Visionworks Photography

 

Weddings Newsletter

 

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In January this year, Pukekohe hosted the United Nations.

 

Marjana Barbaca and Francis Van der Hulst began their marriage celebrations with a leisurely potluck lunch for family and friends.

 

 

 

 

 

Later in the afternoon, after exchanging vows in the garden, champagne toasts and cutting the cake were followed by dancing.

 

Rather than wedding rings, Marjana and Francis exchanged greenstone pendants carved into spirals - the never ending circles symbolising eternity.

 

The wedding was truly international with Marjana's parents from Croatia, Francis's best man (of Polish descent) from Sweden, and Francis's family from New Zealand and Holland.

 

Marjana, radiant in a white satin gown featuring a richly beaded bodice and flowing skirt and train, was given away by her son Dino ...

 

 

 

 

 

... and escorted by her five youngest nieces.

 

And the biggest memory of the day? 

Being locked out on their wedding night. Marjana and Francis were home in Auckland at 1am before they realised that they'd left their house keys in Pukekohe. 

 

After a failed attempt to break in, they had to scour Auckland to find a petrol station selling phone cards, locate a phone box, and persuade Francis's parents to meet them in Papakura with the keys. A truly unforgettable wedding night.