The Olympic gold medallists tied the knot in an emotional Bay of Plenty ceremony. Photo / Justin Aitken, justinaitken.com, @justin.aitken
Black Ferns superstar and recent New Zealand Warriors recruit Michaela Blyde isn’t that good at sitting still – even on the morning of her wedding.
Ironically, seeing as she’s about to become Mrs Brake, the 29-year-old athlete is darting around her Airbnb in Tauranga with a fierce wave of restless energy as she prepares for her big day.
“There’s a lot of nerves!” Michaela says with a laugh, speaking to Woman’s Day on the morning of her nuptials. “I’m so much more nervous than I’ve ever been before a rugby game – including the Olympics!”
But as soon as she settles into her makeup chair, surrounded by bridesmaids Steph McGrath, Claudia Blyde, Rebecca Blyde and Terina Te Tamaki, it’s “rugby mode” – focus, concentration and full confidence. “I’m telling myself that it’s just another day, but that I’m wearing white instead of black.”
It also doesn’t hurt that her soon-to-be-husband, rower and fellow Olympic gold medallist Michael Brake, 30, has just sent a gorgeous letter that’s made her melt with happiness and calm her nerves. “OK, let’s do this!” she says with a grin.
It’s a gorgeous summer’s day in the Bay of Plenty – much to the relief of the bride and groom – as guests mill around the picturesque Eagle Ridge Country Estate waiting for Michaela to arrive. The fantastic weather comes as no surprise to the bride, even though all the weather apps had forecast rain.
“Yeah, well, we buried a sausage,” she laughs. “It’s an old wives’ tale – you bury a sausage in the garden the day before and the weather will be fine. I mean, it’s worked!”
And now, thanks to her sausage intervention – home-kill venison, in case you were wondering – the sun is beating down as the first strains of (Everything I Do) I Do It For You begin to play and the stunning bridesmaids, dressed in Blak gowns, make their way to the altar where a dapper Michael is waiting with groomsmen James Brake, Cameron Webster, Max Anstis, Nat Davy and Tom Abraham, all decked out in Rembrandt suits.
When the track changes to I’ll Be By Your Side by Patrick Droney, Michaela emerges on the arm of her proud dad Steve, who’s wearing the custom cufflinks his only daughter has just given him, featuring a photo of them when the bride was a baby.
Michaela is an absolute vision in a custom-made Astra Bridal Forget-Me-Knot gown specially designed for her, “the Michaela”, and she says she feels “so beautiful” in her frock. “I was super-anxious about wearing a dress that emphasises my shoulders and my arms – I’m very self-conscious about them – but this dress makes me look so elegant.”
Finally, the teary bride joins the emotional groom, who says he’s taken aback at how gorgeous his bride looks.
“She was just so beautiful,” smiles Michael, speaking to us after the magical moment. “Seeing her for the first time in the dress … Wow!
“It was a really emotional moment – I welled up when I saw Steve holding Michaela’s hand, but then I looked to my left and saw my five guys next to me. I thought, ‘Oh, crap’, then looked to the right and saw my parents … Man, I just looked up and hoped for the best!”
Celebrant Donald Webster, the father of groomsman and Team New Zealand sailor Cam, welcomes everyone with a plethora of dad jokes, before the bride and groom share their thoughtful and personal vows, which they wrote themselves.
Michaela tells Michael, “We have a type of love that makes me so proud and happy. A love that I have only ever dreamed about since I was a little girl. A love that keeps me going, especially on the toughest of days, because I know that if I ever fall down, all I need to do is look at you and nothing else matters in this world but my love for you.
“Michael, you have made me feel like I can do whatever I set my mind to. You make me laugh every day and with you by my side, I feel safe and protected. You make me a better person.”
Then the groom vows, “Michaela, you have been by my side when I have been winning and losing, and when I knew I wanted to do the same for you, that was when I knew I loved you. You are my reason to levitate out of bed in the morning and chase my dreams, and the reason to find my way home. You are the reason that home is home – the first time I have felt that in a very long time.”
After the ceremony, Michaela reveals, “I was so touched by Michael’s vows – he’s a very smart, articulate man and he spoke so well. He made me laugh and he made my cry!”
But when the pair, who first met in 2021, finally exchange their Michael Hill rings, becoming husband and wife, Mr and Mrs Brake, all other feelings give way to pure, unadulterated joy. Well, joy and relief!
“It was just the best feeling in the world – overwhelmingly happy and content,” says Michaela with a laugh. “Then we knew that we could go and party!”
Walking back up the aisle to the Stevie Wonder classic Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours), both Michael and Michaela are amped for their reception, featuring live music from the Dan McIntyre Band.
The newlyweds had put in a huge amount of effort to ensure their wedding bash was more of a party with their nearest and dearest, so Michael is especially thrilled to see the dance floor pumping the entire night.
“Every time I looked out it was full, which was so amazing – it was what we were worried about the most,” he says, laughing. “It did some damage to the bar tab!”
It’s on the dance floor that the bride and groom share one of their most special moments, after their first dance to For The Love Of Jane by L.A.B. Michaela explains, “We just looked around after we’d done our dance to see so many of our guests dancing with their partners. It was so lovely to see so much love around. It was amazing.”
Emotional moments also come with Steve’s father-of-the-bride speech during which he surprises Michaela by playing the poignant song I Loved Her First by Heartland. “It was an inside joke between the two of us that he’d play it when I got married one day – I didn’t think he’d actually do it,” says Michaela, smiling. “I bawled my eyes out – everyone did, actually!
“I’m the only daughter out of four kids, so me getting married is a big deal for our whole family, especially as I’m changing my name to Brake – which I’m sure the rugby and league commentators will really enjoy.”
Reflecting on their big day, Michael and Michaela say it was absolutely perfect and they wouldn’t change a thing.
“It was just the best,” tells Michaela. “I loved the moments that Michael and I were together and I was looking into his eyes … We just giggled. We couldn’t believe that we were finally husband and wife!”
Michael enthuses, “Honestly, we’re just so proud of ourselves that we pulled off a good wedding, and proud of all the people we have in our lives. But we’re also very proud to call each other husband and wife. We’re so excited for what’s to come for our small family – just us and the dog at the moment, but hopefully that grows in the future.”
It’s going to be a big year for the Brakes, with Michaela temporarily trading her black rugby jersey in for the red, blue and green of the Warriors, who will re-enter a women’s team into the NRL competition this season.
“New year, new code, new name!” says Michaela with a laugh. “It’s going to be an epic year for sure, and we just can’t wait to get started.”
Hair and makeup: Desiree Osterman. Bride’s shoes: Chaos & Harmony. Flowers: Sweet Pea and Jasmine.
If you need a break from the slopes or don’t fancy a ski, there’s still a lot to do this.