Writing your vows on an open home pamphlet with vivid are minor details when you’ve spent the last six hours planning your wedding.
Stef and Danyon Cuneen agreed to tie the knot on Sunday afternoon, months earlier than their scheduled wedding in April, so they could get in before the country moved into the red traffic light at midnight.
“My partner was sitting on the couch crying watching the prime minister’s announcement,” Stef told Stuff the morning after her big day.
“He said to me ‘this [wedding] will never happen, and who knows what will happen in three months when we’re supposed to get married’.”
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Clare Gordon Photography
Stef and Danyon Cuneen had already put their wedding off twice when they hear New Zealand was going to the red traffic light setting.
The pair had already postponed their wedding twice due to Covid-19. “So I said to him ‘let’s get married today’,” Stef said.
“We weren’t sure about the rules under red. I don’t want a wedding where we can’t dance and enjoy ourselves.”
Under the red setting, weddings are limited to 100 people with one metre distancing, when using vaccine certificates. Without the certificates weddings are limited to 25 people.
Clare Gordon Photography
“It was better than what I ever thought it was going to be,” said groom Danyon Cuneen.
Stef started to make phone calls and, despite the initial shock from Danyon, guests and vendors, the couple – with the enormous help of family and friends – got to work.
Danyon said lockdown was “a kick in the teeth and Covid was ruining the experience” of a wedding.
But the way everyone worked together made it so much better than he’d ever imagined, he said.
The boys sorted the transport to the venue, the girls managed to find Stef three wedding dress options – her April wedding dress was locked inside a Hamilton bridal store and they couldn’t contact the owner.
Clare Gordon Photography
Two postponed weddings later, the couple were declared Mr and Mrs Cuneen.
Family and friends rallied a hair and makeup artist, photographer, celebrant, food and alcohol. Stef’s sister found a wedding arch, while her mum organised the flowers and a friend sorted the cake.
One bridesmaid wasn’t aware of the impromptu wedding until 3pm that day.
But it all went off without a hitch – even if one of the groomsmen wore two left shoes for most of the day.
“It went from being a normal day to one the best days of my life,” Danyon said.
Clare Gordon Photography
Fifty people attended the Cuneens’ wedding, a small decrease from the 79 invited in April.
“It was better than what I ever thought it was going to be because it was impromptu, [that] made it that much nicer.”
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced at 11am on Sunday the country would move into the red traffic light setting at midnight. She also announced her own wedding would be postponed, saying she joins “many other New Zealanders who have had an experience like that as a result of the pandemic”.
The Cuneens had other ideas. By 5pm, wedding photos were already underway and by 7pm Stef was walking down the aisle, wearing her bridesmaid’s former wedding dress, to an emotional Danyon.
Danyon’s favourite part of the day? Seeing Stef walk down the aisle.
Clare Gordon Photography
Danyon Cuneen said his wedding day was one of the best days of his life.
The Cuneens got married at Waipuke Park, Karāpiro, and had the reception at their home in Leamington.
“I wouldn’t change a thing, it was absolutely perfect, better than I ever imagined,” Stef said.
Fifty people attended the Cuneens’ wedding, a small decrease from the 79 invited to their April wedding. Those who couldn’t make it were able to watch on live stream.
“I didn’t bawl my eyes out until I saw all my family on the video call,” Stef said through tears.
The newlyweds won’t be going on honeymoon just yet. They’re wanting their children to get a little older so they can go away as a family in the future.
Clare Gordon Photography
With the help of family and friends, the Cuneens organised a wedding within six hours.
