Micro Wedding // Coralie + Richie

Written By Andie Moore

Coralie + Richie’s celebrations embodied the spirit of a laid back, chic Akaroa wedding and although their families in France and Australia were unable to attend, this international couple were able to tell the story of an intimate and relaxed day spent with their nearest and dearest siblings and closest friends in one of the most beautiful wedding locations in New Zealand.

Akaroa Wedding

Getting ready at their amazing Bachcare holiday home and being lucky enough to secure a last minute appointment at the most fabulous hair salon in town – Akaroa Hair Studio perfectly set the tone for their wedding day. Relaxed, free-spirited and fun, without any sense of stress.

As local Akaroa wedding photographers we were easily able to pop down to the couple’s wedding rehearsal the night before the big day at St Peters to check out their plans for the ceremony, which made photographing proceedings at the church feel completely seamless. Little things like being able to show our couple where to stand for the best shots made for some super cool ceremony photographs at this wonderful wooden church.

Akaroa Weddings

We felt very privileged to be so warmly welcomed into the friendship group, which always helps with our candid shots and documentary style of photography. We had lots of fun photographing ‘first look’ outside the church and after the ceremony we captured some pretty joyous confetti photos too! Smaller weddings can sometimes feel informal and often there’s a little more time to have a laugh with the group shots! Group photos don’t have to be stiff, staged and orderly. When true characters shine through we’re always there to get the shot!

Akaroa Wedding Photographers

The wedding party kicked off in style back at the couple’s Takamatua bach with beaucoup de Moet and the most incredible views across Akaroa harbour from high up on their deck. Outdoor wooden tables were decorated with beautiful, colourful flowers and bunches of coconut husks and Provence-style lavender. The weather was utterly glorious with Champagne corks popping off left, right and centre into the brightest of blue skies. We couldn’t help but notice how truly blessed this couple were to be celebrating together in such a dream wedding location like Akaroa in the glorious Kiwi summertime.  

Akaroa Wedding Venue

The couple wisely hired a private chef from Bully Hayes to cater for their guests, which meant that all they had to do was make sure everyone’s glasses were topped up and charged as they started checking in with overseas friends and family who were joining the festivities remotely. The atmosphere was full of positive energy and emotion as the speeches began and their overseas whanau dialled in with heart-warming (and heart-wrenching!) messages. Even we welled-up listening to all of the aroha from afar! The guest-cam which was being managed by their best friends allowed the intimate feeling to continue and although separated by closed borders and a global pandemic, Coralie + Richie’s family were all there and celebrating with them (even if it was 1am in France!). Coralie’s father who was gutted he couldn’t be there had ensured the Champagne would flow all day in the historical French settlement of Akaroa. Legend.

Akaroa Events

As the sun started setting, we headed down to Daly’s Wharf with our happy couple to shoot some golden hour wedding portraits. We love a sunset! We might be biased as we live in Akaroa, but we were blown away by how epic it was for this set of images, and we had lots of fun on the beach too photographing Coralie’s exquisite wedding dress by JJsHouse. Coralie + Richie needed very little guidance from us in terms of posing, and we just let them be themselves, super in love and relaxed together while we captured their natural chemistry in the most glittering golden light. The whole day was a wedding photographer’s dream, and we feel very lucky to have been chosen by such a gorgeous and fun couple to capture their unforgettable wedding in Akaroa.

Coralie + Richie: “We will cherish looking at these photos for the rest of our life!”

Here are a few highlights…

  • Bride’s bouquet + buttonholes: Moffatts Flower Company www.moffatts.co.nz

  • Floral arrangements at the bach were a gift and extra flowers were hand-picked by the Bride + Groom from the Red Zone in Christchurch the day before the wedding. Coconut shells and air plants were from the couple’s bathroom at home. 

  • Caterer: Bully Hayes www.bullyhayes.co.nz/ConferenceEvents

Andie Moore http://robin-andie.photography
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