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To completely grasp the magic of March the 19th 2006, and to understand how deserving Ben and Kirsty are of this highly sort-after award, you must journey back in time to the origins of their relationship…

The story of Ben and Kirsty started way back at primary school, when 12 year-old Benjamin Bond, had the chance to partner up with Kirsty Bull for ball-room dancing lessons. He thought she was worth getting to know, and spent the next 6 years doing just that (though she remained oblivious to his feelings being more than just friendship). That was until their final year of college, which saw an increase in phone conversations, email exchanges and subtle flirtatious behaviour, leaving them secretly wondering if the feelings of attraction were mutual. School ended and Ben finally plucked up the courage to confess his 6-year-long crush to Kirsty. What a relief! She liked him too! So they made it official - he became her boyfriend, and she became his girlfriend…and so it continued for the next 5 years.

As you may have noticed, this engagement was a long time coming. During one summer holiday, Kirsty took a long ‘contemplating life’ kind of stroll on the beach. Dying to know whether this relationship was on the right path – she whimsically prayed for a sign that Ben was ‘the one’. Not just any sign, a specific sign: a heart shaped rock. She stumbled across a rock that vaguely resembled a deformed heart-shape and put it in her pocket – but then, you can make any rock look like a heart if you try hard enough.

Several summers later, Ben led Kirsty to a secluded beach after sunset. Nestled under the Pohutakawa trees was a home-made outdoor spa pool dug into the sand. Being an engineer/inventor/kiwi ingenuity type, Ben had toiled away in his garage for several months designing this spa out of bathtubs, car windscreen-wiper pumps, and a barbeque element. The makeshift spa was surrounded by tea-light candles, and romantic music played in the background from a portable stereo. Ben got down on one knee and pulled out from his pocket a perfectly hand-crafted heart-shaped rock (which he’d also toiled away at in the garage). He opened it up to reveal a sparkling diamond ring. She said ‘yes’. And they soaked the night away in the spa, under the stars with no one else around, looking out towards Rangitoto Island and dreaming about their special wedding day.

By now you will have noticed the beach theme is emerging. Growing up in a sea-side community called the Hibiscus Coast, means the beach is home. Kirsty and her bridesmaids scurried around many beaches collecting pussy-willows, shells and Toitoi for the ceremony decorations, invitations, table settings and bouquets. Kirsty also explored beach after beach to find the best location – Castor Bay on Auckland’s North Shore.

When March 19th arrived the sun was shining and 120 guests gathered on the beach. With a suped-up WRX as the boys’ wedding car, Ben wasn’t about to let someone else drive it! Ben took the wheel, accompanied by his groomsmen in the back all sporting aviator sunglasses.

Kirsty and her bridesmaids arrived in matching silver BMW’s. The bridesmaids walked as daintily as possible up the sandy aisle marked out by Toitoi. Kirsty and her Dad followed, and though little bits of seaweed managed to attach themselves to Kirsty’s train, she wasn’t phased – all part of getting married on the beach. They stood on a flax mat framed by Toitoi and Rangitoto Island in the background – picture perfect.

The service was led by a Pastor who is no stranger to Ben and Kirsty – he took care of the youth at the church they grew up at, and they’d spent several evenings with him and his wife planning and personalising their service and vowels.

A couple of close friends led the crowd through a song, Kirsty’s Gran read a passage about love from the bible and Ben’s Granddad played ‘what a wonderful world’ on the saxophone. It was really special to have all these familiar people involved and contributing to their special day.

Ben and Kirsty signed the register at a little table decorated with Paua shells. They were now presented as “Ben and Kirsty Bond!” and…the crowd went wild! Grooving back down the isle to Dave Dobbyn’s ‘Slice of Heaven’ they were showered with rose-petal confetti as they went.

The guests mingled on the beach with drinks and nibbles in hand. And Kirsty and Ben, accompanied by their bridal party, scrambled over rocks and into old war bunkers, putting their bodies on the line to capture the perfect wedding pictures. By the end of the day one of the groomsmen’s shoes had only half a sole left and the bridal gown had a dirty brown hemline! But much fun and laughter was had during the photo shoot…Even the photographer had a ball (commenting on how much easier it is to coordinate a group of tight friends, compared with parties who barely know each other).

There were no strangers amongst the bridal party either…Let’s introduce them:

*Emma, the Maid of Honour (Kirsty’s sister)

*Tarsha, Bridesmaid (long time friend of Kirsty and Ben)

*Annaliese, Bridesmaid (Ben’s sister)

*Nathan, the Best Man (Ben’s brother and childhood boyfriend of Emma)

*Matt, Groomsman (long time friend of Ben and Kirsty and boyfriend to Tarsha)

*Craig, Groomsman (long time friend of Ben and Kirsty)

So as you can see…no strangers.

Continuing with the beach theme, the reception took place at McHughs on Cheltenham Beach which once again had a beautiful outlook to Rangitoto Island.

Each table was set with a glass vase containing a candle surrounded by sand, paua and pussy-willows…these elements were also stuck to the name-tags.

After a lovely meal and some very entertaining speeches the band began to set up. Ben and Kirsty cut the cake – chocolate flavour complete with Guilian chocolate sea-shells to decorate.

Later Kirsty found herself engrossed in conversation with her back to the stage when Ben began serenading her with ‘Can’t take my eyes off you’…she turned around to see him approaching her with microphone in hand, he then took her hand and led her onto the dance-floor for a very impressive impromptu swing-dance that came off like a polished Broadway production.

After a night of dancing, everyone gathered outside on the beach to farewell Ben and Kirsty. The crowd were given sparklers to wave as the newly-wed couple walked hand in hand down the beach between an aisle of exploding fireworks, and off into the distance.

It couldn’t have been more perfect. Words and pictures can’t quite convey just how special this wedding day really was. If you could have been there in person to witness the spirit of the day, you’d be convinced without a doubt that Ben and Kirsty’s wedding is a stand-out, head above the rest, tall poppy that deserves the limelight.