Robin + Andie

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Ilex Wedding // Jayne + Bevan

Rob Ball

It’s always an absolute joy to photograph a wedding at Ilex. Not only is the venue itself a work of art, but the Botanic Gardens are a spectacular location for wedding portraits in Christchurch. Jayne got ready for her big day at The George which is a boutique luxury hotel across the road from Hagley Park. There was a lovely amount of space and light for her getting ready photos.

Top tip! When we arrive to photograph ‘bridal prep’ it’s ideal if you already have all your little details ready for us to photograph. Your wedding invitation, perfume, shoes, rings and flowers etc… make for a great flat-lay shot.

Jayne got ready with her two young daughters who were so cute! A wedding day is so exciting for kids especially when mummy is the bride!

Andie particularly loved photographing the floral reflections on the surface of the shiny black dressing table in Jayne’s suite at The George. A room that’s clean and clear is ideal for ‘getting ready’ photos. It just makes everything so much more chilled when a bride is surrounded by a calm and simple space. “Tidy space = tidy mind!” It really is worth making sure you’re in a great space to get ready on the most important day of your life. Be sure to only surround yourself with people who bring you good vibes too ;) You should enjoy getting ready and being pampered… and enjoy every minute!

The hotel was a great space for hair and makeup and for photographing Jayne’s super stylish wedding dress from To Cherish Bridal.

Mamma + daughter = magic moments. We just adore these photos of Jayne’s mini me putting on her lipstick!

While Andie was with the girls at The George, Robin was hanging out with Bevan and his best man to document their getting ready preparations. Bevan’s mum was there too to help with the bow ties! Usually Rob has to help the guys with their ties and button holes haha.

It was a stunning spring day in Christchurch and simply perfect for a wedding. The Ilex is a very ‘weddingy’ wedding venue as it’s all white (inside and out) and the cool interior and exterior design is on point for stunning wedding photos. We think Ilex Cafe is easily the best wedding venue in central Christchurch and it’s surrounded by so many fab options for wedding portraits.

Jayne walked in to her wedding ceremony with her gorgeous children and both her parents… the guest tears began to flow!

The lovely Married by Court effortlessly did her thing as the celebrant for Jayne + Bevan’s wedding and helped them officially tie the knot in front of all their closest friends and family. Court’s ceremonies are always just so beautiful and very personal to each couple.

When Bevan got down on one knee and said some personal vows to the children everyone lost it… again! Despite the tears rolling down Andie’s face she still managed to snap this beautiful moment. As you can see… the best man was having a struggle too! ;)

Now that’s what we call an exit! A quick dip at the end of the aisle always provides some entertainment for your guests and keeps us photographers on our toes!

Is there anything better than a tower of cheese? Correct answer = No.

Jayne + Bevan’s guests enjoyed cheese and wine while we took our happy couple for some family portraits, wedding party and couple portraits around the gardens.

“Nice ring mate…”

Jayne absolutely loves black + white photos and architecture (both old and new) and so the grand old buildings and conservatories like Cunningham House that surround the gardens were perfect for us to use. The concrete pillars and arches of these impressive structures make great frames. We were so lucky to have some beautiful golden light too as the sun began to set.

We know all the best spots for golden hour photos in the Botanic Gardens ;)

When we returned to Ilex Café for the wedding reception Jayne + Bevan made their entrance to rapturous applause! After lots of funny stories and speeches about how they met… everyone went next door into a larger space to continue the party with a live band and dancing. How good?!

Jayne + Bevan: “Choosing Robin + Andie was one of the best decisions we made. They struck that right balance ensuring we had some beautifully posed photos as well as letting us enjoy our wedding and capturing the beautiful spontaneous moments as they occurred. Throughout the process they were communicative, direct, and so easy to work with. Each time we look through our gallery we see something that we missed before and it takes us right back to our day! We highly recommend Robin + Andie.”