Marriage made in heaven

By MEGAN SINGLETON

When Brooke Shields fell in love at the Blue Lagoon on Fiji's stunning Yasawa Island, it was love at first sight for a generation of adolescents. Most thirty-somethings remember the lanky Brooke and her sexy blond boyfriend, Christopher Atkins (whatever became of him?) in the film that earned cult-like status for pubescent teenagers more than 20 years ago.

At the time it was risque and certainly not the sort of movie I'd want to watch with my parents. But one thing was firmly established - romance, waterfalls and tropical islands were what love was all about.

These days on Yasawa, at the northern reaches of the island-studded Fijian waters, the beaches, waterfalls and famous lagoon are just as romantic. Unspoilt by hotels milking the island's celebrity status, the only changes for lovers now are that you no longer have to build your own tree hut or catch your dinner.

Yasawa Island Resort, tucked away among the palms, is a collection of thatched bures built on the water's edge.

It is so perfect that couples come from far and wide to stay on this piece of paradise with nothing to do but enjoy each other. Some even exchange vows on the perfect white sand at sunset to the heavenly sound of a Fijian choir.

"Island weddings are becoming hugely popular, particularly for second-time weddings or couples wanting a quiet escape," says Penny Henderson, from the Fiji Visitors Bureau. "Although, one couple took 120 guests to their wedding recently and they all had a fabulous time!"

For Auckland couple Nick and Jo Thompson, who met in a London bar three years ago, it was the perfect answer to the guest list question. Nick is British and Jo is a Kiwi, so choosing the place to get married was fraught with who could make it and who wouldn't be able to get there.

"In the end, we decided if we couldn't have everyone, then we wouldn't have anyone," says Jo.

So they decided on a pre-wedding blessing ceremony in a little stone church on the Isle of Wight (where Nick's parents and grandparents were married) and a post-wedding party on Waiheke Island. But the real thing was done with minimal fuss on stunning Yasawa Island. They arranged the whole thing by email and arrived with just the rings and the dress.

All the logistics were taken care of by the resort, including being picked up at the airport and taken to the registry office in Nadi to get a marriage licence before boarding a seaplane and heading off to tie the knot.

With only 16 bures at the Yasawa Island resort, Nick and Jo's upcoming wedding was soon common knowledge as they made friends at the bar and around the picturesque pool.

One of the legal requirements for an island wedding is to have official witnesses - who can be resort staff - but by this stage Nick and Jo had made a couple of friends whom they asked to do the honours. They also had the option of a private, secluded wedding or inviting the 30-odd guests who were staying at the resort. They chose to invite everyone and an invitation was printed in the daily newsletter.

On the morning of the wedding, they woke to the rustling of leaves being swept from the beach in front of their bure. A wedding arch was being created with white frangipani and palm leaves, and a typically glorious island day was beginning.

Later that morning, Jo was treated to a massage and facial - although she urges caution as her face reacted to some of the product used, "and the last thing you want is a shiny red face. It was also so hot that my makeup just slid off, so I didn't end up wearing any".

The day was completely relaxed. Far from the usual madness of appointments at the hairdresser and makeup artist, followed by official family photographs and trying to grab a bite of lunch, the couple spent a leisurely day with their new friends.

"We were just laughing with everyone about how stress-free it was. We were still swimming and lying on sun-loungers up to an hour before the ceremony," remembers Jo.

With an hour to go, the girls helped Jo to get ready in their bure, while Nick went next door with two of the guys and got ready there. Then, just on sunset, and adorned with a scented crown and bracelet of white frangipani created by the local village women, Jo walked down the beach to join Nick at the wedding arch while a Fijian choir sang native love songs and the guests took photos.

A simple ceremony was conducted by a Fijian minister, flown in from the mainland. Professional photographs followed on the beach (which were presented before they left the island in a tapa cloth wallet), then they joined everyone at the bar for drinks before the private wedding banquet.

When the meal was ready, they were invited to a little thatched hut outside their bure and, with twinkling candles, the new Mr and Mrs Thompson toasted married life together with lobster, steak and champagne.

If only Brooke and Christopher had got married on this island, I'm sure they would be living happily ever after today.

CASE NOTES

Weddings are arranged at most Fijian resorts and prices start from around $450 to as much as you'd like to pay. Average cost is $1500, which includes flowers, decorations, choir and minister.

Optional extras (but sometimes included in the price) are a wedding cake, photography, dinner and champagne, traditional wedding costume, bouquet and crown.

What you need

To get a marriage licence in Fiji you should take:

* Original birth certificates.

* Passports.

* A statutory declaration signed by JP/solicitor or from a marriage registry where you live stating each of you are not registered as married.

* Decree absolute of dissolution if previously married.

* Death certificate of previous spouse if either is a widow/widower.

* Certificate concerning names changed by deed poll.

* If under 21, written permission from parent/guardian is required and must be witnessed by the Consulate General of Fiji or Fijian Embassy official.

* Couples must present themselves together to apply for the licence.

For a booklet of resorts offering wedding packages, contact the Fiji Visitors Bureau, phone 0800 345 4463 or (09) 376 2533.

Fiji Islands