Did you know you can add a Wedding Highlights Film to your wedding photography package with us? It’s a great way to capture all the beautiful moments in motion from your super special day. Here are a few photos and a wee wedding film we made for Lucy + Inga.

It was an absolute joy to capture this stunning Akaroa wedding for these two beautiful souls (and world-class rugby players!) as they celebrated with their closest friends and family.

Lucy + Inga’s wedding took place just ahead of the couple’s big move from New Zealand to Aix-en-Provence where Inga is currently playing rugby in France.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again… Akaroa weddings are the best! Our happy couple couldn’t have picked a better location to tie the knot and to catch up with their nearest and dearest before heading overseas to start their next exciting chapter. It was an absolute honour and privilege to document this important family occasion via film and photography for these guys.

Lucy got ready in the ‘Maison Cottage’ at Mt Vernon which is set in the heart of the venue’s pine forest. Lucy’s skin was simply glowing thanks to her super talented beautician and makeup artist Kendal McSorley.

Lucy + Inga gave each other gifts to open ahead of the ceremony which is a super sweet gesture and keepsake. Lucy opened a gorgeous necklace and Inga was brought to tears when he opened the bespoke cufflinks Lucy had designed for him. One cufflink had a very cool black and white photo of his dad set into it and the other had text ‘1 Corinthians 13’ (which refers to the verse “Love is patient, love is kind…”) These guys are so thoughtful and oh man… too cute!

Mount Vernon Lodge certainly has the best Banks Peninsula wedding location overlooking Akaroa Harbour. Lucy and Inga shared some absolutely beautiful personal vows during their ceremony which we included in full in our highlights video.

The couple’s gorgeous black lab x watched on as they exchanged rings. The best family weddings always have a dog in attendance!

After the ceremony and family photos we headed off into the hills high above Akaroa to shoot some wedding portraits with our newly weds. The overcast sky made for dreamy, even light which is perfect for wedding photos! No harsh shadows = winning.

As local Akaroa based photographers we know all the best spots!

Did you even have a wedding in Akaroa if you didn't have a photo on Daly’s Wharf? This iconic wharf with its orange and sage green pavilion is literally just down the road from Mt Vernon Lodge. It’s a great place to stop on the way back from our portrait sesh in the hills and after exploring some of the other local bays.

Every time we photograph a wedding at Mt Vernon it’s different! This is because their reception room (which has no curfew by the way!) is a great blank canvas which allows our couples to really make it their own. We LOVED the Tongan wedding theme and tapa cloth Lucy + Inga had made which looked incredible up on the wall behind their head table for two.

With candles, crisp white tablecloths and lilies the whole space felt completely magical.

With cake cutting and heartfelt speeches delivered it was time to party and Lucy took great delight in performing a Tau’olunga for her friends and family. Everyone joined in afterwards with their own dance moves and funny songs which was perfect candid content for our wedding film! We LOVE anything a bit different to the norm and as documentary photographers and filmmakers these kinds of traditional and impromptu performances are what we live for.

The photos and video from this beautiful day capture so much of the joy and love that was surrounding our gorgeous couple. Our wedding photos and films are for couples who are best friends and we wish these two many more happy adventures as they explore the world together and play rugby overseas!

Lucy + Inga: “Thank you, Robin + Andie. We had the most magical day and you captured every moment. It was amazing to have a local photographer and videographer who knew all the beautiful hidden gems in Akaroa. You were both willing to go above and beyond and stay the whole day with us. The photos you took and the video you made were exceptional. We are so happy with them!”

Mount Vernon Lodge Wedding Photographers + Videographers : Robin + Andie

• Venue: Mount Vernon Lodge https://mtvernon.co.nz

• Hair + Makeup: By Kendal https://www.bykendal.com