Our wedding day dawns overcast and a little windy. We spent part of yesterday looking for somewhere to hold the ceremony that was in shade as it was so hot but now it looks like we need a potential under cover spot in case of rain. We decide to go ahead with the same area we picked yesterday, under cover of pohutakawa and macrocarpa trees. The canopy will serve as well for light rain as it would for shade.

Our celebrant and witnesses arrive. They have brought a small vase of flowers with them which is lovely. Susannah and I change into our wedding clothes. Nothing white, just earthy tones, loose fabrics. As Susannah says we look like a couple of wedding photographers getting married lol. 

We have the rings, we have the vows. No, wait a minute, I have my vows but Susannah has left hers in the van. The celebrant runs back to get them for her. We also have two silver hummingbird pendants that Susannah’s friend Mnc, a First Nations Artist in BC Canada, created and gifted us on our BC roadtrip in 2019. The hummingbird is a symbol of love. We decide to ask our two witnesses to hold the pendants and to infuse them with love as they bear witness to our ceremony. They kindly agree. 

The ceremony is over in a blur. I stumble on my vows but when I look into Susannah’s eyes I am able to make it through. These words are for her. Susannah’s vows follow. They are beautiful. I am bathed with immense joy and happiness and a feeling that everything is alright and as it should be.

Afterwards we sign documents, chat with the three guests and split some non-alcoholic sparkling rose before they leave us.

It begins to rain lightly, more mist than rain. We have decided to move campsites and are about to leave when Susannah spots a kaka in a tree nearby. I grab my camera try to get a shot. I feel privileged that the kaka has come to see us, today, of all days. 

After awhile we move on. We drive to Medlands Beach campsite for a different camping perspective. We stop at a small Art Gallery on the way to buy some souvenirs of our trip and also visit the local Museum. Both are very small and quaint. When we get to the campsite, we find, like Harataonga, that there is only one other camper there. We set up and decide to go out for dinner to celebrate our nuptials. We drive to My Fat Puku Cafe, in Claris, for pizza. It’s a lovely way to celebrate the end of a truly magical day. I can’t stop smiling and playing with my ring. Our Wedding Day has been simple but perfect. Perfectly Us.

My digestive issues are getting worse so I am unable to eat much but it’s nice to be out. I’m worried about my inability to eat. I seem caught between constant constipation and diarrhoea. My stomach is bloated and hard and quite painful. I think it’s a sign of changes in liver function and that’s very concerning but it is a concern for another day, not today.

In the evening we take a walk along Medlands beach. It’s overcast so we aren’t privy to a moonrise tonight. Instead we sit on a bench and simply enjoy the waves crashing on the beach as the tide rolls in.

We are married! I wonder what took us so long 🙂