Georgina Ririnui and Kaare Chase could not have picked a better place to get married - at the Tauranga Wedding and Special Events Show with everything laid on.
After living together for nine years and bringing up three "gorgeous" boys, the Mount Maunganui couple had planned to wed in October.
Their plans
were pushed forward after they were selected in the Win a Wedding competition, put on by the show's organisers, Funtasia Events and Graeme Martin Bay Events.
"The planning went from six months to five weeks but it took away a lot of the worry," said Georgina, a software test analyst at TrustPower.
"All we had to buy were the wedding rings and marriage licence."
Kaare, who queued up overnight to buy Georgina's engagement ring at a Michael Hill Jeweller sale two years ago, stays at home to look after the boys, Tauhara 6, Taitoa, 4 and Te Taapua, 2.
"He's finally done it," said a smiling Georgina.
Wearing beautiful Maori cloaks, Georgina and Kaare were married by celebrant Christine Grant in front of their 30-strong whanau during the show at Baypark Stadium yesterday morning.
The cloak Georgina wore was gifted to her grandmother by a nephew and Kaare's symbolised the joining of two families.
Some of the exhibitors provided photography, decorations, flowers, wedding cake, canapes and champagne, hair styling, nails and make-up, bridal wear and suit hire, and transport free of charge, saving the Chases about $8000 on their special day. Part of the prize was one night at Rotorua's luxury lodge, Peppers on the Point, during their honeymoon.
In the afternoon, Teresa Phillips and Rueben Anderson, from Tauranga, also got married at the show in similar style. Hotel on Devonport provided them with a one-night honeymoon package.
Organiser Sarah Manwell decided to get the adrenalin flowing for would-be brides by introducing some live action to her latest wedding show.
"I guess it was a drawcard and the visitor numbers are way out, I can tell," she said.
More than 80 exhibitors took space at the one-day show to promote the wide range of venues, services and products available in the Western Bay for that special wedding day.
