Hobbiton Vow Renewal | Kristina & Danny’s 20-Year Love Story

When Kristina and Danny contacted me from America, they were planning a very special trip to New Zealand to fulfil a long-held dream: celebrating two decades of marriage by renewing their vows at the magical Hobbiton Movie Set.

They booked their vow renewal at Handfast Glade. Handfast Glade is a private ceremony location within Hobbiton, away from the regular tour route, which is the perfect setting for such a special occasion.

One of the first things I noticed about Kristina and Danny was how incredibly warm and happy they both were. They had such confident, easy-going personalities, and we instantly hit it off.

Kristina is incredibly creative, and although she had bought her wedding dress, she hand-stitched the beautiful green vine detailing onto it herself. It took her countless hours, but honestly, it was worth every one of them. The detail was absolutely beautiful and suited the Hobbiton setting perfectly.

And then there was their ring story.

At one point, I asked to photograph their wedding ring, and they looked at me and said, “What ring?” I thought they were joking!

But they explained that the ring they were wearing wasn't actually their original wedding ring. Many years ago, they had reached a point in their lives where money was very tight, and they had to pawn it. Incredibly, now here they were standing together on the other side of the world, renewing their vows at their dream destination! What an uplifting and inspirational story.

Because their day wasn't just about Hobbiton, or the dress, or having beautiful photos. It was about everything they had been through together to get to that moment. Twenty years of marriage, all the ups and downs that come with a life and now they were here celebrating how far they had come.

The weather was absolutely beautiful for their vow renewal, although the bright midday sun did give us a little challenge! We worked with the light and utilised the best spots around Hobbiton. The result was a beautiful collection of images that I think really reflect how completely in love and genuinely happy they are together.

Kristina and Danny, congratulations on 20 years of marriage. I hope you continue to have many more adventures together, and I hope your time in New Zealand was everything you dreamed it would be.

Sacha x

And if you're dreaming of a Hobbiton wedding or vow renewal of your own, there are several beautiful ways to experience it. From intimate ceremonies in private locations, the Hobbiton team can help you create something that feels incredibly special to you.

For more information, visit the Hobbiton Movie Set website. If you're also looking for a photographer to capture your day, you can find out more about my Hobbiton Wedding Photography here. I’m proud to be on Hobbiton’s preferred photographer list.

Thank you for reading this beautiful story.