Their Story
From Arrowtown to the family farm.
Anna and Rob first met through mutual friends at La Rumbla in Arrowtown, where one of their friends was DJing. Rob was leaving the very next day for Sochi to make snow for the Winter Olympics, so Anna did not expect to see or hear from him again. But Rob got her number from a friend, and the rest, as they say, is history.
After years together and two wee boys, Anna always thought they would probably get married one day, but with Rob being so laidback, she was never entirely sure when, or even if, an engagement would happen. Then, after a great day in Queenstown, Rob completely surprised her on the drive home. He pulled over at a spot overlooking the Ida Valley, got down on one knee, and asked the question.
Looking back, Anna says it was so typical of Rob. He did not follow the obvious path or choose one of the many chances earlier in the day. Instead, he waited until the moment was completely unexpected, doing something a little different and keeping her guessing right to the end.
A wedding at home in Patearoa
Anna and Rob were married on their family farm in Patearoa. Rather than building the day around a formal theme, they chose the things they loved and let the day grow naturally from there.
The most important thing was having their favourite people together in one place. They wanted a day of celebrations, fun and connection, and that is exactly what it became.
One of the parts of the planning Anna enjoyed most was collecting and drying flowers in the woolshed to make their confetti. It was a simple, personal detail, and one that became even more special on the day. Their favourite photograph is of the two of them walking back down the aisle with confetti flying through the air, capturing all the energy, happiness and joy of the moment.
Like most weddings, there were challenges along the way. Finding a date that worked for them, their family and their vendors was one of the trickier parts, and Anna admits she worried about plenty of little details in the lead-up. But once the day arrived, none of those small things really mattered. The feeling of the day took over.
The moments that mattered most
For Anna, the most emotional moment came just before walking down the aisle. Seeing Rob standing there in front of all their loved ones, waiting for her, caught her completely off guard. She had not given much thought to how that moment would feel until she was standing in it.
There were also plenty of moments that made the day feel fun and real. Anna surprised herself by giving an impromptu speech, and she still smiles thinking about her and Rob attempting to pull off a polished first dance without any practice. In her words, it would have been “interesting” to watch.
“Seeing all of our friends and family having such a great time was my favourite moment from the day.”
If they could relive one part of the wedding, it would be dancing up a storm to live music with their friends and family. The whole day went quickly, as wedding days always do, but in the best possible way.
A natural photography experience
Before the wedding, Anna and Rob felt nervous about being photographed. Neither of them considered themselves particularly photogenic, and like many couples, they did not want the experience to feel awkward or forced.
What they found instead was a relaxed, easy and natural experience. They loved that Craig and Sarah were calm, fun to be around and able to make them feel comfortable in front of the camera. Half the time, they barely even realised photos were being taken.
A pre-wedding visit helped too, giving everyone a chance to connect before the day. One of Anna’s favourite memories from the photography part of the wedding was simply sitting down for a drink at home with Craig and Sarah after the portraits, enjoying a quiet bit of downtime before heading back into the party.
“Kick back, relax, and let them do their thing — they really know how to capture the day without making it feel staged or forced.”
What Anna and Rob love most about their photographs is the variety. They have the traditional images their families will love, along with the candid, in-between moments that tell the real story of the day. For them, the photos captured everything beautifully while still feeling natural and true.
Looking back
When Anna and Rob look back on their wedding, the thing that stands out most is the feeling of having everyone together. The laughter, the dancing, the confetti, the music and the relaxed farm setting all came together to create a day that felt completely like them.
Their advice to newly engaged couples is simple: trust your instincts. Do what feels right for you and choose the things that genuinely make your heart sing. Try not to be swayed by trends or by what you feel you “should” do. If you stay true to yourselves, you will end up with a day that feels right.
If there was one small thing they might change, it would be starting earlier in the day — not because anything was missing, but simply to have more time to party.
“We probably didn’t fully appreciate just how quickly the day would go — but in the best possible way.”
