When James Shaw says “when you know, you know”, he could be describing the gut feeling that led him to leave his job in London to return home and pursue a political career. It could explain the self-assurance that helped him replace co-leader Russel Norman last year, only months after being elected as an MP. But today he’s referring to the remarkable woman sitting beside him, and why he proposed within just six months of meeting her. “It became clear to me very early on that I wanted to marry Annabel, because she is the most extraordinary woman I have ever met,” James begins.
“She challenges me, she’s incredibly smart and self-assured, and she is also the most giving and compassionate person.”
For Annabel, a lawyer who works in dispute resolution, the feeling is mutual. “As a single person, you write your ‘perfect partner’ list and James is extraordinary across all those prerequisites. He’s smart and pragmatic, but also a really kind, caring and considerate person.” It’s hard to imagine the couple ever being apart. But only five years ago, James (42) and Annabel (38) were both high flying strangers living in mega cities thousands of kilometres apart – until fate brought them together.
“I sometimes joke that we were both swimming in pretty deep gene pools in New York and London, and we had to come back to Wellington to find each other,” James tells. Serendipity has marked their relationship from the very beginning. While they’re both Wellingtonians, Annabel was only back in the country for three months to renew her visa when she met James. He was busy campaigning in the 2011 election, in which he narrowly missed out on a seat. Both were feeling pretty disheartened when it came to love. “I had given up hope when it came to finding a partner,” James reveals. “Approaching 40, I was thinking, ‘Oh, well, I’m just going to be one of those bachelor guys.’”
Meanwhile, Annabel was complaining to a girlfriend that there were no decent single guys her own age in Wellington, when a friend set her up on a blind date with James. “I knew straight away there was something quite meant-to-be and magical about the whole thing,” Annabel smiles. “I had been planning to leave the country as soon as I could, but when I met James, I thought, ‘Hang on! This is something really special that I need to stick around for.’”
The proposal came during Annabel’s birthday weekend. James had whisked her away to Greytown and chose his moment over breakfast. But while the politician may be used to delivering strong messages on climate change or lowering carbon emissions, getting this one across proved challenging.“I sat down and he said, ‘I have a question,’” Annabel recalls.“I actually thought it was going to be one of those ‘we need to talk’ moments. But he got down on one knee, pulled out a ring and asked, ‘Will you marry me?’ It was a really romantic, out-of-the-blue, breathtaking proposal.”
After her initial shock, she said yes, much to James’ relief. Especially given he’d already picked out the wedding bands that matched the engagement ring he helped design. “I had a feeling she’d agree,” he smiles. A year later, the pair married at Wellington’s picturesque Boomrock. Returning for the first time since their big day for our photos, they’re full of memories. They recall fondly that the weather remained calm – for the capital! – and that friends and family watched on as members of a Wellington ukulele band played high on the clifftop above the Tasman. Like the proposal, the wedding fell on Annabel’s birthday.
“When Annabel’s father got up to give his speech, he must have planned things well in advance, because he began, ‘Annabel was born on this day in 1977,’ and then everyone launched into a rendition of Happy Birthday to You, and a cake and presents were brought out,” James laughs. Annabel adds, “We didn’t plan to wed on that date – it was the only day we could get the venue! I was worried I’d only have one celebration in a year, but it meant I got birthday cake and wedding cake all on one day!”
As they prepare for their third anniversary and birthday celebration, there aren’t any plans yet to add to the family. James has a full work schedule and Annabel is a few months off finishing her dissertation. While they dream of one day owning their own eco-home, they’re currently renting in downtown Wellington.
For now, the couple say they’re happy being married, marvelling at their good luck – and providing hope for single 30-somethings everywhere.
Annabel ponders, “If I end up meeting the guy I fall in love with on the one and only blind date I’ve been on, and then he proposes and we get married, then that’s quite a fairytale.”
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