As our first anniversary quickly approaches, I thought I would share a little of our own love story and reflect on our wedding day (BEST DAY EVER). Enjoy xx

Our Beginning 

13th September 2013 - Wainui Street, Christchurch 

Our story began on the 13th September 2013, while Dan was working as a draughtsman and I was in my final year of teacher training. Dan was living in a ‘boys flat’, which included our close friend, Jimmy. Jimmy’s girlfriend-now-wife, Liv, convinced me that I needed to come over after work to meet Jimmy’s single, good-looking flatmate ‘DT’ who was ‘just my type!’ Although I was initially reluctant after a long shift, I decided that I would pop in and if I liked the look of Dan, join the group in attending Jimmy’s gig that night. Within a few minutes of arriving at the flat, a tall, dark and handsome man had introduced himself and offered me a drink. I liked his manners, his dimples, and the rest is history… Snaps from the first day we met below - look at those baby faces!

Our Story 

2013 - Present (All over the world)

Over the past six or so years, we have developed our own understanding of what love means to us. Early on in our relationship, around the time that ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ came out and was being discussed heatedly on the radio, we decided to make their own contract… no, it’s not what you are thinking! We promised to always kiss each other hello and goodbye. Dan promised to talk to me about his feelings, as long as it is before 10.30pm so that he can get a good night’s sleep! Finally, we promised that we will both be open to compromise. This ‘contract’ became the foundation of our relationship. 

As our relationship developed, love and trust became our day-to-day reality of half-asleep morning kisses, cooking meals, high fives and butt slaps on the netball court, and our own secret language… It grew further when we bought our house and then decided to spend two years based in London, travelling the UK and Europe at every opportunity. We visited nearly 30 countries so you can imagine how hard it would be to choose photos to share! Love and trust for us is the simple act of always being here for each other, being each other’s rock and anchor. 

The Proposal 

8th August 2017 - Zakynthos, Greece

*Setting The Scene (7th August)

After a five hour bus trip along the coast of Athens, we had the best seats in the house on the ferry to Zakynthos. The water was sparkling and there were schools of flying fish dancing across the surface. Our tent was surrounded by pine trees with a view of the ocean. It smelled like Christmas and home. There was the sound of cicadas, the wind in the trees and the waves crashing. It was magic. We hitchhiked into town to pick up our 50cc scooter to explore the island and spent the evening on the beach under the biggest full moon of the year. 

*The Day (8th August - I had NO idea)

The sun woke us as our tent was bathed in golden light. We drove our scooter to the highest point of the island (though I had to get off the scooter and walk because it was so steep!). There was a 'Mamma Mia' church on the top of the cliff, with walls crumbling down to rubble and an old bell that still rings. Then, to my spiritual home - the ocean, the place I feel simultaneously most alive and at peace. It was here, on a secluded strip of the beach, that Dan proposed with his great-grandmother’s ring.

“You are the love of my life. You are my rock, my anchor, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Victoria Lawrence, will you marry me?”

We spent the afternoon snorkelling in water like glass, laughing, crying, and waiting for everyone at home to wake up so we could share the news! There were a LOT of excited video calls! A few days on, my face still hurt from smiling so much and I felt like my heart might explode. 

We have a very special network of family and friends who make up our whānau and we were inundated with messages of love and support from all around the world. We loved celebrating with everyone when we returned home for the summer at the end of 2017. 

Our Wedding

16 February 2019 - Whangapoua, Coromandel 

The best way to get a feel for our day is to watch Isaac’s slideshow here. It still makes me cry every single time.

Whangapoua is where I spent much of my childhood at my grandparents’ bach. It is a place that represents growing up, summer swims, Mr Whippy, hide and seek, jam sessions, doing the dishes and many, many hands of cards. When I think of Whangapoua, I picture starry nights, taste salt in the air, and remember all the times I have spent there over the years with family and friends. There is a sense of inner peace and the feeling of being grounded. Though it would require a lot of effort and everyone would need to travel, I knew that it was the perfect place for us to be married. 

