Amy + Tamehana by Luisa Apanui - Together Journal

I looked ahead and Tamehana popped out from the bush and surprised me. I had no idea he was in Queenstown. He proposed to me on the waterfront, and it was such a beautiful evening.

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
AW: I work in communications and Tamehana is a Project Manager for civil construction projects. Tamehana grew up in Paeroa and I grew up in Hamilton. After dating for two years, we moved to Auckland and spent seven years there together. During that time, we brought our first home. I have always been an animal lover, so it wasn’t long before we got our dog Nala who is a ‘rescue special’ and just the best pup we could ask for. During the first COVID-19 lockdown in Auckland, we both decided that it was time for us to move back home to the Waikato to be closer to our family and friends down there. It was hard to say goodbye as we loved our life up there and our wonderful Auckland-based friends, but we’re really enjoying being back home.

TW: We both enjoy travelling and have over the years been fortunate enough to experience some beautiful places around the world. I like to go fishing, so it was a bonus being in Clevedon for our wedding which is close to the sea. It meant I could get some fishing in with the boys before the big day!

When did you first realise that this was someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with?
AW: It was clear to me very early on that Tamehana was someone I was meant to meet. But I think what really cemented it for me in terms of knowing that he was my forever person, was when we met each other’s family. Tamehana’s family are some of the most beautiful people you could ever hope to meet. They welcomed me with open arms right from the very beginning and I’m so grateful to have had their love and support throughout our relationship. I feel really lucky to be an Aunty to his six nieces and nephews. My Dad has three daughters including me, and so when I brought Tamehana home to meet my family it was like Dad got the son he never had! My Mum and sisters could see how happy Tamehana made me – he fitted in with our family immediately.

TW: It wasn’t long into our relationship that I knew Amy was different to anyone I had met before. Whenever we talked, I felt like I had known her for years. Our values aligned and as time went by, I could see how caring, kind, and selfless she was to everyone in her circle and that’s what made me fall in love with her more. It doesn’t hurt that she is as beautiful as she is kind.

Was there a proposal? Tell us a little about it…
AW: I was in Queenstown with my close girlfriends, and we had just spent an amazing holiday together. On the last night, we decided we were going to go out and I remember my friend Christy was in a bit of frazzle for us all to get ready quickly. She suggested that her and I go for a drive while we wait for the others to get ready. She drove me out to Jacks Point, and I remember seeing this beautiful tepee and flowers set up and thought someone was eloping. It was then that Christy turned to me and gave me a hug and said, ‘See you soon’ and started heading back to the car. I looked ahead and Tamehana popped out from the bush and surprised me. I had no idea he was in Queenstown. He proposed to me on the waterfront, and it was such a beautiful evening. Little did I know, Tamehana had hired a photographer (Luisa), to capture the entire thing for us. After a few pics, Tamehana and I then spent the next two hours sitting and talking about our future together, enjoying the beautiful evening up until the sun set. We then headed back to where I was staying and met up with my girls who were waiting for us with hugs and champagne.

TW: Many months prior to me popping the question to Amy, I had pre-booked flights to Queenstown and worked with a planner to help me with setting up a romantic picnic. What I hadn’t planned for was Amy coming home from a weekend away with the girls and saying, “Babe guess what me and the girls have booked a spontaneous trip to Queenstown”. The dates she had booked with her friends happened to be very close to the dates that I had booked for us. Rather than changing my plans, I thought maybe this unexpected situation could actually work in my favour and I could still propose when she least expected it. I rang Amy’s bestie, Christy, to ask if she would mind me interrupting the last night of their girls’ trip to propose to Amy while they are all in Queenstown. Christy was the only one who knew about my plans the whole trip. The proposal spot was at Jack’s Point in Queenstown, right near the water with beautiful hills in the background.

What was one element you were happy to splurge on?
AW: The venue was always something we really wanted to invest in. Kauri Bay Boomrock was the perfect mix of both Tamehana and I. It is set on farmland which ties back to my upbringing on a farm and overlooks the Hauraki Gulf which holds a special place for Tamehana.

I had been lucky enough to work with Ollie and the team at Kauri Bay Boomrock prior to our wedding and so I knew that we would be in the very best hands, and everyone would love the setting, food, and service. Photography and video were other aspects that we really wanted to invest in. After seeing the photos Luisa had done for us for our proposal, there was no doubt in our minds that we wanted her to photograph our wedding and have her partner Api film it. A few days after our wedding, Luisa and Api asked if we would be keen to get back in our dress and suit and take some post-wedding pics on Hahei beach with our dog Nala. The pics turned out so cool and hold memories that will last forever.