Traditional church weddings hold a special place in my heart, and Kathy and James' beautiful ceremony at St Michael's Church in central Auckland was a wonderful reminder of why I love photographing them so much.
Surrounded by family and friends, the couple celebrated their marriage in a heartfelt ceremony filled with love, faith, and meaningful moments. There is something timeless about a church wedding—the anticipation as guests gather, the emotional walk down the aisle, and the joy shared between loved ones as two people begin a new chapter together.
Kathy and James have a beautiful story of how they met.
The couple first crossed paths at a Christian camp organised by StudentLife in June last year. As James tells it, they met because they were both "teacher's pets." Looking for a seat during lunch on the second day of camp, he found an empty chair near the main lecturer. What he didn't realise at the time was that sitting nearby was Kathy - and that one simple decision would change his life forever.
Although his first impression was that she was "the annoying person talking to the lecturer," they quickly struck up a conversation and ended up talking for more than an hour. After the camp, they remained friends for several months, messaging every day and spending hours on video calls while James was living in Wellington.
Eventually, he flew to Auckland for Kathy's birthday, and the following day asked her to be his girlfriend. Not long afterwards, James moved to Auckland, and their relationship continued to grow until he proposed in July this year.
The proposal was every bit as thoughtful as their love story.
James carefully planned a two-day date filled with activities that represented different parts of their relationship. The adventure culminated with a hike to the top of a mountain, where he proposed at sunset—in Afrikaans, Kathy's native language. As Kathy is originally from South Africa, James had been learning Afrikaans, making the proposal even more meaningful and personal.
Following their beautiful ceremony, we spent some time exploring the area around the church for a relaxed couple's session. We didn't need to travel far - just a few quiet spots nearby were enough to capture some intimate moments and celebrate the excitement of their first hours as husband and wife.
It was such a pleasure to be part of Kathy and James' wedding day and witness the love, friendship, and faith that brought them together.
Congratulations to this wonderful couple, and thank you for allowing me to capture such a special chapter of your story.
Enjoy some highlights from this beautiful St Michael's Church wedding in Auckland.