The wedding weekend was everything we hoped for - from Friday evening, when we met on the beach for sunset swims and nibbles to welcome everyone to our little piece of paradise, to Sunday, when we caught up to eat all of the leftover dessert for breakfast. One of the most special moments on Friday was when my mum, Aunty Lee and Aunty Maree presented us with a quilt that they had hand-stitched for us. There is fabric with pictures of rugby, cricket and netball, as well as a pile of books, a mermaid and school children - all sorts of images that symbolise our lives. It has fabric from my childhood peg apron and my mum's curtains when she was young. Lots of people had helped out with the process - my Nanna Shirl, cousins and family friends had all stitched small sections of it. We will treasure it always. 

Saturday dawned, beautifully sunny with a light breeze. From the moment I woke up, every single sense was heightened. I have never felt so excited, nervous and happy all at once. I think I was pretty quiet most of the morning because I was trying to keep myself calm and remind myself to enjoy the moment and take it all in. It was a fairly relaxed start to the day (the guys were on set-up so not as relaxed for them!). I enjoyed going for a swim by myself then reading the letter Dan wrote to me on the beach. We didn't hire anyone to do our hair and Dan's mum (who is a beautician) did my makeup, so there wasn't heaps to do in the morning. It was so nice just hanging out with my sisters, Kelly and my mum. I loved seeing the wildflowers when they turned up and watching my bridal party get into their dresses - all the colours were perfect and they looked so beautiful. My mum let me borrow her garter that she wore on her wedding day, and I will never forget her helping me into my dress. Shortly after showing my bridal party my dress for the first time, my dad arrived and I got to show him too - no words can describe how significant that moment was but Isaac captured it perfectly. 

The ceremony was held on the reserve by Pungapunga River, behind the family bach. Dan’s pounamu hung from the archway that Dan built himself, a surprise for me. The trees were lined with bunting, and handmade quilts from my mum and aunties dotted the grass. Guests wore an array of colourful sun hats that they selected at random from a wooden basket as they entered, which made me laugh when I saw them. My friend, Jamie, was helping us out for the day and he picked me and my dad up to take us to the ceremony. I remember sitting in the car - my fingertips and toes were tingling so much because I was incredibly nervous. My heart was pounding and my mouth was super dry. I really wanted to be on time because I didn't want Dan to be waiting for me. Coming around the corner and seeing everyone standing for us was so precious, and I wanted to look at everyone to acknowledge them, but I really only had eyes for Dan. Once I saw him, I couldn't stop smiling. It was my cousin Claire’s beautiful singing of’ Here Comes the Sun’ and my Dad’s emotion that set everyone off! 

It’s hard to pick a favourite moment from the day. I loved walking across the road to the beach throughout the night for barefoot photos with Dan, where we could cherish a moment together on our own, before returning to the marquee for hilarious speeches, tequila, and a full dance floor underneath festoon lights! 

We didn’t hire a venue or additional staff, and I feel that as a result, our wedding was the perfect reflection of our relationship, because every person involved had played a special role in raising us, shaping us and journeying with us. Our team of family and friends, especially my mum and dad, spent hours and hours creating the wedding of our dreams - rustic, wild, elegant… we can’t thank them enough for the best day of our lives. It meant the world to share our day with the ones we love. 

AROHA NUI,

Vic xx

Bride - Harlie by Made with Love, Felicity’s Bridal

Bridal Party - Blak 

Caterer - Food Gurus 

Celebrant - Sally Dobson 

Chiller / Drinks - Liquor King, Coromandel 

Florist - Wildflowers Coromandel 

Musician - Claire Kendall 

Photographer - Isaac de Reus, Perspectives Photo + Cinema 

Stationery and website design - Alice McGall

Stretch Tent - Peninsula Party Hire Whitianga 

Wedding Website - The Knot