Raj and Amy Get Married!

Oh my Goodness! I haven't shown you any photos or details of the best few weeks of my year!!

In March my big Sis and her handsome beau travelled from London where they have lived for 7(?) years to get married in front of their friends and family in Akaroa. 

Since Amy was planning her dream wedding across the other side of the world I ended up (joyfully) doing a few of the details from this side of the globe to make life easier for her. It was a huge event, one that took a lot of planning and I can't quite believe how much they managed just on emails and phone calls! 

I'm quite proud of what I was able to achieve and absolutely loved doing the decorations for the wedding! 

Here are some beautiful photos from the big day...

My most beautiful, stunning sister in her wedding gown!

The three nieces wore indian choli's which Amy and Raj bought when they were in India over the new years and walked down the aisle with Amy and Dad. They were adorable!

Nanny Kim went with us and played Nanny for all the girls, they loved her and had a great time once they were through with their flower girl roles.

My new brother, Raj! 

Oh hello MrMoo! Graeme was given the honour of officiating their marriage!

This wedding was on such an absolutely beautiful day heading into Autumn. It was set at a lodge on the hillside looking down into Akaroa habour! We couldn't have asked for a better day.

My siblings, with Nana and Mum

The reception was in a big room with a massive fireplace and long tressle tables. Amy and Raj didn't have a wedding party, and sat with the guests at the tables. 

We filled the beams with white bunting, fairy lights, and on the tables; jars of garden flowers, candles, burlap and river stones as place settings with the guests name beautifully inked on by my friend Rosita. On the mantle piece they displayed photos of their grandparents on their wedding days.

Phew, it was such a big day and such a rush! I was rushing around everywhere pulling things together at the last minute, but it was so much fun and I really enjoyed it all! It felt like a privilege to be involved in their wedding and it was a beautiful, flawless day! 

They hired a band to play the night out, and at the end of the night it was Amy, Raj, Graeme and Myself. In typical Amy fashion, she danced to every single song and had to be sent home so we could lock up!

Happy Marriage Raj & Amy, we love you both x

Proposal

Circa 2007, dating at the Zoo. The boy I fell for. 

This is the account of our engagement, as told by MrMoo, written in 2009.

-----------------------------

Our One Year Anniversary of being together was coming up fast and I’d been secretly paying off a great wee present, small, round, shiny and expensive…

I threw in small comments about making it a special night, the 7th of July, talked about how cool it was how we got together on that day, being 07/07/07
Those who know me well will be certain I set that one up, but its pure chance and I’m stoked on it.
So throwing these comments around got Sophie started on suggestions for how to celebrate, making all the plans her idea and I would agree.

She suggested we go up the hills to one of our favourite spots, one I’d already thought was a great proposal spot.

So a couple days before hand, Roy and I went for a drive to see where to setup the equipment.

That was fun because it involved dodging a road closed sign and getting stuck in snow! then building a snow ramp to jump out of a ditch with my trusty Max (my car)

All set and it was time to do this!

Monday came and I had a flash of a day at work, thought it would take ages considering what lay ahead that night..

4pm came around, I met up with my team of setup ninjas and gave them a brief on their all too important mission.

We parted ways and I headed off to pickup Sophie.

Trip to the supermarket for some food, hot chicken, nice rolls, marshmallows, candles, sparkling wine. We were set..

Phone call from ninjas… Snow is worse! Roads closed again, won’t make it through this time.

Move to plan B! different location, same setup. Go Go Go!

We drive up the hills, looking at the lights as we ascend, its beautiful. Perfect view.

I drove to the road closed sign as if I don’t know, I acted really gutted that it spoiled our plan for our special anniversary night. She bought it.

Out of nowhere I "had an idea." We headed down the other side of the hill.

“Where are we going?” She kept asking
“I have a backup plan” was my response

Up a few crazy roads we end up at a house on top of the hill overlooking governors bay. A beautiful wooden deck sticks out over the hill with a stream running below it, blankets and pillows laid out in the middle with dim lights shining on our setting.

We sit down and I light the candles, they form a circle around us and light up the
picnic beautifully.

We eat, and cuddle, and smile, and talk.
Reminiscing and laughing about the great past year we have had.
Talking about the past, the present and parts of the future.

After some of the food and wine is finished, we stand up and walk over to the rail and look out at the harbour, then up at the stars.

Cuddling close I ask “Are you happy?”
“Yes”
“How happy?”
She makes motions with her arms stetched as far as they reach.
“Could anything make you happier?”
She pauses…
“No”

Time to prove her wrong.

I lead her back to the centre of the candle circle. Standing in the middle embracing one another I tell her how much I love her and how important she is to me.
That I wanted this night to be special.
That I have wanted to have a night like this for a long time.

Cue part one.

From the bushes and under the deck comes music, our song, Stolen by Dashboard Confessional plays loudly. The distinctive electric guitar riff in the intro pierces the silence and brings a shocked and very emotive look upon her face.

A moment later, a spot light from above lights up our center stage.

Now completely frozen in a jaw dropped position her eyes slowly fill with tears as I stare straight into them.

“Sophie Anne Hawes” (thats where she blacked out when recalling it later)

I told her further more about her importance and my appreciation for her in my life, removing a hand from her tight grip.
Now holding a small box I open it up, get down on one knee and ask “Will you marry me?”

“Yes” came through a teary, surprised and overwhelmed smile.

Ring on the finger and standing there hugging and crying, she wouldn’t let go of me.
I was happier than ever before.

We stood there for a long time and took in the moment.

It was amazing.

We got in the car and headed back down the hill.
We reached the bottom and pulled into a bar/cafe across the road, Families and friends were all there waiting and full of hugs and congratulations.

What an awesome night. Bring on the rest. I am so stoked.
Thank you God for such an amazing blessing. My fiance Sophie.


READ MORE IN THIS SERIES:
Stalker Boy - How we met
The Wedding Ceremony
A Newly Wed Disaster