It was a union 84 years in the making.
Last Saturday, in the chapel at the Riversdale Lifestyle Village at Taradale, Rex Ridgway and Fay Matheson first took their marriage vows then took each other in their arms and celebrated their union with a kiss.
"It was a fabulous day - after
all the rain we had the sun came out and everything went beautifully," Mrs Ridgway said this morning.
To which it had to be asked - had she got used to being called Mrs Ridgway yet?
"Oh yes, I've got used to it, it feels okay," she said with a laugh.
The couple planned the service to be friendly, welcoming and informal, and Mr Ridgway, an accomplished dancer, underlined that approach by veering off from the service for a quick dance.
As the music played at one stage during the ceremony, he took his bride's hand and delighted the 50 guests as they had a quick spin across the floor.
"I just fell into step with him," she said. "It was completely impromptu and everyone clapped and cheered."
The wedding of the 84-year-olds was a family affair with children and grandchildren arriving from Australia and the US.
Mrs Ridgway's eldest grandson Terry Collister gave her away, while granddaughter Emma Hill was her bridesmaid.
Mr Ridgway's's long-time mate Darryl Brigden, from Paraparaumu, was the best man.
After the wedding breakfast, the couple invited village residents for a few celebratory drinks.
The couple will have their honeymoon in a couple of weeks when they head for a tour around the South Island in their campervan. But on Saturday it was a tour through Taradale in a vintage car.
"Like royalty," Mrs Ridgway laughed.
She said the most memorable moment of the ceremony was when Karen Williams, a teacher at Arthur Miller School who often takes children to the village to perform musical concerts, sang Always.
The song came at the conclusion of the service as Mr Ridgway spoke the words "Whatever life may bring, I will love you and care for you ... always."
