Well, it wasn't really a proposal. Dan & I were on a friend's birthday bus trip when, after a few beers, Dan was telling his friend how he had found the girl of his dreams & that he wanted to be with me for the rest of his life & before long it had become gossip through the bus that he had proposed! Before the night was out he had gotten on one knee & done the deed though but it wasn't entirely to his plans!

We had a special date in mind, Feb 17th, so we hurried a little & were able to put it all together in a little over 4 months.

We did most things ourselves. The invites were all handmade, each one was different but all had a common theme, kiwiana. Paua, flax, sand, shells & leaves were all used to decorate the invites. It was quite exciting watching people compare their invites with each other! All our table decorations were our own too, ferns & river stones, with the place settings all named after kiwi native birds.

KIWIANA, we're totally kiwi, through & through!

WOW! Everything about the ceremony was amazing! My uncle performed the ceremony.My brother (in absence of a Dad) gave me away. We had written our own vows, which made our friends & family a little teary. The were very US.

At the reception, my bridesmaids & I performed a dance to Christina Aguillera's 'Ain't no other man' (a well kept surprise from my Dan!). We sat Dan in the middle of the dance floor & danced around him, enabling him to remove my garter during the song. It was great!

I had a beautiful dress designed by me, made by my friend Pauline & embroidered by my friends Penny & Trevor at Kaiapoi Monograms. It was a halter neck, low back, tight-fitting dress, with beading on the back, a stunning green koru pattern spiralling round the body & green chiffon lining. Just gorgeous!

My girls, Lee & Shona looked superb in their halter neck green dresses. Both quite busty girls, the cut was just devine on them. They wore matching paua jewellery. My daughter, Tori wore a cute little white dress from a dance shop with a pretty wee tiara in her hair.

My bridesmaid Lee organised the cars, a white '64T-Bird & a green '60 Ford Fairlane. They matched our colour theme perfectly.

Our vows, Dan is a real child at heart (could be why he gets on SO well with my 7 year old) & he collects action figures which is something I mentioned in my vows to him. To always nurture his geekiness. & Dan's vows to me were to make a happy & welcoming home. That, we will do.

Well, my dance was kinda sweet, kinda funny but the funniest moment was probably when the MC, Tim, talked about us as a couple. He was how I met Dan & he went on to say how we are perfect for each other, the Ying & the Yang, the black & the white. Cheeky bugger, I'm maori & Dan's european.

Something new- my dress, something blue- my garter, something borrowed- my late friend Kiri's earrings, something old- a beautiful fur shoulder wrap. Non-traditional was Dan & his groomsmen wearing shorts & Adidas 3 stripes

My dragon boat team ( all cancer survivors) organised with my Mum to be at the ceremony & give me & my bro a guard of honour on entering the Groynes, incredibly touching! Thank you so much to Abreast of Life (who won gold at the nationals this season), you're all winners!

We wouldn't do anything differently! We are both laid back people & nothing ever stressed us out in our planning & preparation, (Dan's Mum however was a different story, bless her) & the day ran smoothly & totally to plan.

We honeymooned in Port Douglas, tropical North Queensland. It was lovely, we were like Steve & Terry Irwin, up at the crack of dawn nature hunting, fun!

Gosh, who would have known it would be so great? US! We are totally in love with each other & Dan with my daughter Tori. We have adjusted well & quickly into our new roles & are a really happy family. Dan's Dad is treating him, finally, like a grown-up. It's pretty funny to watch. He had always been a big kid to his Dad & now that he has relished in his new role, his Dad couldn't be prouder!