WEDDING BLOG
Hannah & Shane
It was a perfect overcast day for photography: Jess and Sandi really managed to capture the love and emotion on this beautiful day.
What an awesome day Jess and her side-kick Sandi had with Shane and Hannah, their bridal party plus all their family and friends! The day was filled with lots of emotion as you'll see in the photographs: there was plenty of laughter, a few tears, heaps of fun and many friendships were formed.
Both the bride and groom got ready at Silverstream Retreat, and the ceremony was held on the lawn in front of the wooden gazebo.
The day was too big for the gorgeous little page boy Mason who fell asleep just before the ceremony started so his Uncle held him for the entire ceremony but he was awake again just as it ended. Mikayla was the beautiful little flower girl who started the proceedings up the aisle sprinkling orange and white petals to lead the bride in.
Hannah's Dad surprised her with a bright orange axe that he proceeded to walk her up the aisle with. Orange was a special colour to Hannah and there were little features throughout the wedding. It was rather entertaining but poor Shane stood nervously at the front of the aisle. They had a bit of a laugh & Shane greeted him with a huge hug. It was a fantastic ceremony officiated by marriage celebrant Phil Husband, who provided plenty of laughs and entertainment. There were heartfelt vows from both Shane and Hannah. Emotions were running high, with Shane getting choked up and lots of guests getting teary eyed.
It was a perfect overcast day for photography: We went out to Percy's reserve which was significantly better weather than the pouring rain we endured for their engagement photos, even though we got some pretty awesome shots. We had heaps of fun with the bridal party at the reserve and then made our way back to the reception for the buffet dinner, speeches, dancing and a gorgeous sunset to end the wonderful day!
All the best Hannah & Shane. From Jess & Sandi
Hannah & Jonathan's gorgeous Lacewood wedding
Read about Jess Dewsnap's first ever Wedding Photo-shoot out at Lacewood in the Wairarapa, thanks to Hannah and Johnathan...
Wow what an amazing day! This was my first time taking photographs out at the wedding venue Lacewood, which is located on the way out to Lake Ferry in the Wairarapa.
As I left home in Upper Hutt to venture over the Rimutaka Hills, it was pretty awful and wet, but I know that, quite often, on the other side of the hill, it can be a different story. And it was. I had perfect overcast light, every photographer's dream on a wedding day.
I arrived at Lacewood and found the girls getting ready at the homestead. The atmosphere was relaxed and excited for the day ahead. Makeup was being applied by freelance makeup artist Kerry Taylor and hair was being put up by Daniel Cooke (of Willis York) & his partner Mel. The girls all looked gorgeous as you will see in the photos.
The boys were pretty chilled & relaxed getting ready at the honeymoon suite. Having a few beers and struggling to get their bow ties on- it was pretty entertaining. Luckily, they all scrubbed up well. Archie the dog floated between the guys and the girls and always seemed to know where all the action was. Archie was quite the poser too which was lucky for me!
Hannah & Jonny had the great idea to have all the guests picked up by "The English Rose" (Red double decker bus) to transport them and bridal party to and from Lacewood over to Burnside Church. It was a pretty amazing sight as it made its grand entrance.
The ceremony was at Burnside Church, a 5 minute drive down the road. It’s a gorgeous wee church set amongst the landscape. It was a lovely intimate ceremony for Jonathan & Hannah in front of loved ones from all over the world. Archie the dog even celebrated and joined in at the back of the church.
We had a few family shots in front of the church and then headed back to Lacewood for some nibbles and drinks, plus lots more photographs!
What a variety of different backgrounds: Lacewood truly has an endless supply of gorgeous scenery and open spaces for photography. It is a stunning venue, I'm sure I will be back. We ventured into the wild flower garden and also into the lavender fields which complimented the shade of the bridesmaids’ dresses perfectly.
After all the mingling, drinks, nibbles and photographs, we all headed over to the barn for the “bouquet toss” which Hannah threw from the balcony of the barn. The bouquets, wreath and buttonholes were by Pick-a-Lilly Florist in Carterton. What a great throw, right into the arms of one of the groomsmen's partner!
A few speeches from the Dads and then I left them eating and celebrating into the evening with catering from Blue Carrot. The barn looked amazing decorated in flowers organised by Jonny's Dad, Steve, and some of his friends. What an incredible day!
