How did we meet? Prepare yourselves for the most romantic pickup line ever… October 2013 we were both flatting in Wellington. I was working on a night shift at the hospital when a message popped up on my Facebook, from Luke who I’d never met.
He was having a few cold ones with his flatmates who I knew. He came across a photo of me and sent two extremely romantic words: “Nom Nom”. Following a sheepish apology the next morning, a message conversation ensued. After a few weeks, when he finally asked to meet I said: “sure, if you’re keen to come for a run”. And he did!
Our relationship is natural and not something we feel we need to work really hard at. We’re both passionate about exercise and very driven. I work as an ED Nurse and a Clinical Nurse Educator, and I’m studying towards a Masters of Health. Luke is a real estate agent and fitness instructor. We wake up at 5am most days to hit the gym – but we’re also that couple that will spontaneously go out dancing until the early hours on a weeknight.
Music and travel is how we first bonded. When we travelled through Europe in 2016, Luke filmed a lot on his GoPro with the intention of making a film. It was July 2020, when he finally finished it – and the day after we watched it together, he invited his mum and my parents to see it. We gathered in the lounge and when it got to what I thought was the end, our favourite song came on and a montage of photos of us flashed across the screen. Luke stood up and asked me to come forward, then got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. There were tears all around. The song was Home by Six60, which I also walked down the aisle to.
I flew to Australia with my sisters to get my wedding dress from a shop I was obsessed with. It was about the twentieth dress I tried on that day and not one I would have ever picked for myself (the stylist insisted I tried it). As I was changing, my sister received an urgent text that we had to get back into New Zealand before lockdown began at midnight. We made it back by 11.55pm, and all had to self-isolate for two weeks. But I got my dream dress.
From the beginning we both said that we just wanted a great big party with our closest friends and whānau. Honestly, everything went to plan just the way we wanted. The weather was perfect, the music was vibing. Luke had the privilege of wearing his whānau korowai which is an honour and symbolic of many things in te ao Māori. Our wedding wasn’t just a celebration of our marriage, but also the merging of two whānau.
After the ceremony and before the photos, we took a hamper and some drinks and had some time out just with our bridal party. It was so nice to just stop, take a breath, and absorb the fact we were actually now married! When we arrived back from our photos, our whānau and friends welcomed us with the most incredible haka. Luke’s Māori pride runs deep within him so seeing his family and friends led by his brother/best man was a powerful moment we will never forget.
Location: Tarureka Estate | Photographer: David Le | Videographer: Emma Riddle | Bride’s Dress: Grace Loves Lace | Groom + Groomsmen’s Attire: Farmers | Flora: Holly Parris | Flower Crown: Forrest & Wood | Bride’s Makeup: Friend of Bride | Bride’s Hair: Kabuki Hair Company | Fragrance: Simone by Tocca | Bride’s Nails: Sara at Orly Boutique | Bride’s Wedding Band: Michael Hill Jeweller | Groom + Groomsmen’s Shoes: Number One Shoes | Celebrant: Kevin Plant | Entertainment: DJ Playbak | Catering + Beverages: Crescendo Cuisine | Cake: Mumma Macs Cakes
