The first time Emma and Nick met was when Nick was invited around for dinner. However, Nick ended up having to finish cooking dinner as Natalie had to rush her son (Jordan) off to have stitches after Jordan ran into a wall during a game with his younger brother (Luke).
Dinner must have been impressive, as Emma and Nick’s relationship grew from strength to strength. Nick eventually proposed to Emma on the first night in the couple’s new home at Bagdad on the 21st May 2010. The pair had spent the day moving, cleaning and unpacking. Being a city girl, Emma thought it would be funny if she wore a flannelette shirt that day because they were moving to the ‘country’. Emma had just returned from cleaning their previous property, while Nick was busy in the kitchen putting together a cheese platter. Emma’s mum was also there, rushing around cleaning before making a very quick exit (which Emma thought was quite odd because she had only just arrived). Emma was tired and grumpy and told Nick not to worry about making the cheese platter look fancy as she simply wanted to eat, shower and go to bed. Nick then went outside to open a bottle of champagne. The pair finally sat in the lounge with their champagne and cheese platter, and as they started to eat Emma noticed Nick had a strange smirk on his face. When Emma asked why, Nick finally plucked up the courage, pulled a ring box from his pocket and got down on bended knee. At this point Emma had a mouth full of food and said, ‘wait, wait – I have a mouth full of cheese.’ Nick said ‘it’s the only time you’ve actually stopped talking since you got home!’ He then asked if Emma would be his wife and of course she said, yes.
Emma and Nick were married on Saturday 8th October 2011 at the Lady Franklin Gallery at Lenah Valley and their reception was held at Rydges Hotel in North Hobart.
The pair had planned to be married outside the gallery on the sandstone steps. While their day began with bright sunshine, five minutes before the ceremony was due to start, it began to rain. However, Emma wasn’t bothered in the slightest, (she had already anticipated Tasmania’s ‘four seasons in one day’). Consequently, Emma and Nick were married inside the gallery and both loved it. ‘As the gallery is a small venue and we had around 60 guests it was very cosy and personal’, said Emma. ‘And a great setting for photos as well’.
The pair honeymooned in Samoa for ten nights. ‘It was unbelievably relaxing and extremely hot’, said Emma. Nick’s highlight was the game fishing, where he caught a large sailfish. The pair also enjoyed swimming with turtles, massages, drinking cocktails and spending many hours in the swim-up bar. On the way home, Emma and Nick also spent two nights in Sydney where they enjoyed the tourist sites; The Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Taronga Zoo.
Emma’s tip for couples who are currently their wedding: ‘Don’t sweat the small stuff. The most important thing at the end of the day is that you and your partner have declared your love and commitment for one another and said “I do” – just enjoy your time.’
Photography by Andrew Zielinski
