Walking down an aisle towards the love of your life isn’t supposed to be this difficult. Beaming bride Makere Bradnam, star of The Crowd Goes Wild, is trying to make her way down a steep hill at Wanaka’s Rippon Vineyard towards her waiting groom Kurt Gibbons.
Her father Darryl clutches her arm as she inches closer, doing her best not to trip on her gorgeous Hera Bridal brocade lace and Swarovski crystal gown or fall into a rabbit hole. She’s also attempting to keep her cathedral-length veil on as gale-force winds whip through the lakeside venue. Makere’s hair, which only minutes ago was expertly curled, is now flying everywhere.
But halfway down the hill, Makere, 30, looks at the 100 guests, throws her hands in the air and cries, “I’ll get down there eventually!”
As far as entrances go, it’s a wild one from the stunning sports reporter. She finally makes it to the altar, the last strains of Sleeping at Last by Turning Pages fading away.
Then the wind blows stronger and her veil flies off, straight into Kurt’s face. But it doesn’t bother this down-to-earth couple, who giggle as Makere’s maid-of-honour, Maya Brown, attempts to fix it neatly back into place.
In front of their six-month-old son Tommy and their closest family and friends – including All Blacks Israel Dagg, Beauden Barrett, Cory Jane and Kurt’s groomsman Victor Vito – the pair finally tie the knot after seven years together.
“We’re from Wellington – this is nothing,” Makere says of the wind. “Dad did a good job of holding me up as I was walking down.”
“Seeing Makere walk down that aisle … Wow!” gushes Kurt, 32, a property developer and investor. “She was gorgeous. Her dress was amazing. I did tear up. There must have been people cutting onions in the audience!”
The happy couple with Tommy, who was decked out in an adorable Hugo Boss shirt and Armani trousers.
Kurt and Makere’s longtime friend Myles Gazley welcomes their guests, describing the couple as two different sets of pasts, memories and traditions that have come together in hope and love.
He then invites Israel and his wife Daisy – who is pregnant with their first child – to read an Apache wedding blessing, which Israel slightly customises with a line about new cars and houses, much to the guests’ amusement.
Cory Jane, Israel Dagg and Victor Vito at the reception.
Then the couple exchange vows. Kurt and Makere, best friends and partners, promise to laugh with each other in times of joy, cry in times of sorrow, support each other’s dreams, listen with compassion and understanding, and remain faithful for better or worse, in sickness and in health.
Slipping rings from Partridge Jewellers on to each other’s fingers, the lovebirds grin as they’re pronounced husband and wife, then share a long kiss as the crowd cheers.
A girl’s best friends – roses and diamonds!
“It’s amazing – I can’t believe we’re married,” Makere says afterwards, looking down at the shiny new band on her wedding finger. “It was so special having Tommy here too. I teared up a bit when I saw him in the front row.”
“This is just perfect,” adds Kurt. “I couldn’t feel more in love with Makere. Having a baby already makes you feel like that, but this just seals it!”
Israel reads a blessing with Daisy.
It’s clear tradition isn’t so important for the couple as they laugh about how they’ve done everything backwards – with marriage being the last thing to check off the list.
They’ve even swapped a wedding cake in favour of a delicious shot of limoncello, which the fun-loving pair say is much more their style!
Walking back to the reception – where guests have feasted on Stewart Island salmon, free-range chicken and beef tenderloin – the newlyweds are looking forward
to a night of frivolity and, of course, that first dance. “Well, we’ll see how that goes!” laughs Kurt.
“This day has been so incredibly special for us, wind or no wind,” adds a smiling Makere. “We’re so incredibly happy.”
