Photography: Meredith Lord.
A sizzling performance from Chicago, an ode to jazz greats like Frank Sinatra and Art Deco-style glassware – Hawke’s Bay winery Church Road transformed into New York as TVNZ’s US correspondent Logan Church and TikTok superstar Julian Sewell tied the knot.
After getting engaged in the Big Apple, where they’ve now built a life together, it was only fitting the theme of their nuptials was “a summer’s evening in Central Park”. However, several guests mistakenly thought it was a Wicked-inspired event after hearing of the grooms’ initial plans to wear dark purple and green suits.
“But then we realised it would be spring in New Zealand and those are autumn colours, so we brightened it up with sage and baked rose,” explains Julian, 29.
“But we didn’t realise our wedding was the week Wicked: For Good came out, so people were still saying, ‘Wow! This is the most amazing Wicked-themed wedding!’”
A love for musicals
It didn’t help that the pair chose the film’s most famous song, Defying Gravity, to shut down the dancefloor, adds Logan, 28. Such Broadway touches saluted the couple’s love for musicals, with Logan having performed in productions like Hairspray while growing up in Wellington and Palmerston North, before carrying his love of storytelling into radio and TV.
Julian, meanwhile, enjoyed show tunes in Hong Kong, where he was born after his Kiwi parents moved there for work. He studied theatre and starred in Peter Pan, eventually moving back to Aotearoa, where he became a teacher while chasing social-media stardom.
From New Zealand to New York
After Logan moved to New York for his job, Broadway was a frequent date night when Julian would visit. It was during one of those trips that the TVNZ journalist proposed to Julian, who has since quit teaching and also moved to the US, where he’s working full-time in content creation.
Walking down the aisle
But the pair jetted home for their romantic big day, settling into Havelock North’s Porters Boutique Hotel, before a wedding eve feast with guests at Malo Restaurant. Julian awoke the next morning “full of excitement”.
Wearing ensembles by Suit Club New York, he and Logan were holding hands but not holding back tears as they strolled down the vineyard aisle to a modern take on a Vivaldi composition.
Julian recalls, “As we were walking, I saw my nephews frolicking on the hill, I heard the music and I just thought, ‘This is our whānau.’”
Words from the heart
Framed by magnolia trees and a flowery arch, the duo exchanged rings and recited their vows before celebrant Tiffany Knauf. Julian gets emotional recalling Logan’s sweet words, which included
a line from Les Misérables.
“The vows were so special, I’ll remember them till the day I die,” gushes Julian, whose social media alter ego Paloma Diamond has garnered more than 104 million likes on TikTok.
“He said, ‘To quote what could be the greatest story of all time, to love another person is to see the face of God and I see that every time I look at you.’ There wasn’t a dry eye.”
More tears streamed as Julian broke down while saying, “Logan, I’m so proud of the man that you’ve become.”
Julian explains, “I couldn’t speak. I had to get through it while bawling my eyes out.”
Logan adds, “And I was crying the entire time. It was very emotional and special.”
Overwhelmed with love
Julian reflects on the ceremony, admitting the formalities overwhelmed him.
“We thought the ceremony would be over quick, then we’d have to take photos and the exciting thing would be the party afterwards,” he says.
“The ceremony itself felt like a formality, but it couldn’t have been more the opposite. “My favourite part was the vows because it felt very real and that’s what everyone came for – to witness this coming together. We were filled with so much aroha.”
The grooms felt the significance of being able to wed as they walked back down the aisle to A Moment Apart by Odesza. Logan was aware that on the same week he was marrying his soulmate, back in the US, the Supreme Court was considering reopening the case that permitted same-sex marriage in the States.
“We were thinking all day how we’re so fortunate and blessed to get married,” says Julian.
Logan adds, “You stand on the shoulders of those before you. We were only able to do this because others have been trailblazers.”
Among the 99 guests were pals from New York, Perth, London and Hong Kong, as well as Logan’s TVNZ colleagues Barbara Dreaver, Sam Olley and Whena Owen, who’s also Julian’s aunt’s sister.
The couple named tables after jazz legends, including Frank Sinatra, whose New York, New York heralded Logan and Julian’s arrival. The couple then spent the “entire time” shedding more tears, especially during their fathers’ speeches.
Julian tells, “We’re lucky both our dads and mums gave us their blessings. They were super- excited about this marriage.”
A sweet and lively celebration
Guests sipped Church Road wine, ate lemon and thyme chicken, then devoured a three-tier red-velvet dessert from Cindy’s Cakes. Thanks to dance lessons, the newlyweds stunned with a choreographed rendition of the Hot Honey Rag dance from Chicago.
The song transitioned to It’s Raining Men, which saw the bridal party pull off a surprise performance.
“They’d secretly been rehearsing in Barb’s hotel room,” says Julian.
Best fit
While married life doesn’t feel different, Logan turns to Julian during our chat, commenting, “I love calling you my husband.”
To which Julian replies, “Me too!”
Meet the Churchwells
Although they’re keeping their surnames, loved ones have nicknamed the pair “the Churchwells”, a moniker coined by Julian’s dad in his speech.
Following trips to Hobbiton and Taupō with overseas guests, the newlyweds will honeymoon in Mexico over Christmas, then dive back into their thriving careers. Julian’s US move has brought fun opportunities, like making his movie debut in the upcoming Nick Jonas flick Offsite and having Kylie Minogue slide into his DMs to say she was keen to take part in his series of 1980s soap opera-inspired posts.
“She was one of the OG soap stars of the ’80s in Neighbours,” he says.
“She was on tour and sent me a message going, ‘Wouldn’t it be fun if I could be part of this?’ I thought, ‘Surely she’s just had a couple of rosés and won’t do it.’ I thought she’d be too busy, but she sent the clip two months later.”
Meanwhile, Logan has published a queer-themed young-adult book, Forbidden Fruit, and continued covering US politics, recently making headlines as he was kicked out of the Pentagon during a visit from Defence Minister Judith Collins. He’s now preparing to cover awards season and the Fifa World Cup.
Asked whether the Churchwells plan on extending their family, the reporter grins, “We’ve talked about getting a dog. I can’t look after house plants, so we’ll get a dog and see how that goes!”
