Whakatane Weddings

Whakatāne holds a pretty special place in my photography journey. I've photographed so many weddings around the area over the years that it feels like coming home — and I've seen just about every kind of wedding you can imagine.

There have been beautiful rural celebrations, backyard weddings, beach weddings, intimate gatherings and big family occasions. I've photographed weddings at marae, celebrations surrounded by generations of family, and relaxed days where the most important thing was simply having everyone together.

That's one of the things I love most about photographing weddings in Whakatāne — they often feel incredibly personal. There's a real sense of family, connection and community, and those are the moments I want to preserve.

Of course, there's also the landscape. From the coast and beautiful beaches around Ōhope to the countryside and rural properties further inland, there's no shortage of incredible places for photographs. But the location is always secondary to the people.

Because years from now, you probably won't remember exactly what the flowers looked like. You'll remember your dad's face when he saw you, your grandmother squeezing your hand, your friends making complete idiots of themselves and how it felt to have everyone you love in one place.