Looking forward to sharing the rest of the photos with Jonny & Hannah in the near future.
All the best to you both,
Jess Dewsnap and the Team at Woolf Photography x
Shakila & Andre's amazing Wedding
Andre & Shakila got married in Photographer Jess Dewsnap's hometown of Upper Hutt last week at the very sylish at Wallaceville House... check it out!
Andre & Shakila got married at Wallaceville House in my hometown of Upper Hutt.
Wow, what a day! The weather the day before had been atrocious, wet, wild & extremely windy. But we all woke up to a gorgeous sunny day with bright blue skies- we were so lucky!
The day started with photos of the ladies getting ready at the Bolton Hotel in Wellington. The beautiful makeup was by Rebecca Connor. The mood amongst the girls was calm and relaxed and relieved that the day was a stunner. The colour theme of the wedding was black & white with shades of purple. The flowers looked gorgeous: the Bridal and Maids' of Honour bouquets were by Melissa Jane Flower Studio, whilst the table and other floral arrangements were done by Beautiful Flowers in Upper Hutt. The cake was pretty impressive too, made by Go Cake Yourself. Plus there was a great selection of lollies at the Candy buffet in shades of lavender, black & white.
It was a lovely ceremony officiated by Marriage Celebrant Prudence Lamason, by the gazebo in the gardens of Wallaceville House surrounded by family & friends. Many of whom had travelled a fair distance from South Africa and were enjoying their first ever trip to New Zealand. The ceremony included a Wine box ceremony which was pretty special and something for both Shakila & Andre to look forward to opening and enjoying in the future.
Following the ceremony, we took creative photos in the surrounding gardens of Wallaceville house and then joined the wedding party for a fantastic night of great food, entertaining speeches and lots of dancing. Wishing both Andre & Shakila all the best & hope they're enjoying a relaxing honeymoon!
Love from Jess and the Team at Woolf Photography
Catherine and Gavin's beautiful Wellington Wedding
Wellington Wedding Photographer Jess Dewsnap has fun with Catherine and Gavin on their wonderful Waterfront wedding day... Read on!
WELLINGTON WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER JESS DEWSNAP HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF RECORDING CATHERINE AND GAVIN'S WEDDING RECENTLY OUT ON THE WATERFRONT. THIS IS WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY:
"Wow, what a beautiful windy Wellington day we had for Catherine & Gavin's wedding. I started at their house in Haitaitai which had stunning views. Everyone was pretty relaxed, getting the final touches of makeup applied. Catherine and her daughters looked gorgeous. Catherine wore a stunning dress from Zambesi which just looked incredible on her, and I absolutely loved her high heels.
The Wedding ceremony took place outside the Boatshed, on the Wellington waterfront, beside the big anchor: a picturesque backdrop for the ceremony. I loved how they called themselves the "Chillars": a combination of both surnames joining the two families and children Torben, Brandon, Gabriela and Estee. The ceremony gathered quite an audience, with several people passing by stopping or watching from across the water, while Catherine & Gavin said their vows to each other.
After the ceremony Catherine, Gavin and I went for a wander around the waterfront and over to Civic Square for some creative shots of the couple together. While we were venturing around getting some amazing shots,Sandi had a mini background setup with a "red carpet" sort of feel. So as guests entered the reception she snapped a shot of them. She had a lot of fun with all the guests capturing the different outfits, in particular the different shoes worn, the atmosphere, the laughter and friendships being formed.
It was an extremely busy day in the city and there were people everywhere. It was a sunny bright blue windy day, we found cover behind the Wellington City Gallery. The light was beautiful and sheltered us from the extreme windy conditions. I had a lot of fun with these two as you will see in the photographs.
As we returned to the Boatshed for the reception we got waves, and "woohoos!" from the guests enjoying the hospitality on the balcony of The Boatshed. It was actually quite funny on our return Gavin went to open the door as we had been locked out ! So we grabbed a shot of the bride & groom struggling to get back into their own reception. Luckily, Gavin's Dad saved the day and was just making his way out to shift his car. We received a warm welcome from all the guests as they celebrated the marriage of Catherine , Gavin and the joining of two families with a lovely evening enjoying delicious food from the amazing Ruth Pretty catering, and entertaining heartfelt speeches. I left Catherine & Gavin having a wonderful night surrounded by special family and friends.
