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“I’ve got to have him!” That was my first thought when I first laid eyes on him, the thought of sipping cocktails on a white sandy beach watching the sunset over a crystal blue fish filled lagoon never even crossed my mind, but that’s exactly what we’re doing now, on our honeymoon.

We had only been together just over a year when Grant asked me to be his wife. In the ensuing days, after our introduction, our paths seemed to coincidentally cross a number of times. Our meeting came at a time in both our lives when neither of us was contemplating becoming involved in a serious relationship because of our career ambitions but whether one believes in fate or perhaps divine intervention or not, there was no denying the fact that from the moment we met, there was an immediate, inexplicable attraction to each other - the hand of fate had other ideas for our futures and had begun to weave its magic!

As time went on and we came to know each other better, we soon realized that this sense of connection between us was unlike anything we had ever experienced before - we both felt completely at ease in each other’s company, there was nothing that we could not talk to one another about. Actually there was one thing.

I didn’t even see it coming. We were on holiday in Australia to spend Christmas and the 2005 New Year and introduce Grant to my family. The day was New Years Day and also the day of celebration for my koro’s 60th Birthday and presentation of my 21st key, as usual it was a large family and friends celebration and the usual cake cutting, key presentations, music, food and speeches occurred. Just as we were to round up speeches and get down and party, Grant stood up and headed for the mic. I was quite stunned that he got up about to say something because he’s not the type to speak in front of large crowds especially as this crowd was my family who he’d just met so my ears were definitely tuned in to hear his speech. What came next I did not expect.

Grant wished my koro birthday wishes and also congratulated me on turning 21. He then asked if I could come up to the stage, for what I was clueless, but I went anyway as it was my family so embarrassment for me wasn't an issue. Well that was the case until our song ‘I wanna be your man’ by Zapp n Roger started playing softly in the background and he got down on one knee. It was at that moment I burst into tears, I did not see that coming. Of course my answer was yes. How could my answer be anything but yes, when someone walks into our lives who is destined never to leave, it means that they have left footprints on our souls. My soul said yes.

We didn’t really know where to start, we knew we want to get married summer 07 so that we had ample time to plan and of course save money as both of us are from large family’s we knew it was going to be a big one. We had to save even more after only 6 months into the engagement we brought our first home.

To start I did what most women would do I guess, that is buy the magazines and surf the appropriate websites for checklists on what needed to be done and thank goodness for them too, I finally had direction on where to start.

Grant left the majority of the organizing to me and just briefly shared what he’d like and then left me to it but we always made the final decisions together. Our first one setting the date; January 20 2007.

We knew I want to get married under my mountain; Taranaki, and Grant by the sea, so my hometown Warea, Taranaki was our ideal location; under the mountain at Pukeiti for the ceremony and back to Puniho Pa on the coast for the reception meant both our wishes were granted.

With all the biggies booked well in advance I needed to find me a dress. Again I had an idea of what I’d like but could not find it anywhere but after visiting an expo in Palmerston North I met Jo Anne Boyes from Churchwood Bridal, I visited her studio and as soon as I walked in she was warm, welcoming and worked her magic. In only one consultation I had found my dream wedding dress.

From then on everything started to click into place.

Our theme was ‘From land to sea’, incorporating the plants of the land and colours of the sea, mainly the colours of the paua. I had a friend make hundreds of flax roses and flowers and baskets which I then passed on to Christall from Hapene.com to dye and incorporate her hapene and do all the flower arrangements for me. Christall was fantastic, her work was original and everything I was looking for.

My bridesmaids material took a lot of hunting but I found the perfect colour I wanted and brought the last 12meters off the roll to give to my dressmaker Shirley from Astoria to also work her magic.

My Nana and Koro took on organizing the food for the hangi, all Grant and I had to do was go diving for the seafood.

Everything seemed to be running rather smoothly, my checklist was getting ticked off faster than I anticipated, Grant and I happy with the decisions we were making.

Only 3 months to go, I started to stress over the fact that I wasn’t stressed enough.

Only one week to go and both our family’s were starting to arrive from all over New Zealand and overseas. Luckily we had the marae as this helped to accomodate everyone and what a great place to unite two whanau.

The day before the stress decided to show itself in full force. Both our siblings decided that they were not up to being bridesmaid and groomsmen and pulled out, thankfully we had 3 more each, the family’s decided to have a pre-wedding party and drink the wedding drinks and the dining hall and lights had not been set up.

Grant, the amazing man he is, was always trying to do whatever he could to reduce the stress. Me, being the independent girl that I am, just would not eat or sleep until I knew everything was ready to go which meant the girls literally had to grab me from the dining room and take me to our hotel to get some much needed sleep before the big day.

The morning I woke of our big day I could not believe how calm and relaxed I was feeling even the showers outside did not stir my calmness. The girls were brilliant ordering us a champagne breakfast and making sure I was ok. It wasn’t until I took my first sip of bubbles at breakfast that morning that it actually hit me, “I was getting married”.

I was at my hair appointment at 9 and the day had started for me.

Little did I know that my soon to be usually calm husband had been up all night and had caught the stress bug. Grant and the groomsmen arrived at Pukeiti at 12 noon to set up for the ceremony at 1pm, set up was suppose to be outside but because of the rain they had to take and arrange everything in doors.

From then on nothing else mattered to us, only the thought of becoming man and wife.

The ceremony was beautiful. It was raining when I arrived at the gardens, but that didn’t bother me; my nana said it’s a blessing if it rains on your wedding day as it rained on hers also and 35 years on they are still together.

The girls tied on my cloak (korowai) and did some final touches to my dress and theirs and escorted me to my koro who was waiting to walk me down the aisle.

As our song began to play (a song I had always wanted to walk down the aisle since I was 7) a wave of emotions swept through me, I was nervous, scared and so excited to see my soon to be husband.

So we walked down the aisle, I cried, the family cried, the guest cried, even the celebrant shed some tears. My koro untied my korowai (symbol like uplifting a veil off the face) and our ceremony began. We exchanged our vows we had written for each other……

I Sarika/Grant take you Sarika/Grant, to be my husband/wife, my sweetheart, my partner through life.

I promise to always love you and remember why I’m in love with you. I promise to trust you, talk with you, remain honest and faithful to you, cherish and adore you.

I want you to be all that you can be and I promise to take care of you and support you through times of trouble and rejoice with you in times of happiness. I want to share the rest of my life with yours, build our tomorrows together and when we are old, remember our yesterdays together, I promise to love you and fall in love with you over and over for the rest of my life

Exchanged rings, sealed it with a passionate kiss and signed our future journey together. As we walked back down the aisle together my Aunty did a karanga to bless us and our future.

The family then followed for some family snapshots and then headed back down to the local tavern to have nibbles and drinks while waiting for our bridal party to finish having our snapshots. 2 hours later, feeling rather like a celebrity we celebrated in full force back at the marae with a traditional welcome on to the marae, a massive feast of hangi and seafood, touching and embarrassing speeches, drinks and karaoke.

And to finish the night off, Grant and I made sure we were back in our hotel room before midnight struck!

At this very stage in my life I can say it has to be the best day I have lived, even the cocktails I am sipping watching the sunset on a crystal blue fish filled lagoon don’t come close……well maybe a little bit.