How it all began
We initially met online in June 2019 while Frankie was down in Ōtautahi / Christchurch, where Rāwā was living at the time.
Rāwā asked Frankie out on the first (and second) date. Frankie wasn’t one to go on dates but knew that there was something special about Rāwā which he was curious to explore.
We had our first date at West End Stories Café. There was no doubt that we had strong chemistry in person and shared a deep passion for human rights and community service. Having been involved in the Marriage Equality Campaign, we discovered that our paths had probably crossed seven years prior. It was not long into the first date that Frankie was overcome with the feeling that we might get married one day. Before Frankie returned home to Whanganui-ā-Tara / Wellington, Rāwā asked Frankie on a second date - dessert at C1.
We were never out of contact, but our circumstances meant that the timing was not right.
Rāwā declared his undying love and admiration for Frankie during a boozy Zoom birthday party in April 2020. However, while Frankie was touched and felt the same way, he turned Rāwā down because they needed to keep their relationship strictly professional.
In September 2020, the timing was finally right, and we decided to get together some 15 months after we initially met. Our experiences together of the previous 15 months but mainly during COVID-19 made it clear that we had something special and we could achieve our goals and aspirations as a team.
Pictured here is some of the COVID-19 Disability Response Team. From left to right, Prudence, Abi, Leo, Rāwā, Frankie, Victoria, Stew.
The proposal
Frankie proposed to Rāwā on 11 October 2020. He was due home from his road trip around Te Waipounamu / South Island on 12 October 2020 but managed to get an early Blue Bridge Ferry home to propose a day early.
Frankie had informed critical friends and whānau of his intention to propose prior and had a hard time containing his excitement and nearly spoilt the surprise on several occasions. He was also convinced Rāwā had already worked out what was happening.
Frankie had planned to propose in the Wellington Botanical Gardens; however, upon arrival in Wellington, it was clear that was not to be the case because it was wet and windy. So instead, the proposal happened at home. Rāwā, who was utterly oblivious to what was happening, took two hours ironing every item of clothing he owned.
When we got into bed, Rāwā put on a playlist of love songs he had curated, especially without realising it; he set the scene for the proposal. First, 'Marry Me' by Jason Derulo came on, by which point Frankie was a bundle of nerves and almost exploded under pressure. Then 'Kiss Me' by Ed Sheeran came on, and Frankie plucked up the courage to ask.
Frankie asked Rāwā to close his eyes, lent over to retrieve the engagement pounamu (a beautiful blush pounamu Toki shaped taonga from Waewae Pounamu in Hokitika) from his side drawer and gently placed it on Rāwā's chest. Then, Frankie asked Rāwā to marry him while down on both knees at exactly 11:11 pm. Rāwā was entirely taken by surprise and said, "Yes".
Pictured here is the “proposal rock” that was given to Rāwā from Frankie. You can find out more about the Waewae Pounamu here: Ngai Tahu Authentic Pounamu: Rāwā's Toki
“I meet him for coffee, and I couldn’t look away; I was captivated by his spirit of service and drive for human rights. It was within 15 minutes that I knew I wanted to marry him.”
— Frankie
The wedding party is watching on as Rāwā & Frankie exchange vows during the wedding ceremony.
“We caught eye contact at one point, and I was mesmerised by that addicting smile of his.”
— Rāwā
Rāwā & Frankie is standing with their wedding celebrant, Sue Wells, to send off the signed copy of particulars to the Department of Internal Affairs.
Have a look at Rāwā’s vows here
Have a look at Frankies vows here
Have a look at the ceremony video here
The Ceremony
Our wedding ceremony took place on 3 April 2021 at Welles Street in Ōtautahi / Christchurch.
We chose to get married and begin the next chapter of our lives in the city where our love story began in June 2019.
The day began with riding Flamingo e-scooters down to West End Stories Cafe, where we first met, for an early morning photo shoot.
Later in the morning, our beautiful grooms' folks and other wedding party members at the Rendezvous Hotel for a champagne breakfast and get ready.
After 1 pm, the grooms and their grooms folk moved to the Welder for a pre-ceremony drink and a chance to take pre-ceremony photographs.
At 1:45 pm, the grooms and grooms folk took a short stroll down the road to Welles Street, sneaking in through the service entrance, through the kitchen and via an internal staircase to get into position.
The ceremony began around 2 pm, joined by approximately 200 guests in person and 100 online. We chose to incorporate and celebrate the reo and te ao Māori in the ceremony recognising Rāwā's whakapapa and status as tangata whenua. The grooms prepared their vows which neither had seen nor heard prior. There was not a dry eye in the room, and there were plenty of laughs.
Following the ceremony, the grooms and grooms folk took photographs around the central city, including the Justice Precinct, the Christchurch Botanical Gardens and The Arts Centre.
A private and intimate reception dinner was held at Fiddlesticks attended by immediate whānau and grooms folk. Other wedding guests were encouraged to grab dinner at the Welder.
At 8 pm, the after-party began, and the grooms were welcomed by thunderous applause and a haka. Next, the grooms gave thank you speeches and invited each of their grooms' parties to speak before cutting the cake and having their first dance. From there, guests joined the grooms on the dance floor and danced in the night away.
Honeymoon info:
We are looking forward to taking our honeymoon later in the year, which will involve doing a grand tour of Te Waipounamu / South Island.
Together we are looking forward to exploring Rāwā’s whenua.
The trip will include seeing the:
Dunedin (to visit whānau marae);
Catlins;
Stewart Island;
Te Anau;
Milford and Doubtful Sounds;
Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers;
Queenstown;
Wanaka, to Lake Hāwea;
Tasman Bay;
Golden Bay;
Motueka; and
Mapua before heading home again.
We hope to see dolphins, seals and whales, catch some surf, glow worm caves, Māori places of significance, scenic flights and perhaps even skydive.
If you’d like to contribute to this trip, you can do so at a dedicated bank account here:
R M Karetai and F E Wood-Bodley
TSB: 15-3971-0140990-00
You can read Rāwā’s vows here and Frankies vows here.