All the best to you and your families,
Jess x "
Wedding Makeup Tips: Interview with an Artist
Ahead of Woolf Photography's involvement in the upcoming Capital City Wedding Expo happening at Foxglove this Sunday, our Marketing team recently sat down with Make-up artist Sharee Wilkinson, owner of Plush Studio in Wellington, to talk about her take on Bridal Make-up trends...
Ahead of Woolf Photography's involvement in the upcoming Capital City Wedding Expo happening at Foxglove this Sunday,
our Marketing team recently sat down with Make-up artist Sharee Wilkinson, owner of Plush Studio in Wellington, to talk about her take on Bridal Make-up trends and about the natural range of cosmetics she uses to create her dewy looks: Sante Cosmetics & Dollface Minerals.
Sylvie: " So, Sharee... at Woolf Photography we get to work with some of the best in the Fashion business and we’ve have been so lucky to work with you on many different jobs, from Fashion Photo shoots to Wedding Fairs ...
Sharee: Yes, I always LOVE working with Woolf, they are my absolute favourite professional photographers and Jess is one of the best wedding photographers in the country in my opinion! I value my relationship with Woolf and feel very blessed to be their MUA of choice.
Sylvie: This time we'll be joining forces at the Capital City Wedding Expo at Foxglove on August 23rd, can you tell us a little bit about what Tips and Tricks you can share with future Brides regarding wedding-day make-up? What's hot right now?
Sharee: I love to give brides beautiful dewy skin that is fresh with a touch of ‘sun kissed’ cheeks. This looks gorgeous and romantic with a soft smokey eye, however, some brides like to go for a more dramatic look which is always easy to change up with some red lips and stronger eyes. I always use Dollface face primer which not only ensures the base will last all day but also provides a silky surface to the skin so the base foundation looks beautiful and smooth. Other must have’s for brides is the CC Crème (colour correction) from Sante Cosmetics which immediately tones down any colour pigmentation, Highlighter from the Dollface range which gives the beautiful dewy finish and the HD Powder from Dollface (high definition powder) which is essential to ensure the makeup lasts all day and looks great in the photography for that covergirl flawless finish!
Sylvie: That's great, Sharee, thanks! Our readers also would like to know a bit more about Sante & Dollface Cosmetics: why you would recommend these ranges and where can you find them?
Sharee: I love the Sante products for everyday wear because it is one of the only makeup ranges in NZ which is 100% certified organic. This means that EVERY ingredient in the range is certified organic, has been tested and quality controlled so you know without a doubt that what you are using on your skin is completely utterly and totally chemical and paraben free. There are not many cosmetic products available to women at an affordable price like Sante which has these attributes. It is best suited for women who prefer to look ‘makeup free’ and is available at most good Health Stores, or through the websitewww.saveyourskin.co.nz. If you enter the code PLUSH at the checkout you will receive a 20% discount.
For those who prefer more coverage or for photography I always recommend Dollface Minerals as they have a full professional range. You can purchase Dollface at the Dollface Beauty and Retail Bar, 430 Cuba Street, Alicetown or online. "
You will be able to touch base with Sharee at the Capital City Wedding Show this Sunday and meet Jess Dewsnap our very talented Wedding photographer, as well as Toni our Wedding Consultant.
Make sure you come and say hi and enter our Competitions: We are giving away a stunning Bridal Bouquet and Candle from the Heavenly Scent Floral Boutique in Wellington and our Facebook competition winners will receive a free engagement photo shoot...
See you at the Show!
Geoffrey & Rachel's Beautiful Winter Wedding at Boomrock
A wonderful winter wedding at Boomrock, as captured through the lens of Wellington Wedding photographer Jess Dewsnap...
What a day! It poured with rain in the morning but cleared up in time for Rachel and Geoffrey's wedding celebrations to be held outside on the clifftop at the stunning wedding venue Boomrock.
