This was actually the very first wedding I had ever photographed. I still remember how nervous I was, camera in hand, heart racing, palms were sweaty, knees weak, and arms were heavy. I had never even been to a wedding before as a guest, and suddenly I was the one entrusted to capture one of the most important days of someone’s life.
Aryana reached out to me when I only had events and portraits in my portfolio, but she saw something in my work, something that maybe I didn't even see in myself at the time. She saw the artistry, she saw the potential, she saw what I could be and decided to take a leap of faith. That leap of faith paved the way for me to meet so many more lovely brides.
It was one of those perfectly sunny Auckland days, where the light spills across the ground in golden ribbons. Mantells Mt Eden looked like a dream, tucked away from the city's bustle, a perfect little haven for love; old stone walls, lush greenery, and that warm European, almost Sicilian kind of magic. Everything felt still and cinematic.
I remember the soft laughter floating through the courtyard, the clinking of glasses, the gentle hum of a day that just felt right. I didn’t yet know how to pace a wedding day, how to direct or anticipate, I just followed the moment and now looking back, that innocence was its own kind of beauty.
Even though my style and eye has evolved tremendously since then, Aryana & Alex will always hold a special place in my heart. It was the day I fell in love with wedding storytelling, watching two lives come together, noticing the little details, feeling the warmth, and witnessing love’s rhythm unfold in real time.
Here’s where it all began.
Aryana & Alex tied the knot at St Andrews Presbyterian Church, a 10 minute drive from Mantells
The Persian ceremony was beautiful even though I didn't understand a single word that was said.
