Waterlily Gardens: Kelly & Hayden {Auckland-Waikato wedding photographers}

Congratulations too beautiful couple get married at The Waterlily Gardens - Kelly and Hayden! Their day was just amazing, celebrating with close friends and family in Waihi, not far from Auckland, in the Waikato region. I would be honoured to be their wedding photographer and we had such an amazing pre-wedding photoshoot but global pandemic took a different turn: planned in April wedding was post-ponned to the end of August {exactly at the time when second lockdown took place in Auckland!!!}. What a chance!

It was such a roller coaster ride with Alert level 3 restrictions extended and inability to travel from Auckland to Waihi for us. I’m so glad we have such a wonderful wedding Photographers community and two local Waikato photographers step in and saved the day! Thank you, Lisa and Emma! You shot such a beautiful moments on the day and it was a pleasure for me to select images in the gallery and edit them in my unique style.

Couple shared their story: “We are highschool sweethearts. We were in the same class when we were 6 years old. We have been together ever since. We completed high school and both attended the University of Waikato and flatted in Hamilton together.” The proposal: “I arrived home from a family function to find Taylor Swift blaring on the radio and red arrows on the floor leading up the hallway to our bedroom. There I found a new dress with wine, a candle, rose petals and a bouquet of flowers and a message in a card to get ready: My Love, you are my world. I couldn’t imagine my life without your laugh, your voice, your smile, your beauty, your intellect. Let’s celebrate tonight, no need to rush, wear whatever is comfortable. I’m waiting in the lounge when you’re ready. I found Hayden dressed up in a fancy new suit. He told me we had some time to kill as in my excitement I got ready very quickly, so we opened the wine and chatted and danced for a while. A short drive later, I found myself at the mall. Hayden led us through to the cinemas and up to a theatre where I discovered he had organised a private screening of Disney's The Little Mermaid (we are big Disney fans). He had also organised a picnic basket full of movie snacks and blankets and made me wait until the very end of the movie to pop the question!” What a beautiful story!

Enjoy highlights of this gorgeous wedding!

Great Creative Team:

Celebrant: Holly Gower-Rudman; Cake Maker: Noeline Watts (Groom’s Mother); Florist: Kelly Scawin (Hand-picked); DJ/Band/Musician: Justin Drift (Drift the DJ); Makeup artist: Krystal Hayward (nzmakeupgirl); Hair: Krystal Hayward (nzmakeupgirl); Dress: Vanilla Bridal, Tauranga; Suit: ASOS and Auckland wedding photographers Levien & Lens photography {selections and edit} and Waikato associate photographers - Lisa and Emma.


Waterlily Gardens - Waihi {Auckland based wedding photographer}

Amazing time at Waterlily Gardens in Waihi where Nina & Carl celebrated their special day with close friends and family. Im as an Auckland based wedding photographer been happy to travel to this gorgeous place with everything in one site {getting ready cottage, beautiful gardens, ponds, stream and a wedding venue with great atmosphere}.

Even rainy day can’t stand on the way of this beautiful celebration with emotional first look on the grounds, short trip to waterfall and relaxed time at ceremony and reception on site.

Couple shared their love story: “Me and Carl met 5 years ago at Uni. Then after a few months of dating things became official when we went for a weekend away in Waihi. It’s been a fun 5 (nearly 6) years together, from our graduations, to moving to Korea for a year and travelling together, to moving to Taupo for a couple of years and now ending up back in Hamilton to further our careers and be closer to family. What I love about Carl is life is always an adventure, he makes me laugh everyday and remember what is truely important in life <3 “.

The proposal happened “Spontaneously , I had planned to do it at a later date, but I had the ring with me over summer. We had just spent the week celebrating Christmas with our families and were at the beach in Waihi relaxing. I had never felt more in love with Nina and felt that the moment was right so we went to the beach and as we were walking along I got down on one knee and proposed. We went for a picnic and celebrated in our favourite spot on top of Bowentown hill overlooking Waihi beach and Anzac bay. Waihi is special to us as it where we spend our summers and it is also where we first officially got together nearly 5 years earlier.”

Enjoy highlights of this special wedding:


Great Creative Team:

Wedding planner - Rachael Pride dress - Brand: Made With Love, Style: Ella flowers - Kayla Schuler makeup - Ririmakeup (Rhi Kaipo) hair - Serena Ross celebrant - Megan McCurley coordinator - Rachael Pride & Jess & Bernie MC - Jess and Bernie Band - the strange arrangement

and Auckland wedding photographers - L & L {Levien & Lens photography}, by Olga Levien