Jess + Tom

It's no secret that Hawkes bay is the home of warm summer weather, food and wine, and incredible landscapes. It's basically the dream wedding destination! But what do you do when those stunning landscapes are a long drive from wedding venues —how you do you get stunning photos without leaving your guests for hours? Grab a tea and read on to see how Jess and Tom planned the ultimate wedding experience.

Jess grew up in Hawkes bay and wanted some amazing sunset photos of her and Tom in the Hawkes bay landscape, but driving to an epic spot for photos and being away from their wedding guests for a long time was a trade-off she and Tom weren't willing to make.

Instead they booked what is known as a "day-after session" so they could make the most of the incredible natural landscapes and keep the wedding day about the people they love. This meant Jess and Tom could really enjoy the epic wedding day they'd planned with their guests —many who had travelled from overseas to be there.

The next day, we took Jess and Tom adventuring at sunset high above the Tukituki Valley to take some photos and watch the last rays of the golden Hawkes Bay sun. Because there were no time constraints or guests waiting we were able to shoot at the top of Te Mata Peak at the perfect time for the sun and make the experience super relaxed and fun.

Best of all? They got to enjoy time with their guests and get the amazing sunset photos they'd dreamed of without compromising on either!

If you love the idea of a day-after session be sure to check out our other day-after session weddings and couple sessions.