Weddings by Michael Schultz, Hawke's Bay Photographer

Amber and Marno, a Napier back yard wedding

February 3, 2017

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I was really looking forward to Amber and Marno’s wedding, as they were such a joy to photograph on their engagement session. Going between the two houses was really neat, from the African/Dutch influence in Marno’s parents house to the typical kiwi house complete with motorbikes of Amber’s folks, it was fascinating. Amber’s dress was hand made by Marno’s mum, so not only was it stunning but was made with love and bridged these lovely families over and above the wedding itself. As a Hawke’s Bay Photographer it’s nice to go to new places and this back yard intimate setting was really magical for their ceremony and reception. I hope you enjoy this sneak peek x

Jess and Shaun, a Hawkes Bay Wedding at Te Awa Winery

January 28, 2017

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Jess and Shaun’s wedding was a real family affair, with siblings in the bridal party, a significant milestone family gathering, and with Te Mata Peak holding a special place in Jess’s family for them. Immigrants from Zimbabwe, it was touching for me as a Hawke’s Bay Photographer to hear of the significance the move to New Zealand and to Hawke’s Bay made to their family, and a welcoming into Shaun’s family that this special marriage created. I hope you enjoy these images x

Aimee and Liam, a DIY back yard wedding in Napier

January 27, 2017

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Aimee and Liam had been together for a long time, and he had already co-opted her brothers as his mates. He had taken them from “if you break my sister’s heart, we’ll kill you”, when he and Aimee first started going out, to being the best of mates. Today was a day where everyone was pitching in, everyone was making it happen. It was a big celebration in a big tent, a formal melding of families that had long since been inseparable. It was a sweet, heartfelt, cruisy wedding that did not take itself too seriously. Enjoy x

Shiona and Sam, Rotorua Wedding at Peppers on the Point

December 16, 2016

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Shiona and Sam are a very sweet couple. With their mutual love of MMA, Connor McGregor, T-rex poses and suprise ninja attacks they were already family, and everyone around them knew it. That didn’t stop the day being an emotional one, with lots of happy tears and heartfelt emotions. I also hope a sense of fun comes accross with these two, because you don’t meet many couples who love to laugh as much more than these two. Oh and as a Hawke’s Bay Photographer how amazing was this lakeside Rotorua Wedding location? wedd

Sadia and Jason, French and New Zealand wedding at Mission Estate Winery

November 14, 2016

After having met over a mutual love of tennis, Sadia and Jason returned to New Zealand from their home in the UK to be married at Mission Estate Winery in Napier, Hawke’s Bay. Jason is a Hawke’s Bay boy, hailing from Hastings whereas Sadia has an African/French heritage. It was lovely to see the French, African and New Zealand cultures together at their ceremony to celebrate their marriage. Before their ceremony Sadia and Jason had a first look and some wedding photos at the foothills of the Mission. I hope you enjoy these images from the session x

Emma and Shane at Te Awa, Hawke’s Bay

October 23, 2016

Hawke’s Bay Photographers get to experience some amazing light sometimes. Emma and Shane have been together a long time, and when the day finally came for them to be married, there was a palpable excitement for both of them. As the ceremony approached both seemed very nervous, but after the ceremony was over there was a calm, beautiful sense of peace that seemed to come over these two. They had finally tied the knot and were husband and wife. We had fun times traipsing through the Te Awa vines and catching the last rays of the late afternoon before the cold night air took over and cooled everything down. I hope you enjoy x – Michael

Meg and Kendal, first of the new wedding season at Te Awa Winery

October 5, 2016

Meg and Kendal’s wedding was one that I have been looking forward to for a long time, ever since we had a really great engagement session on Te Mata Peak. I think for a Hawke’s Bay Photographer the winters can be pretty quiet, and I was certainly more than ready to spend the day and to kick off my wedding season with these two lovely people as they tied the knot. Meg’s dress was absolutely amazing, and with some blossoms and olive groves being just around the corner it was a great day to witness Meg and Kendal getting married. We had four seasons in one day, it was emotional, and there was some magic involved x Make-up: Josie Benstrum Make-up Artist Hair: Loco Hair Venue: Te Awa Winery, Hawke’s Bay Second photographer: Shar Hays

Koren and Dean – Early Autumn Lake Taupo Wedding

June 25, 2016

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There is something special about light in early autumn. It’s a lovely time to get married because you’re comfortable in your gown, dress or suit and not overheating like you can at the height of summer. There is also an otherworldly quality to the light at this time of year, with still a lot of warmth yet beautiful low sun angles at almost all times of the day. Koren and Dean are sporty people – wakeboarding in summer and snowboarding in winter. So water and mountains were kind of their thing. I did a lot of location scouting for this wedding and we managed to get lots of shots of both. With a fun loving wedding party and that beautiful dress, and again that light, that light, that light. Enjoy and let me know what you think x

Brittny and Jaden, a sunny winter wedding at Peppers on Lake Rotorua

June 24, 2016

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Brittny and Jaden chose a time of year when a lot of people don’t get married. Cold weather, frosts, fog that rolls in and stays, and boggy ground are common in a wintery Rotorua. However when you get a day with these features of frost and fog, the light is simply stunning. Brittny told me she wanted to go full princess for her wedding, and she did. A clifftop estate ceremony, a large train, a tiara, and full tresses. Brittny looked amazing. The ceremony had a surprise in store – not only did Brittny and Jaden get married, but Jaden’s step son took his surname and was handed a new birth certificate. A surprise to many including some of the bridesmaids, there was hardly a dry eye in the house after this moving and affecting ceremony. As the sun set and with the light rapidly fading, we went on the terraces and waters edge for some bridal photos. As a Hawke’s Bay Photographer other places in New Zealand continue to inspire and amaze me x

Shane and Cat, a friend’s wedding in Whangarei

May 28, 2016

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Sometimes I feel like my clients are my friends, and often they become my friends, but Shane has been a friend of mine for a few years. Shane and I used to work together and we used to do office caffeine runs during our breaks when we worked at Sale Street, Auckland. Caffeine used to get me through those days, and perhaps that is where my enduring coffee addiction was forged. Shane and Cat have been together and in love the whole time I have known Shane, and he’s a family man from ‘nam. Shane and no longer live in the same city – Shane moved to Whangarei to be closer to all his family and I moved from Auckland to be a Hawke’s Bay Photographer. I was honoured and excited to be asked to photograph Shane and Cat’s wedding. With two children together and family and friends already connected, this was another symbol of commitment to an already committed couple. Shane and Cat share a love of Musicals, Cheesy Movies and family. It was great to meet so many of their important people this day and hang out and have loads of fun during their wedding photos. Special thanks to my second photographer Emma from Sweet Events Photography for travelling up from Auckland to shoot with me. Remember if you like my photography to consider following me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.