Growing up in Tauranga and going to university in Auckland, I’ve driven through the Karangahape Gorge more times than I can remember. I love this tight winding road (which you definitely have to drive with all car windows right down so you can get the full impact of the river breeze). There’s beautiful walks around abandoned mining works, and the rail trail along here is seriously Rivendale-esque, complete with the optional sweetest wee train ride back. So I was totally stoked to shoot a wedding there for the loveliest couple Marina and Rob (I’ve never seen a groom look so besotted for the duration of the ceremony before – so sweet!) with the big bonus of it being set at the Falls Retreat. If you haven’t cycled the gorge trail you very well may not have come across the Falls Retreat, but you should have, you definitely should have – they have exquisite food, a refreshing farm-to-table philosophy (or paddock-to-plate if you want to kiwi-fy it), friendly staff and the sweetest setting. Nearby is an abandoned battery which provided space to play with light and dark, framing, and felt very Game of Thrones. Here’s some of my favourites from the day.

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Venue: The Falls Retreat