Names: Charles & Jade Elliott (nee Mansell)
Date of Wedding: 24th January 2004
Location of Ceremony: The Brook Gardens, Colebrook Road , Edgecumbe
Location of Reception: Edgecumbe War Memorial Hall, Edgecumbe
 After eight years of being together we decided it was time to make our commitment legal. We both knew that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together and we had already shared so much that getting married was the next step. We got engaged on our 8 th year anniversary, 6 th December 2002 . It was more of a ‘discussion’ rather than a romantic proposal (although he did get down on bended knee when he gave me the ring and of course I cried!).
The first thing we decided was our wedding date. 24th January 2004 seemed appropriate. It provided us with just over one year to organise, as well as being a long weekend (Auckland Anniversary), which would give people an extra day to get over their hangovers! Unfortunately the wedding date was about the only thing we agreed upon, everything else was a battle as I’m sure other brides would know about. He wanted a registry office wedding; I wanted the ‘big wedding’. He wanted casual clothing; I wanted tuxedos. He wanted one groomsman, I wanted to include as many special friends and family as possible. There were so many ‘cry’, ‘argue’ and ‘lets call the wedding off!’ days, but it all seems worthwhile now. In the end we decided I would organise the majority with our parents and he would organise wedding attire and vehicles for himself and the groomsmen.
 We wanted to be prepared as much as possible so we immediately started booking venues, hire equipment, wedding vehicles etc. We had six weekly meetings with our parents (as they were paying) to make sure everything was progressing, as well as keeping each other informed with ideas. Our colours were turquoise, silver and of course white; while green would be incorporated by plants such as ivy and palms.
 The Bridal Parties consisted of four Bridesmaids and four Groomsmen who travelled from as far away as London and Australia and two each of flower girls and page boys. Our ceremony was short and simple; a mihi (welcome) by one of our Kaumatuas followed by our own wedding vows then the exchange of rings. Being a hot summer day, we didn’t want our guests sweltering in the heat. A funny moment was when our celebrant, Koro Bronko forgot about the signing of the marriage certificates. He made a joke about it being the most important part of a marriage ceremony but he was too anxious to move onto the refreshments. After the ceremony and congratulatory hugs and kisses we had our photos taken in the beautiful garden setting. While this was happening, the guests continued to mingle and were served chilled drinks and fruit.
 The reception buffet was planned to begin at 5pm so by 4:15pm the guests were making their way to the hall. When we made our entrance it was magnificent. The hall was filled to capacity (at least 650) and the table settings were simple but elegant. White table clothes with a mini palm centrepiece sitting atop a white stand draped in tulle the same colour as the bridesmaids dresses. The programmes that we made by hand (all 500 of them!) were transparent pearl enclosed with silver anodised card. They were very labourious but well worth it for that one moment where the scene looked like something you would see in a Bridal magazine.  The backdrop of the top table was stunning; white and turquoise tulle, fairy lights and silhouettes symbolising love were a romantic touch for the occasion. The draped tulle continued throughout the hall, which also contained various large indoor plants. The idea for this was to remain with the ‘outdoor garden’ theme.
As we entered the hall the local kapa haka group (Ngati Awa Ki Rangitaiki) erupted into song. They were situated on a second level stage so everyone in the hall could see them. This was an unexpected surprise, which was so special that I ended up with goose bumps. After a short mihi and grace we dined on our buffet meal of ham off the bone, chicken nibbles, roast pork, cold meats, roast vegetables, salads and all the seafood you could imagine! One of our guests was overheard saying that the meal was ‘fit for a king’. This made our parents extremely happy because one of their main concerns was to ensure everyone had an enjoyable meal.
 The part of the evening Charles and I had dreaded was the speeches. With so many guests we knew there would be a lot of people wanting to extend their congratulations. As much as we appreciated everything that was spoken, after two and a half hours the M.C decided it was time to move on to the cutting of the cake. By this time, many people including myself were starting to the feel the effects of the wine and were ready to rock the night away!
The formal part of the evening wrapped up about 9pm and then it was disco time thanks to the local DJ. Charles and I spent our wedding night at a bed and breakfast (Motuhora Rise, Whakatane). After a hectic day it was very much appreciated. We woke up as husband and wife overlooking the Rangitaiki Plains, our home area. It will be a night we will not forget because I’m now pregnant with our first child and calculations reveal conception occurred over that weekend! I would imagine there would be many other married couples out there that have experienced the same thing!
 Our wedding day was just as beautiful and special as I imagined it would be. One of the most amazing memories I have is the amount of people who helped to create such a beautiful day. Family and friends did the catering. Most of the food was donated, our uncles, cousins and family friends went diving the week prior to the wedding and the wedding cake, melt in your mouth chocolate, was made by my husband’s cousin. We’ve never seen a cake disappear so fast, it was so delicious!
The local garden club, who only charged for the cost of the flowers plus a little extra pocket money, prepared the flowers. Not only were the arrangements beautiful, but also they were half the price to that of the local floral shop. The plant hire was from a local company (Living Decor) where the owners happened to be ex-teachers from my old high school. When we made the payment, they declined it and said the plants were a donation. It saved us about $500 and was one of our best presents. As a non-professional, not only did Vicki Otten provide her photography services for free but the videographer, Vince Heperi was a friend of an uncle and he provided his services at a discounted price. Vicki was amazing and the photos even better. Charles and I are normally camera shy but we felt so comfortable and the end result, the photos were fabulous and definitely worthy of a professional! I would recommend Vicki to anyone.
My advice to those preparing for the ‘big day’ would be to ensure they take the time to enjoy it. Don’t worry about the details, being on time, the weather etc. Just remember, at the end of the day it’s all about the union of two people who love one another and want to spend the rest of their lives together. If you go to home together at the end of the evening you can definitely call it a successful and beautiful day!
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