We first met Beth + Shawn in Christchurch for their engagement shoot up in the Port Hills. It was an incredibly windy day in Canterbury, but we all embraced the elements and together we created some really fun photographs. The ‘wild hair’ black and white photo (below) is one of our favourite shots of all time! We just love the ‘look of love’ they are giving each other in this gorgeous image. It’s a super cute moment and one we are really fond of it. The hair, the grins, “the things I do for you…” Haha!

We include a free engagement shoot for all our wedding clients as we find it’s a great way to get to know our couples ahead of the big day. We usually like to roam across Canterbury beaches or hills to get the best scenic backdrops and it’s a great opportunity to chat further about the latest wedding plans. Our couples also get the chance to be directed for portraits ahead of their wedding day which makes the overall experience way more relaxed for them. By the end of an engagement shoot with us our clients always feel totally chilled and much more confident to be themselves in front of the camera. We are continually blown away by how gorgeous they all look by the end of an engagement shoot… totally transformed from awks to natural and relaxed!

Christchurch based Beth + Shawn chose to get married in Timaru due to their family connections to this fab seaside town in Canterbury. On the morning of their wedding our girls treated their bride squad to hair and make up at their favourite salon Goldfingers Hair & Day Spa. Beth + Shawn were super excited to wear their baby blue and black wedding dresses which were custom made by Minh at Pretty Things in Christchurch. As you can see below, we had SO much fun doing their wedding portraits around town ahead of the ceremony…

We arrived in Timaru the day before the wedding to go location scouting for Beth + Shawn’s wedding portraits. We felt it was really important for us to suss out a few really cool spots for this very special couple. We absolutely adore the railway station photographs we did with their bridal party and the corrugated iron from the surrounding train sheds made a great backdrop too.

Beth + Shawn’s rainbow umbrella couldn’t have been more perfect to bring out for their wedding portraits down at Caroline Bay in the rain. We love photographing rainbow weddings and anyone from the LGBTQIIA+ community who wants to get married is celebrated by us. We are Pride Pledge allies.

After Shawn flipped the umbrella (haha) the girls had a wee crazy run around on the beach in the wind and rain before heading back to their AirBnB to wash their sandy feet in the bath tub and fix their hair and makeup. Doing wedding portraits in advance of a wedding ceremony is a good idea… but please always allow some time to readjust yourself before the ceremony ;)

The photos of all the girls in the bath tub is another Beth + Shawn classic!

Here come the brides! Beth + Shawn walked down the aisle together which we loved. It’s always really awesome when a couple walk towards their marriage hand and hand together.

Local Timaru wedding celebrant Sally Betts had the honour of hitching these two babes at West End Hall and Beth + Shawn exchanged matching paua wedding rings. Their Bloomers bridal bouquets were waved high in the air as these cool chicks walked out together… Mrs + Mrs Love!! Best name ever.

With a cake cut and speeches after the ceremony our happy couple spent the rest of the day celebrating in style and with great jubilation! Even granny carved up the dance floor! We had the best time with these two and we can’t wait to catch up with them again soon at their MC + bridesmaid’s wedding this spring. Woo hoo!

Beth + Shawn: “We had both amazing engagement and awesome wedding photography from Robin + Andie. They had a real knack for making us feel at ease, and wrangling relatives into line for those important family photos. They went above and beyond on the day and even came down the day before to scout for some photo locations. They definitely will do anything for the perfect shot (including balance on the edge of a duck pond) and because they were both there could get different views of the same photo. We love our wedding photos and have had so many compliments!”

Timaru Wedding Photographers: Robin + Andie

• Venue: West End Hall, Timaru https://www.timaru.govt.nz/community/facilities/community-centres-and-halls/west-end-hall

• Celebrant: Sally Betts https://www.facebook.com/celebrantvows/

• Dresses: Minh at Pretty Things https://prettythings.co.nz/

• Hair + Make up: Goldfingers https://goldfingers.co.nz/

• Shoes: Nana’s Irish wedding shoes from 1960 + Number 1

• Rings: The Ringmakers https://theringmakers.co.nz/

• Florals: Bloomers https://www.bloomers.co.nz/

• Caterer: Carolyn Fuller Catering

• Cake design: Carolyn Fuller Catering with floral piece by Bloomers

• Signage: Designed by Shawn Love printed through Vista Print