Silver Fern Joline's summer wedding

There are just two hours to go until former Silver Fern Joline Henry walks down the aisle and marries her best friend and partner, teacher Leif Johansson – and all around her, there’s a buzz of frantic activity.

The musicians are warming up, their gentle sound of guitar music drifting on a light summer breeze off the Whangamata harbour, while caterers scurry across the lawn. Family members arrive and last-minute preparations are made inside the stunning marquee that’s popped up on the lawn of the private family residence.

Personalised signs made by Joline (33) are scattered around – the one by the bar asserts “Alcohol: making people look beautiful since ages ago”, while the one by the dessert table reads “Because no great story ever started with a salad”. There’s even a welcome message from Joline and Leif’s two-year-old, Te Aihireinga.

But surrounded by her excited bridesmaids Casey Kopua (30), Maria Tutaia (28), Jenny-May Clarkson (41) and Erena Mikare (31), Joline is a picture of serene calm. “I’m not nervous,” she says. “I’m actually feeling quite chilled!” Wrapped in a white silk robe, a gift from Leif, Joline has never looked more beautiful as she talks about the man she’s about to marry; her soulmate and the father of her son.

It’s been 10 years since the pair first met at a Hamilton gym – Leif’s genuine, warm smile instantly winning Joline over. A decade and a child later, the couple are finally making their union official, much to the delight of their family and friends. It’s a slightly muggy, overcast early summer’s day in the small Coromandel township. Joline has spent the morning with her four best friends – Silver Ferns Casey, Maria and Jenny-May, and childhood best friend Erena. Joline, Maria and Erena are sipping on Champagne, while the mums-to-be – Jenny-May, who is expecting twins, and four-months pregnant Casey – enjoy sparkling water and strawberries.

Maid of honour Erena – who is sharing the duties with Maria – whips out a surprise for Joline before the girls slip into their beautiful blush gowns. It’s a bunch of specially designed singlets with the text Whanga Nui Mata on the back – a play on words referencing Leif’s hometown, Whangamata, and Joline’s of Whanganui. “Oh my God, that’s brilliant! I love them,” exclaims Joline. Joline, who is usually known for her staunch, stoic nature on the netball court, has kept it together up until now, but a special letter from Leif (36) has just arrived, which prompts a few tears as she takes a moment to read his words.

But soon, it’s time to change, and as the four bridesmaids are dressed, Erena and Maria help Joline into her light ivory French lace and tulle gown, designed by Jane Yeh. With her grandmother’s

brooch fixed firmly to her bracelet and a matching lace garter on standby – “for later!” Joline grins – the last thing to do is attach her cathedral-length veil. “Let’s do this,” she says. “We’re already late! Let’s get down there.”

Joline meets her dad Joseph in the hallway, a poignant moment for the incredibly close pair. “You scrub up all right,” Joseph offers. Joline kisses him on his forehead before adding anxiously, “Don’t let me fall over, okay?”

Meanwhile, Leif and his groomsmen Che Todd (34) and Warrick Hamilton (35), and best man Don Dickson (40), accompanied by Te Aihireinga, whom Leif and Joline call “Son” are waiting patiently by the harbourside where the ceremony will take place. Dean, Jenny-May’s husband, stands ready to preside over the nuptials.

Finally, around 15 minutes behind schedule, Norah Jones’ Come Away with Me begins to play, and the bridesmaids make their way from the house to the lawn, Jenny-May and Casey proudly displaying their bumps as they clutch white and pink bouquets. “That’s when I started to get nervous,” Leif admits later. “The time leading up to Joline walking down, and seeing the girls before her – I was finding it hard to hold back the tears.” The music then morphs into Brooke Fraser’s Arithmetic as Joline emerges on Joseph’s arm. But as soon as little Son sees his mum, he decides

he has to join her.

“Mum! Mum!” he calls, squirming as his grandfather Alan tries his best to hold onto him, while guests laugh. He’s making a beeline for Joline, who’s halfway down the aisle. “He must have known his mama was nervous,” she tells. “All I could hear was ‘Mum! Mum!’ and I focused on him.”

Bowing to the inevitable, Joline stops and scoops Son into her arms, somehow keeping hold of her dad and her bouquet, and resumes her walk, smiling as she tries to quieten the crying toddler.

“I didn’t realise you would have all of these different emotions,” she considers, after the fact. “I never thought I would be nervous like that – I’m used to pressure and crowds, but this was different. I’m good at netball – well, normally – but I’ve never had any practice walking down an aisle!

“But, as soon as I grabbed my son, and saw Leif, I felt all right.” Finally reaching the end of the aisle and offloading Son, who’s still wailing, Joline and Leif join hands and turn to Dean, who welcomes the 100 guests.

“Kia ora, whanau. Clearly, this is a moment for all whanau, and the little bro’ is going to make himself present!” he begins. “This is his mum and dad, and they’re about to embark on a very sacred and special journey. It’s important that he is right in the centre of who they are.”

After a reading from Joline’s mum Aroha, the pair share with the congregation how much the other one means. “I remember when I kissed Joline for the first time,” begins Leif. “She came over just to watch a DVD, and I leant in and gave her a kiss. I knew from that moment I was going to marry her. And here we are. “I promise to be honest with you, even if it’s not what you want to hear, I promise to keep you safe and get those spiders and bugs that you’re scared of.

“I promise to always have your back. I’ve got you, baby. I promise to be faithful, straight up.” “Damn straight!” Joline exclaims, as the guests roar with laughter. In turn, Joline promises to “cook enough food for a family of six, so you and my son don’t have to fight for the leftovers the next morning”, as well as vowing to watch her new husband flex his muscles as he mows the lawns, “which you do once every three months”. “I promise that I will love you,” she continues. “I pledge that I will listen to your advice, and occasionally, I will take it. I vow to be your unrelenting cheer squad in the days ahead. You’ve helped me triumph. I pledge to lend you the strength for all your dreams. I believe in you and I believe in us.” After exchanging rings, Dean utters the line Joline and Leif’s family have been waiting a decade to hear. “I now pronounce you husband and wife!”

“Leif, you may now kiss your bride. Come on, get in there boy!” he laughs as he encourages a second kiss, before the new Mr and Mrs Johansson walk back up the aisle to Be My Lady by

Kiwi band Sons of Zion. After a quick stop for an ice-cream from the Mr Whippy van and some photos, Joline and Leif reflect on their perfect day. “It was always hugely important to have Son be a huge part of the day,” says Leif. “The invitations are from him, the welcome signs are from him.” “He is the epiha, or the centre, of our lives,” Joline adds proudly.

Both seem to be slightly in shock that they’re actually married, and as they look down at their shiny new rings, an outward symbol of their lifelong commitment, they can’t help but grin. “I just feel so much pride,” Joline says with a smile. “I’m so proud of him, proud when I saw him standing at that altar, proud of the dad he is to our son. And, I’m proud to call him mine.” “I love her even more now,” adds Leif. “Everything is official – it’s all on paper. That’s amazing, especially for our son.” After a jam-packed reception – complete with rap performed by Erena and Maria, as well as a Magic Mike-inspired performance by Leif when he removed the bride’s garter – and a first dance to Sam Smith’s Lay Me Down, Joline says it’s been a perfect day.

“I can’t wait to start introducing him as my husband!”