 5:30pm

• Dinner 6pm

RECEPTION

There are so many ways to run your reception. For our wedding we didn’t have an entrance, we started off with 3 speeches before dinner and then 2 more after dinner. We then started the party with our first dance. For dessert, we cut the cake and then had a buffet/help yourself to cake rather than a sit-down dessert setting. I wanted to keep the formalities as short as possible so I asked for speeches to be kept to 5 minutes. Splitting up the speeches was one of the best things we did, it kept it entertaining and everyone had a chance to grab another drink in between.

• Entrance 6pm

• Speeches 6pm

• Dinner 6:30pm

• Speeches 7:30pm

• Cake cutting 8pm

• Sunset photos?

• First Dance 8:30pm

SUNSET PHOTOS

Google what time sunset will be on your wedding day and talk to your photographer about a 10-minute spot for sunset photos. You won’t regret it!

Lighting tips for your Wedding Reception

Wedding receptions can be a challenging environment for photographers. Most venues will have low light conditions once it gets dark and artificial lighting from the dance floor can mean there are a lot of uncontrollable variables. A good photographer will be able to adapt on the spot to any lighting condition, but there are a few things we can prepare for in order to get better photos. Putting more thought into the design of your wedding lighting can add a lot to the atmosphere of your reception.

LIGHTING TERMS

Here are a couple of lighting terms that you’ll want to know before asking your vendors for quotes:

Uplighting – lights that are placed on the floor and shine up the walls in various colors
Gobo light – a template that light shines through to create a pattern, monogram, or motif on the floor, ceiling, or wall
Texture lighting – the same as a Gobo light but with a preset pattern, such as leaves or a starry night sky
Spotlight – a lamp that projects a narrow beam of light on one particular area or object
Pinspot – a tiny light used to illuminate a small area, such as a centerpiece on a table
String lights – also referred to as twinkle, fairy, bistro, or cafe lights, these strands of lights are the most versatile and cost-effective way to light up any space
Pendants – also known as drop or suspender lights, these are single fixtures that hang from the ceiling
LED light – type of bulb that is cost-effective, long-lasting, and provides more vibrant color than a traditional bulb
Color wash – a general fill of color used throughout an entire room that doesn’t highlight any particular area
(Information sourced via: Junebug weddings)

DECIDE ON A STYLE

Decide on the atmosphere and style that best suits your ideas and venue. Candlelight and fairy lights work great for romantic and classic lighting. If your style is glamourous, look for more dramatic lighting sources and add sparkly details so the light glows around the room. For a rustic look use antique lanterns and bulb pendant lights for a raw and natural look.

MATCH THE COLOUR OF LIGHT

Only add in light if it’s the right colour for the occasion. If you use different colours and shades the lighting can start to look very unnatural and it can make people’s skin tones look unflattering. I prefer photographing in warm tungsten lighting, as opposed to purple and green spotlights.

SPEECHES

Plan where your guests will stand when they make speeches. Avoid having guests stand in front of large windows, this can make it tricky for your photographer as the light will be brighter than the rest of the room and it can make images look hazy and less detailed.

LOW LIGHT

Discuss with your photographer what will happen to your lighting during your reception. Communicate with your DJ about which lights will stay consistent and if any lights, like a strobe, will be added later for your dancing. Your photographer will appreciate knowing in advance so they can plan without any surprises and know to bring additional lighting if needed. If there is limited light at your venue and it’s too dark, your photographer will need to use a flash to capture your first dance and speeches.

How to assign guests to tables at your wedding reception

Assigned seating at your wedding isn’t mandatory, but most couples will decide to have a seating plan for a number of reasons. You want to make it easier for your guests and group people where it makes sense. If your reception is providing a plated dinner service your coordinator may ask for a seating plan as a requirement for their staff.

Start with a lay out of how your tables will look and how many people they will sit. Your venue should be able to suggest the most appropriate layout for your number of guests. Typically you can fit more guests on rectangular tables and it makes it easier for guests to talk to other tables.

Place your parents next. Traditionally, parents on both sides will sit together, along with grandparents. This is a chance for families to share how happy they are for you. Sometimes, this arrangement doesn’t work depending on their relationships, so you may need to consider multiple tables for family members.

Once you have finalised who is attending you can start grouping people together. You can create groups based on how you know each other, for example: high school friends, work friends, cousins and other family members. Consider your guests ages, backgrounds and interests, so they have lots to talk about. You will want to make sure there are some familiar faces at each table so no one feels left out or awkward.

Consider having a separate table for younger children (somewhere not too far away from their parents). You can make this fun and provide lots of activities to keep them entertained and happy.

Keep in mind your floor plan. Your bridal party will want the best seat in the house, while Grandparents may need easy access and won’t enjoy being too close to the band or loudspeakers.

Make it easy for guests to find their table by having a sign at the entrance and cards on their table. If you’re still not into the idea of assigned seating, consider assigned tables instead, that way guests can pick their own seats but within the right group.

Wedding Planning Timeline - How to plan a wedding

What’s your wedding game plan - from the moment you get engaged, what comes next?

12- 18 MONTHS BEFORE

To get started set a budget and write a list of all the costs that you are going to have over the next few months (there are some helpful wedding cost checklists on Pinterest which you can download for free). Try to be specific with how much you want to spend on each part of your wedding. For example, photography may be really important to you so this might be an area where you splurge a little but you might need to save money somewhere else to make up for this.

Start saving for your wedding! One of the most common costs that aren’t accounted for are deposits from your vendors. When a Bride and Groom ask to book me I have a $500 deposit which is non-refundable, a lot of vendors will have a similar upfront cost.

Once you have an idea of the budget you can start writing a guest list. Depending on numbers, this might mean some changes to your budget. Start with close family members, close friends and close co-workers because these are the people who you can’t imagine your wedding without.

Next comes the venue and setting a date. This is a biggy and can take a little bit of time and research. You’ll need to know your budget and guest count before you can confirm a venue. There are two main things to consider, the first being the location and the second being do you want the venue to cater for both your ceremony and reception.

10 - 12 MONTHS BEFORE

Let the fun begin! Once you have confirmed a date and venue you can start looking for things like a dress, photographer, celebrant, hair stylist, make up artist, florist, cake and reception entertainment.

You might decide to throw an engagement party or send gifts to your best friends asking them to be your bridesmaids.

6 - 8 MONTHS BEFORE

You’ll want to give your guests plenty of notice so make sure you send out save the date invites. Queue cute wedding stationary! It’s usually around 4 months when you send the final wedding invites.

Your hair and makeup artist may ask you to book in a trial, this is a good time to start thinking about the styles you want and book in a time to see them.

4 MONTHS BEFORE

If your vendors are organised they will start asking for a timeline of events. I try to encourage couples to talk their timeline through with me so I can make sure enough time is set aside for photos. This is also a time to start finalising seating plans and the dinner menu for your reception.

1 - 2 MONTHS BEFORE

As you move closer to the wedding start thinking about your vows and speeches, otherwise you might find yourself on Google frantically trying to write these a few nights before the wedding.

Apply for a wedding license. In New Zealand you’ll need to arrange your license at least 3 working days before you get married. It expires after 3 months, at around 1-2 months before the wedding this is a good time to arrange this so it isn’t a last minute stress.

Have your final gown fitting and bring your dress home! Make any last minute adjustments with vendors and book any beauty appointments that you will need a week or so before the wedding. This is a great time to pamper yourself and take some time off.