I want to become a society lady Rockin' a new rock?!

Gorgeous raw-edge lace, an incredible piece of driftwood and an epic New Zealand beach locale came together in this particularly stunning engagement shoot. (Not to mention, Nicole and Sam are basically the most beautiful couple ever.) We’re completely mesmerized by these other-worldly images captured by Thomas Steibl and we know you will be too!

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What made the shooting special and unique?

This engagement session in New Zealand was an awesome little adventure for us! We, Thomas & Cornelia (the photographers, coming from Vienna, Austria) arrived at Whatipu beach the evening before the shooting. We stayed at a beautiful campground for the night, and met the rest of the crew the next morning. Nicole & Sam are the kindest couple in the world. They are not just incredibly nice and caring to each other, but also to the rest of us. It was not hard to capture them and their love; they are simply beautiful human beings.

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Tell us about the gown and where/how she found it!

Harriett, Nicole’s friend and outfitter, brought her stunning gown. And I don’t want to forget Alex who did an amazing job on Nicole’s hair and makeup!

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What were some touches added to make it personal?

It was all very personal. The flowers arranged by Nicole’s friend Harriett.

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What was the most memorable part of the day?

We chose Whatipu beach because we loved the idea of having the sea, the beauty of nature, the rocks and the dunes as a breathtaking backdrop for the photos. We had some great time together, everything was just perfect.

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Tell us how you met (and became engaged).

Nicole and Sam met at medical school and were close friends through six years of study. They finally realized that they were a perfect match in 2011, only a couple of weeks before taking their Hippocratic oath. They live in a villa in Auckland with a vegetable patch and a kitten called Barnaby. They share a love of travel, wine, adventurous eating, detective novels and animal documentaries. Their favorite holiday (so far) is the Galápagos Islands where they swam with sea lions and turtles and ate fresh grilled fish at the evening markets. They are both specializing in Anesthesia, but currently work at different hospitals. They are planning a garden wedding in Kumeu for early 2017 and dream of a honeymoon in the Greek islands.

Photographer: Thomas & Cornelia from Thomas Steibl // Dress & Flowers: Harriett Falvey //Hair & Make-Up: Alexandra Stanworth