Photography by Arabella Photo
Olympic rowers Lucy Spoors and Brook Robertson didn’t have to look far to find the perfect spot for their romantic December 6 wedding. Their 10-year love story has always revolved around the water. So it was a natural decision to put a marquee on the picturesque front lawn of Lucy’s parents’ home, opposite Lake Karapiro, where the couple have ploughed the water together for thousands of training hours.
On a blue-sky Waikato afternoon, with 115 of their closest friends and family watching on, the elite athletes finally said “I do” in an emotional but fun ceremony.
“What I loved about getting married at home was being able to peek out the curtains as I was getting ready,” tells Lucy Spoors, 33, who lives at the house with Brook, 30, their son Rupert, two, and mum Virginia, while her dad Mark commutes from Christchurch.
“Just to see everybody special to us arrive one by one, that’s when I was thinking, ‘Oh, okay, this is really happening!’”
Brook is the first to admit he isn’t one to wear his heart on his sleeve. But his smile couldn’t have been any wider as he watched his beautiful bride make her way down the aisle towards him, with the song Blossom by Dermot Kennedy playing.
“I don’t show my emotions too much,” he says. “But when I saw Lucy in her dress, walking down on Mark’s arm, it was pretty overwhelming. She was absolutely stunning.”
Lucy Spoors wore a gorgeous two-piece couture gown by Vinka Design, which included a white corseted-bodice with lace trim, a bias skirt with a train and a short veil with matching lace. However, one person who didn’t share the same love for the dress was the couple’s adorable toddler Rupert, who is used to seeing his mummy in activewear.
“He doesn’t often see me in a dress and he didn’t like it,” laughs Lucy. “So I was really struggling to keep his dirty mitts off it.
“The canapés came out and he came straight up to me with aioli-covered hands, stuck them on the bottom of my dress and said, ‘Take it off!’ He said that a lot of times throughout the day.”
As they chat to the Weekly the day after their nuptials, it’s 2pm and Lucy Spoors reveals she hasn’t had any sleep yet. “We got to bed in the early hours, but we’d drunk a lot of espresso martinis and
I couldn’t sleep!” Tired, but with hearts full, the newlyweds agree the day exceeded all expectations.
It was the culmination of a massive year for Lucy, who – with teammate and fellow mum-of-one Brooke Francis – won gold in the women’s double scull at the Paris Olympics in August. Brook – who attended both the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, rowing in the Men’s Pair and Men’s Eight – retired from the sport earlier this year. He is now pursuing a coaching career. Lucy Spoors teared up in her vows telling how much his unwavering support has meant to her over the past two years.
“It surprised me. Because I thought I’d chucked enough jokes in there that I wouldn’t get emotional,” shares Lucy. She got her phone out to reread a portion of her vows. “I told him, ‘This year, you’ve supported me to chase a dream. I’m constantly aware that can’t always be easy when it’s a dream you once held for yourself. But you believe in me every single day more than I believe in myself. Your support has been unwavering and endless. And this year says way more about your character than it does about mine.’”
Wiping his eyes, Brook admits, “Yeah, that bit kind of got me! Personally, the past couple of years have been extremely emotional. Mainly with my rowing career not working out the way I hoped it would. And, transitioning out of the sport.
“But such a massive highlight for me was going to Paris to look after Rupert so Lucy could prep that last week with no distractions. Sure, it was hard to watch everyone rowing and me not doing it. But watching Lucy holding Rupert after winning gold… That felt like I was achieving my dream through Lucy as well, when I couldn’t actually be out on the water.” He points out that writing his own vows was a stressful process too.
“Lucy is incredibly good at writing and has a degree in linguistics. So I knew I was up against it,” he says. “She’s very good at articulating what she wants to say, whereas I’m a little bit more…”. Interjects Lucy, “Nah, yours were really good!”. But what helped stem their tears was catching glimpses of their son playing happily in the front row.
