The reconciliation of childhood sweethearts Karen Harkess and Kevin Clews was one positive development from the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake.
The pair, who met at Beckenham Primary School in Christchurch, got together when they were 13 and one day planned to marry. But it wasn’t until seven months after the February earthquake that the wedding they dreamed of as young teens finally came true.
The couple had split when they were 17, but after the earthquake Kevin decided to call Karen, which was when they realised the old spark was still alive.
Just weeks after their love story was published in the Weekly finally tied the knot at the Spreydon Baptist Church, with Kevin’s best man a from the couple’s school days.
“It was very sentimental,” says Karen, who wore a jade gown. Kevin wore a pin on his tie which his dad wore when he was married.
Afterwards, the couple set doves free to symbolise their renewed love.