As far as Silver Fern star Grace Rasmussen was concerned, it was just an ordinary Monday morning.
The Waikato Bay of Plenty mid-courter was already on a high after playing her 100th game in the national ANZ Championships the night before, then her partner of 10 years, Mark Kara, suggested brunch at Auckland’s Mission Bay.
“I thought nothing of it as we go out to brunch quite a lot,” the netballer says with a grin. “Though, looking back now, he had been on his phone a lot in the weeks beforehand – he’s not normally that antisocial!”
As it turns out, the 31-year-old sales rep had a good reason to be glued to his mobile as he was colluding with a pilot friend to make sure he popped the question in a fittingly epic way.
“It’s been 10 years – it had to be good,” he laughs. “Grace always said if I ever proposed, it had better be good because I made her wait this long!”
Leading his love out onto the beach, Mark sent off a final text to his friend and, making sure Grace (29) was in the right position – “she was off taking selfies! How typical!” he says, shaking his head – he pointed to the sky.
“He goes, ‘Babe, check that out!’” remembers Grace. “I look up and there’s this plane with a banner coming around the corner and it says, ‘Grace, will you marry me?’”
She continues, “It actually took me a while to click! But then I turned around and he was on one knee with a ring box open, with this gorgeous ring inside. I was so blown away with how much effort he went to – and the fact it was happening! It was definitely worth the wait.”
Now almost 11 years into their romance, with their wedding just around the corner, Grace and Mark are still on cloud nine, and both laugh when they think of how far they’ve come since their first meeting at a friend’s 21st in 2006.
“It was the birthday of one of Mark’s ex-girlfriends,” Grace says with a giggle. “And no, I didn’t break up a relationship!
“We ended up going out afterwards and Mark asked one of my friends to ask me if it was alright for him to get my number – which I thought was really sweet. Most guys wouldn’t have even thought to ask. And yeah, the rest is history.”
“I never used to chase girls,” adds Mark, grinning slyly. “But there was something different about Grace. I’m not sure what.”
“Oh, the light that radiated off my face in the club,” hoots Grace. “That was definitely it!”
“It might have been her dance moves, actually,” Mark laughs. “She’s not bad!”
The pair have been together ever since, but both admit to going through their ups and downs during their romance.
“People say there’s the honeymoon period when you first get together, but we went through a few bumps,” explains Grace.
“It wasn’t all perfect – no relationship is. We had a bit of a rough patch in the beginning, but obviously we got through it. Now, we have an amazing mutual understanding and respect for each other.”
A major factor in their lives is their shared dedication to their faith – Grace has even completed her diploma in theology and plans to explore the subject more in the future.
“It’s pretty much the foundation of our relationship,” says Grace, as Mark nods.
“That’s why we’ve grown so much as a couple, and why we’re more and more in love.”
The pair don’t live together – they’re waiting until they tie the knot – but have just bought a house together in West Auckland in anticipation.
“We know you don’t often come across people who haven’t moved in with their partners after this long,” she continues, smiling.
“So I guess it’s not kind of normal, but we’re really happy with the fact we’ve waited.”
While they share an absolute love of God, both Grace and Mark admit to a few differences – Grace isn’t as crazy about the outdoors as Mark is – but the star athlete is committed to giving things such as camping a go.
And the duo are fiercely competitive and stubborn. “Maybe strong-willed is a better word?” Grace laughs. “When we clash…”
“We clash,” finishes Mark with a grin.
Still, among their never-ending banter and jokes, most of them at the other’s expense, the pair say their differences make their relationship what it is – and Mark can’t help but get teary-eyed when asked just why he loves Grace.
“Oh, it’s everything,” he says. “I really don’t know what to say. Just everything. She’s amazing.”
As for Grace, it’s Mark’s generosity of spirit that won her over.
“He’s got a heart of gold,” she tells. “He’s just got the biggest heart. He gives everything to me, my family and his friends, and he always goes above and beyond.
“He might look like this big macho man, but he’s a massive softie inside. He went and got a facial the other week!”
“Oh, wow, thanks for sharing that,” Mark says, burying his head in his hands.
Along with their upcoming wedding, the pair are definitely looking forward to starting a family, as well as embarking on an OE – but with the Commonwealth Games and World Championships coming up, their plans have to work around Grace’s netball commitments.
“Mark is a wee bit… well, he’s really supportive, but it’s an inevitability with my job,” nods Grace.
“But we’re excited – the last few years have been good to us.”
