Article by Johanna Osborne

Do you ever wonder how the wedding specialists do it when they tie the knot themselves? I got to ask that very question when I spoke to the divine Penny Evans. Penny has been a professional photographer for over 10 years and owns and runs her own photography business, Inspire Photography, with her business partner Simon.

As a guru of weddings, and having photographed well in excess of 150 of them over the years, Penny has seen it all. And she remains as passionate about it today as the day she started – “I just love it!” Penny explains “I just love the process. A photographer is usually one of the first, as well as the last person a couple getting married has contact with. I enjoy giving advice and guidance in the beginning and seeing it all come together on the day. The wedding album should reflect that, and it’s such a joy seeing it all come together”.

So when it came time to plan her own wedding, Penny looked towards her treasure trove of previous experience and took what she knows to work and adapted it to her own situation. Penny is a vibrant, positive and happy person, and her relaxed yet organised nature makes her incredibly popular with her clients.  For Penny it made sense to go for a low-key wedding, which was “all about being with the people we care about most”. Held in Nelson where Penny grew up, the day shaped up to be the most stress-free and happy occasion a bride could wish for.

In fact the whole affair is rather “fairy-tale-like”. Penny met her now-husband Steve on a blind date set up by a mutual friend. One encounter at Sweet Mother’s Kitchen and 2 years later, they became husband and wife. How romantic!

Penny’s secret to making her big day so successful? She’s lucky enough to count some of Wellington’s best photographers amongst her close friends. Her talented business partner Simon shot beautiful images, and the renowned Kate Macpherson took stunning photos prior to the wedding. Prior? Yes, prior! Penny swears that having photos before the wedding is the key to a more relaxed event.  Penny and her husband Steve were able to spend over an hour with Kate having relaxed, romantic shots taken before their guests arrived, thus allowing them to spend every minute with their nearest and dearest after this. There were no long absences, and most importantly no missing out on the party. Penny says “This way of doing things gives you a lot more freedom to enjoy the day and spend time with your guests”.  Interestingly Penny adds that most couples she works with, who do choose to have their photos taken beforehand, end up being very glad they did, and in hindsight many couples often wish they had done so.

As an extra note Penny shares with us “One thing I do recommend if you are going for a big wedding is to get a wedding planner. Weddings can become all consuming, and planners are worth their weight in gold. Our wedding was small and intimate, but if you are planning a big lavish event, it’s good to pass it to someone else who will have it all running like clockwork. Let yourself have as much fun as possible and enjoy the ride”. Sage words from someone who knows the business well!

As we admire Penny’s beautiful photos one thing becomes clear – this is one lady who knows how to create special lifetime memories, whether it’s for herself or her treasured clients.