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There was no romantic proposal. In November 2005, a mutual decision was made between the two of us after being together for 15 years, having two beautiful daughters, and becoming committed Christians. We decided it was finally time to make a commitment to each other.

There really was no question on where we would get married. Rarotonga was the destination, where my husband was born and where I grew up. The only convincing my husband really needed was the idea of getting married on the beach, a decision we will never regret.

Our wedding date was based on the availability of the venue we wanted to use for our reception, and after a few emails we decided on the 4th of January 2007 at 4.30 in the afternoon.

We both wanted to keep it simple and small. What mattered to us the most was that we shared this special occasion with people who were close to us. We decided we could cater for 80. A decision that didn’t go down well with those we couldn’t invite.

We sent our invites away in July 2006, and were blown away with the response we received from those who had to travel, knowing that we had sent them out a little too late. A party of 40 traveled to Rarotonga and included in this party was the Elder from the church we attend. We were truly blessed that he could attend because we wanted him to be our celebrant and after months of communicating with the Justice Department in Rarotonga we received the approval. It made the occasion so much more special for the both of us.

We didn’t feel the need to go with tradition and have a best man and chief bridesmaid. It was important to us that our daughters were part of the bridal party, and in the end we chose 3 of our nieces to accompany them. Another decision we will never regret. Just take a look at the photos and see how beautiful they all looked. We did feel however, that they were a bit too young to witness, so we chose my husbands brother and only sister to be our witnesses.

We really didn’t have a theme. However, when choosing our invites, I fell in love with fuchsia coloured ones. I really didn’t give much thought on how hard it would be to find bridesmaids dresses in this colour. It was a nightmare and with only six weeks to go, I managed to find them. Our wedding favours from Roc Candy were pink and didn’t quite match the dresses and invites, but they were delicious.

Frangipani was also a must. We really didn’t appreciate the beauty of this flower until we moved to New Zealand. The frangipani is a vibrant tropical flower that is commonly grown in most backyards in Rarotonga, and we used them to decorate our reception tables, our cake, our bouquets, and our hair.

Our wedding day dawned with grey sky and minor drizzles, but by the time we were dressed and ready only a few clouds could be seen in the sky making way for the glorious sun. We were also blessed with a calm sea, a necessity for beach weddings.

The ceremony down the beach from out reception venue was simple and lovely. My dad gave me away. My husband managed to keep from crying, which in turn helped me keep my tears back. We managed to get each other’s rings on after a push and a shove. And most importantly, we said our vows before our family, friends and God. A memory we will both treasure.

Our reception was held at the Sails Restaurant. Their food was divine and the setting perfect. The chocolate cake got everyone talking. It was supreme.

The reception was very casual and relaxed and passed quickly. The speeches kept everyone entertained and I’m sure the wine played a part in that. The DJ commenced at 9pm and those who could stand the heat hit the dance floor. Before we knew it, it was all over.

Well, there was no honeymoon. We went home and that’s why I thought that I’d give this a go. A trip to Fiji for the just the two of us would be icing on the cake.

I purchased my beautiful wedding dress from Brides Corner in Manukau and my stunning jewellery from a local Clem, who is now a regular on the Good Morning Show.