Prime News presenter Janika ter Ellen is having technical issues with her microphone. “Testing, testing, one, two, three … Is it windy? Yes, a little bit. I might turn the other way then.”
The breeze has indeed picked up and is interfering with the sound system, but ever the professional, Janika changes positions to see if it makes a difference before charging on. This could be one of the blonde bombshell’s live news crosses, but it is, in fact, the happiest day of her life – she’s about to utter her vows as she marries her longtime love, Newshub sports reporter Ross Karl. And the wind is just another obstacle the couple have taken in their stride today.
On the morning of their wedding, heavy rain in the Coromandel means that up until 30 minutes before the nuptials, Janika, 29, and Ross, 34, aren’t sure where they are going to become husband and wife. But at last, they decide rings will be exchanged on the golf course at Matarangi, as planned. And as the grinning groom stands under a great pine tree overlooking the beach, the sun decides to make a timely appearance. Soon afterwards, so does Janika – in a golf cart. Rugby-mad Ross fights back tears at the sight of his bride, who’s wearing a lace and silk dupion Vinka Design gown.
He later explains, “It was the moment I had thought about so much and it was even more perfect than I had imagined. I was overwhelmed by it, but when she got out of the cart with a huge smile on her face, my tears went away. She was beaming like it was the place she’d always wanted to be.”
As Nick Cave’s acoustic ballad “The Ship Song” starts to play, Janika makes her way down the aisle with her father Tony ter Ellen and her mother Becky Hare. “This is it,” whispers Tony as they make their way across a path of rose petals and crushed seashells, but the bride needs no extra encouragement. Indeed, her parents have to slow her down. Later, Janika laughs, “I just wanted to get to Ross faster so he wouldn’t be standing there by himself. I was just so happy to see him!”
She doesn’t have to wait long. Within moments, the bride and groom are reunited with a sweet kiss and take each other’s hands, not letting go until the end of the ceremony.
“This is a wedding four-and-a-half years in the making,” begins their celebrant. “It all started when a new sports reporter walked into the 3 News office in Wellington and, on his first day on the job, saw his wife-to-be working hard at her desk. He knew immediately that the woman he was looking at was someone special. Janika doesn’t remember it quite the same way, but as soon as she had time, she fell for him.”
After white-gold rings are exchanged and tears are wiped from eyes, it’s the moment everyone has been waiting for. “You may kiss the bride … again!” concludes the celebrant.
The intimate reception at the golf club features a change from tradition – rather than the tried-and-true cake, the pair have opted for a 6.5kg cheese tower. As Ross explains, “We love cheese, so why not have cheese instead?”
And despite two weeks of practice for their first dance as man and wife, the duo describe their moves to “Never Tear Us Apart” by INXS as “terrible”. Ross says, “I think she was trying to lead,” before Janika admits with a laugh, “I’m not good at taking a back seat!” But a few clumsy moments aren’t enough to upset these lovebirds. “I can’t believe that I found you,” enthuses Janika spontaneously. “Some people spend their whole life looking for that person … ”
“And you were just there, at work,” finishes Ross. “We just stumbled into it.”
See more photos from their magical big day here
On the morning of their wedding, heavy rain in the Coromandel means that up until 30 minutes before the nuptials, Janika, 29, and Ross, 34, aren’t sure where they are going to become husband and wife.
But at last, they decide rings will be exchanged on the golf course at Matarangi, as planned.
Just before their ceremony, the sun decides to make a timely appearance. Soon afterwards, so does Janika – in a golf cart.
Janika stays cool and composed in the face of powerful breezes, as she battles to keep the sound clear on her microphone.
The newlyweds share a kiss as the sun breaks through.
Janika makes her way through the golf course in style.
“It was the moment I had thought about so much and it was even more perfect than I had imagined. I was overwhelmed by it, but when she got out of the cart with a huge smile on her face, my tears went away,” Ross says of fighting back tears at the sight of his bride.
The couple first met four-and-a-half years ago, when sports reporter Ross walked into his new place of work at the 3 News office in Wellington and clapped eyes on his future wife working hard at her desk.
“He knew immediately that the woman he was looking at was someone special. Janika doesn’t remember it quite the same way, but as soon as she had time, she fell for him,” their celebrant explained.
Janika – looking stunning in a lace and silk dupion Vinka Design gown – can’t believe her luck at finding Mr Right in Ross.
“I can’t believe that I found you,” enthuses Janika spontaneously. “Some people spend their whole life looking for that person … ”
“And you were just there, at work,” finishes Ross. “We just stumbled into it.”
