Mt Holdsworth Wairarapa Engagement Photos: Eliza and Catlin

engaged same sex couple sitting together on the edge of a river at Mt Holdsworth Wairarapa

Eliza and Catlin are a self-proclaimed #tinderromance couple who met in Boston. They now live in Wellington and are getting married in the Tararua Forest Park. That's quite the journey!

I photographed this energetic engaged couple as part of my Wairarapa Lovebirds book project, supporting Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre. In the book, real-life couples share their top Wairarapa wedding planning tips.

For their engagement portraits, Eliza and Cat chose Mount Holdsworth in the Taraura Ranges.

One of the ways I help couples feel relaxed on your wedding day (and avoid awkwardness!) is by really getting to know you before hand. I do this during the engagement session. I love learning about you, your love story and what you do in your daily lives.

All my wedding photography couples have an engagement shoot. This session allows you to see how I work and relax having your photos taken. Plus you'll have some gorgeous nature-based portraits to document this unique time in your lives: your engagement. So when I turn up on the morning of your wedding, it feels like a new best friend just arrived.

We got talking during their session and Eliza said of their decision to marry in a forest: "We are going to have a small ceremony with only our closest family and friends. We knew we wanted to be in a place that is tranquil and in nature. We love camping and being outside and want our wedding weekend to reflect that. All of our guests will be staying on site the night before and after. We can't wait to be in an intimate beautiful space surrounded by our loved ones."

The girls came prepared for adventure and a mini-river exploration wearing jandals. I do have a 'thing' photographing people's shoes... not sure where that came from! We went for a walk through the forest to the bridge. Then enjoyed the peace of the passing water sitting on a rock.

All the best for your upcoming wedding Eliza and Catlin!

You may like to check out my wedding photography for outdoorsy couples who hate awkward poses, getting married in the Wairarapa and Tararua regions. I provide documentary-style photography by a new best friend, so you will feel relaxed, and your photos will be an authentic memory of your day.