“I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I’d be. Because I was looking at Lucy and then I was looking at what that little guy was doing,” says Brook. Adds Lucy, “We thought there’s no point putting him in a suit jacket and pants. Because he’s just going to roll around on the ground. So he wore linen shorts, a linen tee and a flower buttonhole – but that lasted about five minutes!”
“One of Rupert’s best mates is Tommy Twigg, also two, whose mum [Olympic champion single sculler] Emma Twigg was my maid of honour. So after dinner, Rupert went home with his wee friend Tommy and had a sleepover at his house.” Along with Emma, Lucy’s bridesmaids included her younger twin sisters Phoebe Spoors and Grace Perkins.
Meanwhile, Brook’s best man was rower Stephen Jones (who he rowed with in the Men’s Pair at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics). And groomsmen Tom Murray (teammates in the Men’s Eights at the Rio Olympics) and his younger brother Balin.
“It was really special having one of my family friends, Michael Wagteveld, officiating our ceremony as well. Which made it a lot more personal,” says Brook.
While much of the wedding organisation was done by Lucy, post-Paris Olympics. She admits a few things slipped through the cracks and were still being sorted two days before tying the knot. It was during the wedding rehearsal, when the celebrant asked, “Have you got your rings?”. That the usually chilled-out pair may have had a little panic.
“We were like, ‘We’ll sort something for tomorrow!’” laughs Brook, realising wedding rings had been left off the never-ending to-do list. “Lucy decided she would wear an antique ring she already had, but I was asking people, ‘Has anyone got a ring I could borrow?’
“Nothing would fit my chubby fingers! And then our mate Jess Nelson, who did all the flowers and made our wedding cake, said she would find one. Basically, I borrowed one until midnight.”
During the fun-filled, relaxed reception, as their guests enjoyed tiramisu for dessert, Lucy was overcome with emotion again when her husband made a touching tribute.
Brook explains, “I brought up in my speech how incredible she is as a mother. Yes, she’s a superstar in the boat, but it also doesn’t take away anything from her being a mother.
“Every day, she comes back from training and goes straight into being an unbelievable mum to Rupert. No matter how tired she is. I couldn’t be more proud and happy that she’s the mother of my child. She’s who I want Rupert to grow up being like.”
The athletes first met just over a decade ago. Brook, who had started rowing at Nelson Boys’ College, moved up to Cambridge in 2013. He was 19 and had joined the under-23 squad, while Lucy was rowing in the Elite crew.
“I remember we crossed paths in the stairwell. I was like, ‘Oh, my God, it’s Lucy Spoors!’ and we said an awkward hello,” he grins.
Beyond the gruelling practice sessions, it didn’t take long for the lively newbie, with his 1.94-metre frame, to make an impression on Lucy either and they started dating.
“It’s very easy to form friendships first in a rowing environment. Because you’re naturally spending heaps of time, and eating meals together, with all the boys and girls on the team,” explains Lucy. “I quickly noticed how much fun I would always have with Brook. I said in my vows how he makes me laugh. And, even when I’m not looking for fun, I end up having fun because of him.”
The sporting couple had been dreaming of a big day full of love and laughter since they got engaged in 2020. Soon after the Tokyo Olympics, where Lucy was a silver medallist in the Women’s Eight.
After the ceremony and speeches, it was time to party. Lucy and Brook grabbed their nearest and dearest to bust out some classic “mum and dad moves” on the dancefloor. Deejayed by “Aunty EL” – their mate and former elite rower Ellie Jeurissen.
“I got a bit worried when it hit midnight because we’d told all our neighbours we were going to stop then,” says Brook. “But it just seemed to creep on a bit later and later. However, one neighbour did request we play Thunderstruck by AC/DC!”
Reflecting on their day, Lucy says she knew marriage wouldn’t make her feel any different about their long-standing relationship.
“For us, it was more about us being able to celebrate us as a family. And, get all the people we love in one place at one time,” she says. “Life has changed and our careers have evolved, but our commitment to one another has always been the same.”
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