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Birkenhead Wharf may not sound like the most romantic place for a marriage proposal but when you add the lovely little park beside the wharf with an uninterrupted view of the Auckland skyline, a picnic of strawberries and chocolate and love poem spoken gently and persuasively in Spanish, Desiree Stone had no hesitation saying “Yes”. And when her boyfriend, Lincoln Reid, repeated the poem in English just to make sure she understood what he was asking, she said “Yes” again. An interim ring from the $2 shop sealed the proposal!

After living two years in Argentina, on his return to New Zealand it only took Lincoln one month to find the young woman who captivated him. After dating for three months, both he and Desiree quickly realised that they had found the companion that they wanted to be with for eternity.

“Planning for our wedding was a pleasure” Desiree remembers happily. “Both of our families and many of our friends offered to help and we began to realise how many talented people we had to help us with our wedding and reception.” Desiree is a graphic designer and Lincoln also has a strong interest in design so the couple began by designing their own wedding invitations. In the process, they decided on a wedding theme of pink and white with accents of grey and silver.

Desiree’s mother, Dolly Stone, designed and made her daughter’s gown – a beautifully fitting, white satin gown overlaid with an exquisite French lace. The striking simplicity of a wide V-neckline and a slight cap sleeve were offset by an occasional floral cluster accentuated by pearls and crystals. The clustering intensified towards the base of the dres s a nd served to form a heavily beaded train. A short, waist length tulle veil emphasised the fitted waistline.

Lincoln’s mother, Pamela Reid, made the other gowns including the bridesmaids’ and the flower-girls’ dresses. Desiree’s two friends, Claire and Rachel and her sister, Rochelle were the bridesmaids and their dresses, in rose-pink satin, featured heavy ruching down the center of a dropped waist bodice flowing into a very full circular skirt. Monique, Desiree’s youngest sister and Olivia, Lincoln’s niece from the United States, were the flower-girls and they wore full circle white satin dresses overlaid with white organza. A pink satin waistband tied in a full bow completed the pink and white theme. The most junior flower-girl was Lincoln’s four month old niece, Delta, who stole the show in her matching dress.

Desiree’s aunt, Sheryl Stone and close family friend, Shelly Vos, did all of the floral arrangements for the bridal party and the reception and created stunning displays of white lilies and greenery. The flower-girls carried pink and white rose petals in their small white cane baskets.

Lincoln was attended by his two brothers, Jarom and Jordan and friend, Kyron and they chose conservative dark suits which complimented their white Pierre Cardin shirts and rose-pink silk ties. The ring bearer was Jarom’s 18 month old son Harrison who also wore a black suit, white shirt and a matching pink tie. He carried a ring cushion made of the same satin and lace as Desiree’s wedding dress.

Although they both live in Auckland, Lincoln and Desiree were actually married in Hamilton and so the entire bridal party and families spent the night before in Hamilton. Early on the morning of the wedding, Lincoln’s sisters, Dionne Shaw and Sarah Midgely, both make-up artists, completed the hair styling and make-up for the girls. Elegant hairstyles in soft petals offset the twenties’-style dresses.

The Autumn day of April 22nd 2006, continued to produce beautifully warm, sunny weather as Desiree and Lincoln were married at the Latter-day Saint temple on the outskirts of Hamilton. Following the ceremony, they had chosen the Botanical Gardens in Hamilton as the venue for their photographs, focusing on the cream columns and bricked archways in the Italian Renaissance Garden for their theme. Rosalyn Clarke, of Rosalyn Clarke Photography and a family friend, took the photos which were a combination of traditional and fun shots. As Lincoln and his brothers are all North Harbour and New Zealand representative basketball players, the photography literally soared to a new level.

Guests at the wedding had travelled from far and wide including America and Australia so the extra drive to and from Hamilton was simply another part of the wedding journey as they returned to Auckland for the reception. Again the combined creative talents of family members were utilised to decorate the venue where the pink and white theme was continued in the table settings. Large martini glasses filled with pink and white marshmallows sat amongst swirls of pink and white organza and, instead of the traditional olive, the rims of the glasses sported decorative heart-shaped photo holders of spiralled wire and pearls made by Lincoln and his sister-in-law, Carrie. Small black and white photos of Desiree and Lincoln from their wedding invitations, sat in the holders.

A unique feature of the reception was a creation by Lincoln’s mother, influenced by Desiree’s love of ballet (she is an accomplished ballerina and dance teacher) and Lincoln’s love of basketball. Desiree’s Pointe shoes and Lincoln’s basketball were painted white and stood together amongst a swirl of pink organza above the couple’s seat at the head table, adding a very personal touch to the décor.

Another personal touch, made by a family friend, Margaret Judd, was the three-tiered chocolate wedding cake decorated with clusters of chocolate roses and offset by a gorgeous chocolate ribbon sitting on the top. Chocolate was definitely the preferred flavour for the reception and was well provided for by A1 Caterers who supplied a metre-high chocolate fountain overflowing with melted Belgian milk chocolate into which guest dipped skewers of fruit and marshmallows.

The entertainment at the reception was begun by Lincoln’s sister, Dionne Shaw singing the couple in with the song, Forever More. She then sang as Lincoln’s other sister, Carly Tata, provided a power point display of Lincoln and Desiree growing up and finishing with pictures from the actual wedding in Hamilton just a few hours before. A family friend, 8 year old Leah Winters then performed delightful lyrical dance performance and Desiree’s cousins from Australia rounded off the formal speeches fittingly by singing “Endless Love”.

“It was beautiful day filled with everything we could have hoped, from the temple ceremony that we had both wanted from an early age to being surrounded by our dearest family and friends, all of whom had literally helped bring it all to fruition.”

Lincoln and Desiree honeymooned at the Stamford Plaza in Auckland followed by a week in Fiji.