Their Story
From London to Dunedin.
Sarah and Stafford first met at Stafford’s work Christmas party in London. Sarah had been invited by a friend who worked with him, and when she walked into the club, Stafford was the first person to come over and say hello. The party was at a club called Heaven, and it became the beginning of their story.
Years later, Stafford planned a proposal that took them right back to where it all began. Sarah was on maternity leave at the time, and their baby was only three months old. Stafford took the day off work, organised a babysitter and took Sarah into London for what she thought was simply a much-needed day out together.
They had lunch, wandered around the shops on Oxford Street, stopped for hot chocolate, and then Stafford took Sarah back to the club where they had first met. In the middle of rush hour in central London, he spoke about how special she was to him, got down on one knee with the ring, and asked her to marry him.
A wedding with a travel story
Travel was a natural theme for Sarah and Stafford’s wedding. It was something they both loved, something they had enjoyed together, and something that made sense for a couple from opposite sides of the world.
Their colours were navy and gold, chosen to represent Otago and Portsmouth — the places they each came from. It was a simple but meaningful way to bring both sides of their story together.
The ceremony was held at St Paul’s Cathedral in Dunedin, a place with personal meaning for Sarah because of her connection to St Hilda’s. Standing together in such a grand and beautiful space made the ceremony feel especially significant.
Their reception was held at Grandview Gardens in Outram, a venue full of photographic possibilities and one we know well. On this day, that familiarity mattered more than ever.
When wedding days do not go perfectly
By the time Sarah and Stafford arrived at Grandview Gardens, things were running well behind schedule. There had already been lost luggage, transport drama and a limo breakdown, and the photography time had been cut much shorter than planned.
These are the moments where experience really matters. There was no time to wander around working out where to go or what to do. We already knew the venue, the light and the best places to work quickly, so we got straight into it.
Chris Maunsell, who was filming the wedding, summed it up perfectly when he said that it showed how important it is to be familiar with a venue. He was right. Weddings hardly ever go exactly to plan, and there is no substitute for experience when the pressure is on.
“We didn’t have to waste time working out what to do and where to go. We just worked the light, the venue and the moment.”
Even with half the usual time, the goal stayed the same: to create the natural, beautiful images Sarah and Stafford had booked us for. The kind of photos that feel relaxed, genuine and full of the best parts of the day.
The details
Sarah’s dress was by Martina Liana, a strapless ivory lace gown in a trumpet style. Her shoes were Manolo Blahniks from Liberty in London, adding a little extra London glamour to the day.
Hair was by Jess McDowell and makeup was by Sam Chilcott, sisters Sarah described as an amazing duo. The flowers were from Flowers on Mornington and fitted the theme beautifully. Sarah’s bouquet included white lisianthus, pink avalanche roses, white freesias and Queen Anne’s lace.
Stafford wore a suit from Hugo Boss, while the groomsmen wore suits from Moss Bros in London. Their cake was made by Zarlene Kane from Arbitrary Cakes.
A photography experience that felt natural
Sarah and Stafford wanted photography that felt natural and relaxed. Stafford was a little worried about being photographed, especially because he often ended up with his eyes closed in photos, so choosing someone experienced mattered to them.
They chose O’Neill Photographics because the work felt natural and down to earth, and because the images were exactly the style they wanted for their wedding day. On the day itself, they felt relaxed and happy, even when the schedule became tight.
“The photography was amazing. Considering we were late to the reception and didn’t give Craig and Sarah much time, they were brilliant.”
Sarah even joked that Sarah doubled as a bridesmaid at one point, carrying her dress and veil after the bridesmaids had perhaps enjoyed the celebrations a little too much.
The result was a set of photographs that captured the best parts of the day: natural moments, special time together, and the feeling of a wedding that had a few hiccups but still came together beautifully.
“Our photos are really natural and have captured the best parts of our day. We absolutely love our photos and can’t stop showing them to people.”
Looking back
For Sarah, one of the best parts of the day was saying their vows and making their marriage official in the cathedral. In such a large and beautiful space, the ceremony felt incredibly special.
Their honeymoon was booked for later in the year: a week in Santorini, Greece, something they were very much looking forward to after the excitement of the wedding.
If Sarah could do one thing differently, it would be to take more time to enjoy the moment. Wedding days move quickly, especially when the unexpected happens, but the important things still shine through.
Sarah and Stafford have plans to move to Dunedin to be closer to their favourite photographer — kidding, but also maybe not kidding — and we would love the chance to photograph this family again.
