A cute and quirky wedding in Isel Park
Where to even start with these two and their epic day?! I knew we’d get on when Sophie and Gemma rocked up to our pre-wedding meeting at the Isel Park cafe and immediately ordered a cider (making me regret my decision to get a flat white!). It set the tone for our whole working relationship: three mates planning an absolutely epic day together. That increased tenfold when I attended their wedding rehearsal and met their extended whanau!
Sophie and Gemma found me on Google, and said they vibed with my style straightaway - and also loved that I promote myself as LGBTQ+ friendly. As soon as we started talking we got on, and their decision was cemented!
Their wedding ceremony at Isel Park was utterly them, and they chose to eschew the traditions that didn’t work for them and kept the ones that did, and it resulted in a day that was completely and utterly them. I knew Sophie and Gemma would have a day as unique as they are, so it was no surprise when Megs (their celebrant) rocked up dressed as a fairy! They had jokingly asked if she could dress up - and of course she said yes! This was my first time working with Meg and she was a delight, and honestly mega bonus points for incorporating costume into the day. I was pretty jealous of her glitter and fairy wings - she really looked like a fairy in the surroundings of Isel Park.
I’ll never forget the moment in the ceremony where they talked about how lucky they felt to be able - as two women - to get legally married, and to do so surrounded by a huge group of supportive and loving friends and family. I’ll also never forget the absolute howls of laughter when Sophie pulled out her vows…which were written on a beautifully decorated kitten card (they are both cat obsessed!). It summed up the day really: laughter, happy tears, and beautiful authentic moments of emotion.
Sophie and Gemma had their ceremony at Isel Park. Sophie had grown up near there and had spent much of her childhood roaming and playing inside. That, combined with it’s natural beauty and central location, made choosing Isel Park as their wedding venue a total no brainer! I loved photographing their wedding ceremony in Isel Park as the lovely shade afforded by the towering trees meant I could capture a wedding ceremony without harsh sunlight on their faces. It also gave us a gorgeous backdrop for the post-ceremony family portraits.
It was a blistering summer’s day - absolutely stunning - and so everyone was in one of those amazing good moods that just seems to spread out to everyone nearby. The vibe was totally joyful and it felt like a big reunion, with friends and family flying in from across the world and New Zealand too.
I always offer help when a couple is planning their day, and was so pleased that I suggested Sophie & Gemma do a first look. Not only did this give them a moment together before the madness really kicked off, but it also really helped to calm both of their nerves before the ceremony started. The great thing about choosingto have a wedding ceremony at Isel Park is that you can always find a secluded spot, and so the first look felt really intimate and private.
On the way to the wedding reception at The Styx we pulled over and did a mini photoshoot with Tahunanui beach as our backdrop. Sophie & Gemma didn’t want to miss out on partying with their loved ones and so we did a mini portrait session literally on the side of the road! Once we rocked up to The Styx the celebrations really got going; you could hardly hear over the roars of laughter erupting around the room.
By the time it came for me to leave their wedding reception I think my goodbyes took about half an hour - I truly felt like a member of the family. I feel so lucky to be able to photograph beautiful weddings like these - what an absolute privilege my job is.
Thank you Gemma & Sophie and con-cat-ulations on your meow-wige!
I’ll let Gemma have the last word…
“The happiest day of our lives made extra wonderful and special with Francesca. She is such a talent and made us feel so comfortable. My wife and I were in hysterics with her joking around and she understood the vibe we were going for to capture our wedding which was fun, inclusive and happy. Book her and you will be eternally grateful with you beautiful photos. Shes a gem!”