Rachel wore an elegant wedding dress by Sophie Voon Bridal and her daughter Caitlin wore a matching flower girl's dress. The bridesmaids wore a shade of dark blue, the dresses also by Sophie Voon. Hil Cook Makeup and Hair did a wonderful job of getting the girls ready. The mens suits were by Working Style(thanks to Rex).
It was a lovely intimate ceremony, officiated by Marriage Celebrant Greer Berry, and surrounded by close family and friends. I'm sure there wasn't a dry eye in the crowd when Geoffrey gave his little speech to Rachel's daughter Caitlin and gave her a gorgeous little heart necklace. Once the ceremony was over everyone headed inside to warm up by the fire blazing inside the Lodge. We then braved the cool air for family photographs with the magnificent views in the background.
The bridal party then ventured around the gorgeous setting around Boomock for the creative shoot. We were surrounded by dramatic clouds above the landscape, rolling hills and lots of ocean, we also found a bit of shelter in the woolshed.
After the creative photos we headed back for a delicious dinner from Boomrock chef Mark Hartstonge, followed by dessert: a mix of divine cakes by Louis Sergeant Sweet Couture.
Amy & the team at Boomrock put on a wonderful celebration. There were several speeches, lots of laughter and then lots of dancing. What an awesome day Photographer Jess Dewsnap had capturing all these special memories, while Sandi Tourell was capturing them all on video!
Thanks from Jess & Sandi for letting us be apart of your special day. All the best Rachel & Geoffrey, we look forward to working on your wedding album too.
Adam & Cat's Gorgeous Winter Wedding!
This was one stunning winter wedding: Museum Hotel, Rembrandt and Ruth Pretty Catering...Amazing!
What a stunning calm beautiful winter's day we had for Cat & Adam's Wellington wedding. I started my day with the ladies getting ready in Alicetown, while Sandi photographed the guys getting ready at the Museum hotel. The plan was to meet up for a big reveal at 2pm in the Billiard Room. Suspense was building for Adam as he patiently waited behind closed doors for his stunning bride Catherine to make her grand entrance!
It was an evening ceremony which started at 5pm so to make the most of the available natural light it was best to do the creative shoot before the darkness set in.
Photos were first taken with the whole bridal party in the billiard room in the Museum Art Hotel. This was followed up with a few shots in the car park and a few morefinally up in the very elegant Hippopotamus Restaurant upstairs. Wellington was packed with people that day, as it was the Rugby grand final between the Hurricanes & Highlanders so town was pumping. Family also gathered in the Botanical gardens for group photos in the rose garden.
The ceremony washeld at 5pm in the beautiful Old St Paul's Church with the lovely wedding celebrant Pinky Agnew. Pinky gave us great insight into Cat & Adam's strong loving relationship. I especially loved the emphasis on the word "team".
The reception took place at the gorgeous Academy of Fine Arts, surrounded by beautiful digital copies of Rembrandt's famous paintings. We even found a painting named "The Oldest known happy marriage"!
Ruth Pretty Catering had food stations setup amongst the artwork which made for an awesome atmosphere. The food was absolutely delicious: Venison burgers, suckling pig, fish tacos, Whitebait fritters between baps... their was so much to choose from! Catherine had previously worked with Ruth Pretty catering so knew Paul and his team well. Paul Pretty & the team provided a sumptuous array of food which I was lucky to try on the night. (Plus dessert came out just before I was leaving!).
There was a polaroid camera floating round and the groom Adam even managed to get a snap of me to put in the guest book! It was so much fun. I left the guests enjoying the music and desert. It was an amazing day and I wish both Adam & Cat all the best x
Karen & Paul
A stunning venue for Karen and Paul as they say their vows in front of an intimate gathering...
Wellington Wedding Photographer Jess Dewsnap recently had the privilege to photograph Karen and Paul's Wedding at the prestigious Bay of Many Coves Resort in Queen Charlotte Sound.
The picturesque setting meant the Bride, Karen, and her bridesmaid (also Karen) made a grand entrance by boat. They looked stunning as the boat was driven (paddled, actually!) around the wharf to where the ceremony was being held. Paul and the guests waited on the balcony.
This was an intimate and beautiful wedding surrounded by close family and friends. 17 of Paul's family traveled from England to share their big day. This was first time in New Zealand for them, and they were blown away by this spectacular venue.
