This time last year, Arthur Green and Matilda Rice were complete strangers – a truth hard to believe as the adorable, affectionate duo share a tender kiss under the mistletoe at our fancy festive photo shoot.
But it’s not even 12 months since suave Art was cast as The Bachelor NZ’s leading man in the hope he’d find someone to mend his broken heart. At the same time, beautiful, bubbly Matilda similarly threw caution to the wind and signed up as one of 21 Bachelorettes all vying for his love.
“On Christmas Eve last year, I distinctively remember signing my contract for The Bachelor,” recalls Art, 27, much to Matilda’s surprise. She gasps, “Did you?!” “Yup,” he smiles, holding her gaze. “I was on the phone with a lady named Sue. I feel like I probably owe her a lot. We’ve both been on this crazy adventure for almost a year. It blows my mind to think how much our lives have changed – and changed for the better. Things will never be the same.”
Since finding each other on the TV3 show, there have been a lot of firsts for the genetically blessed duo, who have been an exclusive couple for nine months. There was their first kiss on national television, their first date away from prying eyes and that very special moment when they knew they were in love. Now Art and Matilda can add a first Christmas to the list – and their silly season is shaping up to be a busy one.
“We’ve each got separated parents, so we’ve effectively always got two Christmases to attend, which means together Mattie and I have four,” says a slightly bamboozled Art, enlisting the help of his blonde babe to rattle off their super-tight schedule of festive events.
“We are having an early celebration with my dad in Auckland,” says Matilda, 25, “before flying to Wellington, where I’ll spend Christmas morning with my mum and grandparents. And then I’ll meet up with Art and his dad, who lives in Martinborough.”
No peeking!
Smiling, she adds, “But before all that, we will have our own Christmas together. It will be a bit like date night where we go out for a nice dinner, but we’ll have our presents to exchange, which we aren’t allowed to spend a cent on – it’s all very top-secret.”
Indeed, despite our gentle prodding, the lovebirds aren’t willing to divulge any clues about their thrifty gifts, although they are both quietly confident no-one will be disappointed on Christmas Day.
“It was all Art’s idea,” explains Matilda. “It’s so easy to buy something, but because we already have so much stuff, it’s nice to receive something that’s creative and thought- out – it means so much more. And mine’s going really well.”
“Mine too,” grins Art. Then, in tandem, they both confess, “I haven’t even thought about anyone else’s present yet.”
The unexpected twin-speak has the couple giggling like schoolkids. “We laugh a lot,” says Matilda, catching her breath. “Life with Art is just more fun. It’s like having a little buddy around constantly. Everything we do, we do together and we love it.” Art adds, “When you’re single and you see your friends spending all their time with their girlfriends, you always think, ‘What are they doing? They are just wasting their lives,’ but it’s just worked out that way with Mattie and me. We are the ultimate team.”
While their busy schedules once kept them apart, Art now spends almost every night at Matilda’s inner-city flat, where teaming up in the kitchen to create healthy, homemade dinners is one of their favourite activities.
So despite their hectic, travel-heavy silly season, it’s easy to understand why spending the festive break apart was never an option. Matilda says, “You are meant to spend Christmas with the people you love. It wouldn’t be the same without Art. Our relationship just keeps getting better and better. We’re so comfortable around each other now, I even do farts in front of him!
“When I was thinking about being on The Bachelor, I asked myself, ‘Will I regret it if I don’t try?’ and I probably would. I’d probably wonder what could have happened. I just went into it thinking, ‘I hope I find someone amazing, but if I don’t, I hope I make great friends and I have an enjoyable experience.’ And I got all three.”
Smiling, she turns to Art and continues, “But most importantly, I got my number one.”
‘Life with Art is just more fun. Everything we do, we do together and we love it’
Making merry round the tree. “Our relationship just keeps getting better and better,” says Matilda.
With four fab family Christmases to look forward to, the lovebirds are in a festive whirl.
But it’s the special time for each other they’ll treasure most.
Shhhh … The couple grab a magic mistletoe moment
All ready for Christmas
Kiss-mas, baby!
There are more surprises to come, including two top-secret pressies!
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