RENEE & DEAN – WANAKA

RENEE & DEAN – REAL ENGAGEMENT

Wild love stories, how they began and their journey, are what we swoon over at Wild Hearts. The dreamers and wanderers. The magical destinations. That raw love before the big day.

Set in Central Otago amongst the mountains, stood Renee and Dean. With wild winds and warm light, this engagement shoot captured by local photographer Charlotte Kiri Photography was simply breathtaking. Overlooking Lake Wanaka and with some of New Zealand’s untamed scenery in the background, this was the perfect destination for an afternoon adventure together.

THE LOVE STORY

We met back in the end of 2008 at a New Year’s eve party. We knew each other through friends of friends. Though we didn’t get together that night, we caught each other’s eye and soon got in touch. We went on a few dates to café’s and stayed over each other’s house (both still living with parents), pulling all-nighters, talking until the sun came up and then getting ready for work the next day. A year later we moved out of home together. Over the many years we have grown stronger as a couple and have enjoyed the same love of travel. This love has lead us many places in our time together.

THE PROPOSAL

It was in 2012 when we went on a holiday to Thailand. We were staying in Koh Samet at a beautiful luxury resort. After dinner, Dean left the table saying that he needed to go to the bathroom. I waited at the table and not long after one of the balinese waiters approached me holding out a menu and smiling. I figured that he was giving me a dessert menu to look at, so I opened it up and onto the table fell a little note written in Dean’s handwriting telling me that he has gone back to the villa and has organised a treasure hunt for me. As giddy as a young school girl, I couldn’t stop smiling as I followed the clues and carefully placed little notes around the resort areas. When I was lead to our private villa, I opened the gate to find a chair with bathrobe and slippers laid on top and a blue light torch with another note telling me that I would need this for the rest of my clues.

I was then lead into and through the villa towards the back entrance. Notes along the way added to the suspense and excitement by saying things like “Just a little closer”… “Nearly there”

I opened up the back entrance door and my heart was beating like crazy. I couldn’t wipe the huge smile off my face. I opened the door and saw Dean standing about 2 metres in front of me. I laughed and asked what’s going on. Dean said that my last clue was behind me on the edge of the spa. I shone the light on the little piece of paper and saw those four words “Will you marry me?” as I spun around, Dean was on his knee holding up a ring box with my beautiful sparkling engagement ring inside.

It was perfect, even more than everything I had ever wanted.

OUR STYLE

Natural, fun and not too serious.

THE LOCATION

I really wanted to choose a place that would showcase New Zealand’s amazing landscape. I asked our wonderful photographer Charlotte to surprise us and take us somewhere she loves. I trust Charlotte’s judgement and she truly outdid herself, each spot we went to were beautiful hidden gems!

PLANS FOR THE BIG DAY

We are most excited about making a day where we celebrate everything that we are both about. We want to incorporate all our loves of life into the one special day to really celebrate who we are as individuals as well as a couple. We are looking forward to a casual, laid-back and fun day where nothing is too formal. We are also looking forward to amazing food, drinks and good music, surrounded by people that love and care about us. One of the reasons why we chose to get married in NZ instead of Australia was because we both share a love for travel and exploring new places, so what better way to celebrate our lives together than to get married abroad!