They were very lucky as the weather cleared for the wedding day and the fog lifted. The creative Photo Shoot took place around the property- as you can see, providing the couple with a stunning backdrop. The ceremony was held on the deck of the main building, with the lovely Carol Taylor, Karen & Paul's marriage celebrant officiating the service.
The reception was held upstairs in the Foredeck restaurant, where Executive Chef Francisco prepared a sumptuous 5-course degustation dinner for the party.
The speeches were lovely, and Jess retired soon after, the festivities in full swing. The happy couple said goodbye to family members the next day and were off to enjoy a honeymoon in Thailand.
Thank you, Karen and Paul, for entrusting Woolf Photography with your big day. We wish you all the best!
Annette & John
As long-time clients of Woolf Photography, we were thrilled when Annette and John entrusted us with the photo shoot of their big day...
Annette and John have been together for 19 years. In fact, Simon photographed their family about 17 years ago in the studio! So, as long time clients of ours, we were thrilled when they called on us first for their engagement photo shoot, and then for their wedding.
The wedding Ceremony, held at Old St Paul's Church, was beautiful and extremely moving. Marriage celebrant Verna Currey officiated and also sung at the end of the ceremony. She has beautiful voice!
John's daughter, Caroline (plus grandchildren Isabelle and Theo) met Annette at the door of the church to hand over the flowers before the ceremony, where the Bride and Groom exchanged pendants instead of rings. Annette's daughter Georgina walked her up the aisle, while Elena, the amazing violinist, played her violin. It was a beautiful Wellington wedding .
Later, the reception was held at Cobar in Eastbourne, where guests enjoyed gorgeous views from Days bay, delicious food, entertaining speeches, lots of laughter and great music. I left the party in full swing!
Thanks Annette and John for entrusting your special day to us- we wish you all the best!
Georgina & David
It was a fun day for our wedding photographer Jess Dewsnap and her second shooter Sandi Tourell...
It was a fun day for our wedding photographers Jess Dewsnap and second shooter Sandi Tourell...
The team split up in the morning, with Sandi spending time photographing the Men and Jess with the Ladies over in Mana. The two groups then met up at the beautiful Old St Paul's Church for the Ceremony. Outside, it was a wild and windy day. Luckily, our experience in Wellington Wedding photography meant Jess and Sandi were able to use the wind to their advantage and take some lovely shots of the bridal party at Parliament, where the first part of the Creative Photo Shoot took place. Georgina's veil seemed to have a mind of its own, grasping every opportunity to fly away excitedly in the wind.
The second and third parts of the Creative Photo Shoot took place at Aotea Lagoon and at Gear Homestead in Porirua, where the views of the twin harbours from the front porches are breathtaking. This is also where the Wedding Reception was held.
Our team had such fun with the bridal party! Two of Georgina's bridesmaids were her sisters, and wore gorgeous dresses made by Georgina (who studied Fashion Design).
On a sentimental note, the bride and groom requested that we take a special photograph showing three generations on Georgina's side: It shows her mums hand, her Grandmother's hand and Georgina's hand, each displaying their wedding rings. A beautiful memory to treasure for the future.
Jude & Stephen
Stephen and Jude’s wedding was a whole lot of fun with a touch of crazy: Our photographer Doug Mountain felt privileged to be a part of Stephen and Jude’s big day, and, as you can see, managed to capture all the big moments for the happy couple!
Jude and Stephen's Black and White wedding
Stephen and Jude’s wedding was a whole lot of fun with a touch of crazy: It was a joining of two existing families, a bringing together of a lively bunch of friends, with laughter and smiles aplenty! Our photographer Doug Mountain felt privileged to be a part of Stephen and Jude’s big day, and, as you can see, managed to capture all the big moments for the happy couple!
The ceremony was held at Old St Paul’s, a spectacular venue always… The creative photo shoot took place across three locations: outside Parliament, at the Botanic Gardens and finally, at Oriental Bay. The happy couple drove around in magnificent 1958 Cadillacs to each location.
The reception room at the Intercontinental was transformed by Jude and Stephen into a magnificent Black and White extravaganza. Doug slipped out just as the dancing got underway- it looked like a really fun night all round. Thank you Jude and Stephen for allowing us to share this day with you!
