Smacked in the kisser....a stag-do stunner! :: Adam and Andrea's wedding sneakypeeks!

At Adam's stag-do, his mates instigated a game of bullrush.  It was fab fun for a while, until Adam found that some of his friends were a little bigger than they had been last time they'd played (at primary) and bang, crash, ouch! found himself in a car on the way to hospital where he need 16 stitches to mend his split lip. 

Not the best thing to happen just before your wedding day!

Luckily the injury is recovering fast, the stitches have been removed and most importantly it didn't stop Adam from kissing his new bride Andrea on their fabulous 27 November wedding day.

Coincidently, the date is also the wedding anniversary of Andrea's parents; Marie and Bob Proudfoot who celebrated 41 years together at their daughter's wedding.

Adam and Andrea were married at St Mary's Church surrounded by family and friends before enjoying a fabulous night at the Bushmere Arms where they performed the best wedding dance I've ever seen!

Here's a couple of sneak peeks from their day...

(click pics for a bigger photo to view)

Adam relaxes with his friends and brother a few hours before the ceremony begins...

Pre-wedding and Andrea is glowing in her mum and dad's back garden.

The beautiful Bushmere Arms rose gardens were a cool and relaxing spot to take some final location photos before the bridal party returned to their guests on the other side of the hedge!

Veils! They are my all time favourite bridal accessory!

This is one of my favs and would look fab blown up super large on the wall.

Adam dips Andrea making a beautiful contrast to the gritty urban alleyway.

I had some serious shoe-jealousy going on...

Thanks guys I had a blast!

xCat

Gisborne wedding : Bridgette and Grant : sneaky peeks!

...or Bizza and Grantos as they are so fondly now known to me.
I LOVE making new buddies, and I am so happy to say these two lovely peeps - who I had the GREAT honour of photographing on Friday - have firmly found a little nest of love and happiness in my heart.
And what a day for a wedding it was on Friday! The sun baked, the bridal party frolicked, the corks popped and the Pacific Ocean gleeeeeamed above the Makarori Headland where the couple shared their vows.Gizzy pulled one out of the hat for these fantastic folks who are off to Sa Sa Samoa tomorrow for a fabulous honeymoon in the sun. I hope you have the bestest time ever!

How fab does Bridgette look! AND I thought Bridgette's hair was fantastic (it was handy having the super-talented Petrece on hand as personal hair stylist AND bridesmaid!) and her eyes looked AMAZING and sparkly in the sun.

Bridgette's bridesmaids Petrece, Briar and Marg were SO fabulous and FUN! I just love the glasses they were wearing!

This giant log washed up on the beach and was spotted by bridesmaid Briar while she was out on a run, a few days before the wedding. It made the perfect spot for some stunning photos. I really love the line of the log through the image, and Bridgette's body, then Grant's. I think it makes a great pattern, 

The gorgeous couple !

More beachy happiness

Super happy Grantos and beautiful Bridgette

The start of an ICE CREAM fight! Marg can't resist and gives Grantos a cool down, while Fred's about to wear a Mark Ferris special!

As the sea haze came up and the sun went down, I could see this would be the perfect spot for a gorgeous moody photograph, and tried to sneak the couple away from the reception to shoot this delicious photo. 

And special thanks to my amazing friend Christopher John Saggers (of Kotahi Longboards fame) who helped me out on the day, cooling me off with waters and lugging my gear around. And shout outs to the gorgeous Sarah, owner of Studio 38 and a super talented makeup artist and professional beauty therapist extraordinaire, who I had super fun getting to know on the day.

xCat

Vamping up your Gisborne twilight this summer... photo special!

Super Gisborne portrait deal - all summer long!

Dusky portraits, low golden light...mmmmm gorgeous!

All summer long, on Tuesday's and Wednesday's at the most beautiful time of day - twilight - I will be having portrait sessions for couples, families, kids and pets right here in Gisborne.

The sessions will be alfresco in any spot you like from 6-7pm.
I'll have just two spaces a week for these sessions so it's first in first served :)

For the super bargain deal of $150 (normally $270) you'll get a fabulous photo session, editing, plus two 8x 12 inch prints from the session - with the option of larger prints, canvas or high res digital images if you want them (these cost a bit more).

The Twilight photo sessions will run until the end of March and make excellent gifts for Christmas, or just a treat for yourself or the family! Mmmmm treats.

To book just call me on 06 8686700, or 0211548540, or email me on catbrownphoto@xtra.co.nz

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Greetings from Crete

I popped by to see my mum today because she's been feeling a bit under the weather with a change of season cold. Of course being my mum, she still prepared lunch and a pot of coffee.
I swear, even when she's feeling unwell my mother is a complete energiser bunny.
A load of wood was delivered while I was there which I offered to help her stack, but even that was turned down, 'I haven't exerted myself in days and I need the exercise,' she said, 'I'll do it later, so just leave it for now.'
Still, I could tell my mother really wasn't feeling that well.

After visiting, she walked with me to her gate to say goodbye. At the bottom of her driveway she checked the mail and in her letter box was a postcard from my cousin Fi who is on holiday in Crete.
Fi's note was short; news of an emerging sun tan and daily dips in the island's azure blue waters.
But even so, I noticed that as she read the card, my mother starting looking quite a bit better.
I thought, how amazing. A thing as small as a postcard can make a difference in a person's entire being.
Fi wouldn't have known that mum was feeling ill, but somehow, even from as far away as Crete, her action of buying a card, writing a short note and posting it to New Zealand, made a difference.
I might send a postcard tomorrow.
You never know, someone might just need it.

x Cat

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I video I made to help out anyone choosing a wedding photographer
x Cat

What's your wish? And the 'family cake'

Not last night but the night before we had a special birthday dinner for my fantastic, dreamy niece Penelope.
When it was time to blow out the candle's and make a wish, Penelope took a really long time. I meant a really, really, REALLY long time.
I think she thought so long and hard about what she wanted because when you're little you KNOW what you wish for is going to come true - AND - you only get to do it once a year, so you'd better make it a goody.
I think when we get older, sometimes we stop making wishes, or we become a little bit too realistic for our own goods. When I saw Pp (we've called her this since she was little!) really take time and effort over deciding on exactly what she wanted for her birthday wish, it made me remember how important it is to have wishes and really believe that they can happen.
Sometimes I get a bit jaded and ho hum, and sometimes I need Pp to remind me that for beautiful things to happen sometimes all I need is a little bit more faith. Thanks Pp, beautiful girl!

(That's my mum in the background, and in the corner of the photo you can see the little 'family' that mum cut out and put on the cake...)

I've just got to tell you one more little story...because I think this is SO lovely...

The family cake 


My mother had a plan for Pp's birthday cake : chocolate.
On the morning of Pp's birthday mum actually asked her if she had any special kind of cake that she really really wanted (so she could make a last minute flavour change if necessary!), and Pp said she wanted a 'family cake'. A cake that represented her family!
After some thought mum came up with this fantastic idea...she made a teeny tiny family of Pp (on a horse because she's been learning to ride), her little brother Jeremy, her mother Rachelle and my brother Romilly and put it on top.
What do you think? I think it's amazing!
My mother is so clever and thoughtful!

Have a great day and don't forget to make a wish!
x Cat