I have to admit I didn't feel like blogging yesterday, I spent a lot of the evening glued to the television watching the earthquake rescue efforts. I'm not really a social-commentating blogger, but one thing I was struck by was the incredible sense of community here in New Zealand. Christchurch has so many volunteers offering to help they can't use them all, and more than enough blood has been donated. When a shocking disaster like this happens in such a small country people really depend on that sense of community, family, and pulling together.

Here is my family this week, Elmer having just got up from a nap, but not quite ready to greet the day yet. Amazing how much it takes for him to get to sleep, and how hard he finds it to wake up...

Sometimes I look forward to a particular wedding more than most, and in this one was a case in point. Rebecca and Ryan are lovely, welcoming, funny and stylish... and I knew the wedding would reflect that. The church they chose for the ceremony out in Seacliff is a very cute brick building surrounded by stunning coastal scenery. The cars were uber cool, the flowers were unusual and beautiful, and the entire day sounded like it would be really good fun.

More than that though, Rebecca kept in contact with me about wedding plans and ideas, and I knew we were a good match.

It started raining shortly before the ceremony, and when Rebecca arrived (in a VW combi van!) she looked up at the sky and said "You know what? I don't even care that it's raining!" Her are Ryan are both this down to earth, which I love.

The last two weddings I've shot (including this one) have had me in tears. I wonder where Elmer gets his emotional side from?

He can't walk yet, but he LOVES climbing, swinging and sliding. Anything with a bit of an adrenaline rush. This side of his character should balance out the sensitive-emotional-crying-at-the-sunset part. Not that he cries at the sunset, this is just something we imagine when we talk about the Elmer of the future. Soft on the inside, tough on the outside.

You might be thinking "what a boring thing to feature on a girly photo blog". But you'd be wrong. I have been lusting after a ride on lawn mower like this for about a year, ever since the grass on our property started making it look like the place is derelict, and this mower is going to make the most beautiful green lawns!!!

I almost squealed with delight when Steven pressed the 'buy it now' button on Trademe, but I contained myself because Elmer was asleep upstairs. The advert called it 'Masport Busy Person's Mower', and I like the sound of that...

Rebecca and Jonathan's wedding day started early for me. At dawn, Roisin, Elmer and I drove back from Wanaka to arrive in Dunedin late morning. The wind was gale force, it was cold, cloudy and I think in Waitati it was raining. I seem to talk about the weather a lot but it is so extreme over here! Honestly, it could not have been any more miserable outside.

In contrast to the great outdoors, the homes where Rebecca and Jonathan were getting ready were full of friendly, warm faces, with what seemed like tens of family members all getting ready together! I love houses that are full of books and photographs and ornaments, special things that people have collected over the years. Liana and I felt instantly at home! Plus, I just love the way the light works in older houses, bouncing off high ceilings and wooden floors.

So despite the weather, we started on a good note and the rest of the day flowed beautifully. There were a couple of minor mis-haps, including some missing wedding rings, and a broken down car. The kinds of things you could really do without on your wedding day, but we just used the down-time these episodes provided to capture some family portraits that we otherwise wouldn't have had time for. Plus these two carried off any hiccups with smiles and grace. I was really impressed.

Rebecca is pregnant with baby number two. Baby number one is Amalia, a total cutie with a big exciteable fun streak, and a penchant for digging her teeth into bare flesh. Elmer does the same thing, so that's reassuring.

On to the photographs! (Lots of kid photographs, but they're my favourite type from this wedding....)