Pictures: @brodiemcdowellweddings, brodiemcdowell.com
The picture-perfect farm in rural Waikato could not have been a more fitting setting for Olympic javelin thrower Tori Peeters to marry the love of her life, Cam Moorby.
A nod to their rural roots was an important part of their special day. The Red Barn Wedding & Events centre, with its panoramic views of the Hinuera Valley, ticked all the couple’s boxes.
“It was the first venue we looked at. Both having grown up on a farm, it felt right,” explains Tori, 30, who spent much of her childhood on a dairy farm in Southland.
“It was just gorgeous . It had lots of greenery, and we loved the outside area with the fairy lights and the fire pit.”
With 120 guests gathering for the wedding – some flying from as far afield as England, France, Spain, Japan and Australia – spending as much time as possible with family and friends was a key priority for the couple, who first met working as teacher aides at St Peter’s School in Cambridge.
Those attending included Olympic gold and silver medal-winning rower Emma Twigg, Commonwealth Games squash gold medallist Joelle King and our 2018 Commonwealth Games hammer champion Julia Ratcliffe. Former javelin world champ Kelsey-Lee Barber had flown in from Australia too.
Tori admits she’s used to hanging out in “sweaty gymwear”. So choosing a wedding dress was a big decision for the current New Zealand javelin record holder. She placed 19th at the Olympics in Paris.
She landed on a dress from Paperswan Bride.
“I really enjoyed the experience of shopping there with my sister Stacey when I was her bridesmaid,” explains Tori. Her sister was also part of her bridal party.
She opted for a traditional white gown with a high neck and open back.
“I did want a bit of detail on the dress. They added buttons on the back and the cowl to add a little something extra for me,” she explains.
“And the shoes were closed and not too high. I spend a lot of time in sport shoes, so walking on high heels on grass was really not an option for me!”
Cam, 31, ran some errands with his groomsmen on the morning of. Meanwhile, Tori and the bridal party enjoyed a chilled morning with “plenty of laughs”.
The bride-to-be fully embraced the pampering experience.
“I loved it,” she smiles. “My makeup artist Nat made me feel so comfortable. I don’t wear a lot of makeup on a day-to-day basis because of training. But Nat made the makeup look natural. This was important because I still wanted to make sure I looked like me!”
Her father Harry Peeters walked the Olympian down the aisle and she admits emotion overcame her.
“It’s funny – I’m not normally an emotional person, but I had lots of good tears throughout the day,” she shares. “My dad always tells me that everything happens for a reason. I now know when I moved to Hamilton to chase my athletic dreams, the side story to that was that it would lead me to find Cam, my soulmate.”
Olympic heptathlete, sports broadcaster and good friend Sarah Cowley Ross acted as the celebrant during the ceremony. She was there as Tori and Cam exchanged their vows, which touched upon their mutual passion for sport.
One of the highlights of the day was an emotional haka led by Cam’s brother Josh. His old schoolmates from Hamilton Boys’ High School supported him.
“To see our family and friends connecting at an amazing venue to celebrate love, it was such a beautiful moment,” enthuses Tori.
Everyone gathered later for the reception. In keeping with the newlyweds’ desire for no fuss, the speeches were kept short but sincere, with the lengthier addresses reserved for both dads.
Rustic florals by Le Fleur added nicely to the rural theme and a “banquet-style” meal of succulent Angus scotch fillet, chicken and garlic potatoes was served with salads and a range of desserts.
“Cam and I are used to food being put in the middle of the table and everyone helping themselves,” she says. “We liked this casual approach more than a fine-dining experience.”
The final formality of the day was cutting the delicious lemon-flavoured cake made by Layers By Ella, before guests hit the dancefloor to boogie into the wee hours.
For Tori and Cam, the magical day could not have gone any better.
“I’ve achieved my sporting dreams with Cam at my side supporting me. It was so nice to be able to celebrate our wedding day together,” says Tori. “Competing at an Olympic Games was a dream come true, but this was the best day of my life.”
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