Some brides spend years planning their big day, but Marcelle Waters had just five minutes to get ready for her walk down the aisle.
Marcelle (27) wasn’t even engaged to be married when she was tricked into believing she was modelling a gown for a black-and-white-themed ball. But a secret wedding had been planned for her by her partner Corrie Whakakura (27) and his mother, Gail, with the couple’s three boys Montell (9), Karauna (2) and Tariana (11 months) all in attendance.
The couple have lived in Sydney for the past five years and Corrie told Marcelle they were going to Thailand on holiday, but they were dropping the children with the family in Ngaruawahia first. That’s where Marcelle’s aunt, Anne Sinclair, asked her to replace a model who had pulled out of a Rugby World Cup ball.
“The dress was so cool. It was exactly what I would have wanted,” Marcelle smiles.
She also had her hair and makeup done and was on her way with Corrie to the “ball” when he suggested they stop at The Point to take photos of them both dressed to the nines.
“We were driving down and I looked and said to Corrie, ‘We can’t go down there. Someone’s having a wedding.’ But when we got a bit closer, I could see my parents’ car and I clicked straightaway that I was sitting in a wedding dress,” she says, shaking her head.
Corrie immediately got down on one knee to propose, just minutes before they exchanged vows at the intimate ceremony with 24 guests, including their Ngaruawahia High School teacher, Sandy Macdonald, who took the wedding photos.
After the ceremony, Corrie had Marcelle’s name tattooed on his ring finger by her brother, Ziggy.
The newlyweds, who were childhood sweethearts, were still at school when Marcelle fell pregnant with Montell. There were four other couples at school at the time who were expecting babies, but Marcelle says two of the couples have split.
If it wasn’t for Montell, the couple may not have married at all. “Everyone was so surprised, because Corrie is not a romantic guy at all. But our son was hassling us at least twice a month to get married and he just loved the day.”
Although a surprise wedding wouldn’t suit all brides, for Marcelle it was a perfect day.
“I never wanted a big wedding because I’m just not that sort of girl, so it was just my brothers, sisters and parents, and his brothers and parents. If I had planned a wedding I would never have been able to do that.
“Another reason I didn’t want a wedding was because of the stress of it. But I actually had a really good day with no stress at all – and then we flew out to Thailand for our honeymoon!”
