Real Weddings

Marcel and Trine
Boomrock

Photography by Bonnie Photographics

"We’re an ‘intercontinental’ couple: I’m from New Zealand, and Trine is from Denmark, but we live in Shanghai, where we have both been for more than ten years. Our first meeting was actually in a work context, where I was effectively pitching one of my organisation’s programmes to Trine. I never succeeded with that pitch - but I managed to find myself a wonderful life partner instead. I proposed to Trine at Ship Cove in Marlborough Sounds a year earlier, which is a place that we both absolutely love. It was mid-summer, and the proposal was at the end of a long 6-hour hike in the heat, so I was glad she still said yes! Unbeknownst to us, a helicopter pilot, who was parked up about 50m away from us, had worked out what was happening and photographed the whole thing, which he later shared with us. We were married on January 3, and given how the rest of 2020 has turned out, we feel fortunate to have been able to celebrate our wedding when we did. Many of Trine’s family and friends came all the way from Europe, so it was very special for them to be able to experience New Zealand. A lot of the guests were doubly glad to have made such a big effort to get there, given how things have turned out. The most important factor for us was that the tone of the wedding reflected who we are as individuals and as a couple. Kauri Bay Boomrock was a beautiful location, and it was a grand affair - but it was equally important that we were laughing throughout. The Danes have several fantastic wedding traditions which the New Zealanders took to with gusto. If at any time during the reception the bride leaves the room, then all female guests have to come to the front table to kiss the groom, and vice versa if the groom leaves the room. During the bridal dance, the guests will form a circle and slowly crowd in towards the couple before they finally only have a square metre to navigate. Then the male guests will lift the groom, yank off his shoes and cut the tips off his socks."

Thanks to all the contributing vendors:

Photography: Bonnie Photographics
Venue: Boomrock
Dress: Vera Wang
Florals: Yvette Edwards
Hair & Makeup: La Belle Amie
Celebrant: Adam Jones