Belle's Diary - Entry 1

Dear diary,

It's another cold night here in Wellington. I'm sitting here, wrapped up warm in my track-pants, sweatshirt and gym socks (complete with holes in each toe). It's not the most glamorous look for starting my new bridal diary on the New Zealand Wedding Planner website. So it's just as well there are no photos with these entries!

We've got the heater turned up high tonight, despite last month's huge gas bill. Sam's in the lounge, checking out Doctor Who books on ebay. On the floor next to the computer, we have got piles of brochures from photographers, florists, venues, caterers, and cake shops. I better start looking at those again soon, because its just over a year now till our wedding!

But back to the beginning. I'm Isabella, but most people these days (apart from my parents) call me Belle. I'm 24 years old, and at the moment I'm finishing up my masters degree at university.

I met Sam a couple of years ago at an Australian student media conference. I was at a film screening, and this gorgeous boy lent over and started talking to me. Back then, he was involved in a student television group, whilst I was editing a youth website. And from that first time we talked, it just seemed right. He was interesting and creative, he had a wonderful smile, and I trusted him instinctively.

Nothing happened between us then – he was living in Melbourne, I was living in Sydney. I thought that he'd be this cute boy I'd keep meeting at conferences, who I would always have a crush on. I didn't hold out much hope for anything more than that. But then, things started to happen, slowly: a couple of text messages, an email, games of online Scrabble, MSN chats in the evenings. He agreed to be my date for a friend's wedding in New Zealand later that year. Not long after that, I moved to Melbourne and, after living in a hostel for a month, I moved in with him.

As a Kiwi, I've got all sorts of teasing for falling for an Australian. I've had to learn the rules of AFL, say “fish and chips” over and over, endure the summer flies, but it's all worth it to have Sam in my life.

The lead up to Christmas last year was busy, busy, busy with work commitments in the weekends and evenings, so when the boy said that he would organise a dinner for just the two of us in the week before the 25th, I was pleased but didn't think much about it.

I told one of my work mates of our plans, and she said, “He'll be putting a ring on your finger tonight.” My reply: “No way!”

I can't remember much about our conversation over dinner. At the time, I was worried about coming back to New Zealand to study this year as it meant I'd be living without him for long periods of time while he finished his Australian contracts. So I guess I was complaining about that, when he suddenly said, “how about if I said I was thinking about marrying you?”

And to start with, I wasn't sure whether that was a proposal or a conversation piece, but it all became clearer when he took a small white box from his jacket pocket and asked me to help him fill it (There was no way he was going to choose a ring on his own! Neither of us knew much about jewellery).

So we paid up, and as we walked around the corner, he decided to make absolutely certain that I'd got the right idea. He asked again. “Belle, will you marry me?” and yes, yes, yes! Then we went for ice-cream.

That night, I rang my parents in New Zealand. It was after midnight there, so I woke them up. We both talked to them for a while, then hung up and headed to bed. About fifteen minutes later my mum rang back… her and dad had opened the champagne, but she just wanted to make sure that she had heard me right.

Sam wanted to wait till Christmas to tell his family. We couldn't. We drove round to his parents' place a night later, only to discover that his parents were away at a conference till Friday. So we told his younger sister and swore her to secrecy. On Friday night (after doing some ring shopping), we arrived once again at Sam's parents' doorstep. They, and his sister, were watching the Apprentice final so we settled down to watch. All was fine and good, until the host of the show said that there'd be about another hour before they announced the winner. That was too much!

I grabbed the TV remote and turned down the volume. Meanwhile, Sam looked at his mum and said, “Why do you think we came over here on a Friday night? It wasn't to watch TV.” A pause (Sam is one for creating dramatic moments). “Belle and I are engaged!” More squeals and shrieks, more hugs and champagne. Honestly I don't think I've been hugged by as many people at any other point of my life as I was in that week.

Of course, I had to eat humble pie at work. Not that I minded too much. As soon as I announced the news, my co-workers dressed me up in a veil made of tissue paper and bubble wrap. They wound a paperclip round my finger for a ring. My team leader went to the supermarket and bought two cakes, and another work mate immediately offered me a box of magazines that she'd saved from her own wedding preparations.

Sam was horrified when I brought all those home from work!

He had never seen me be so girly before. I was his geeky, unfashionable girlfriend and suddenly I'd become his distracted, dizzy fiancée, passionately interested in dresses, hairstyles and diamond rings.

Making the choice of engagement ring was definitely harder than making the choice of Sam as my future husband. Ever since I was a girl, I had wanted a sapphire and diamond combination on my ring. That was what mum and nana had. But after visiting shop after shop, trying on ring after ring, none of the sapphire and diamond combinations looked right on my hand. They were all too big, too flashy. I just wanted something simple. So did the boy (simple also meant affordable!).

In the end, we chose a solitaire diamond on a white gold band. I saw it under the glass while trying on another ring, pointed it out to Sam, tried it on, and it just looked perfect. Although I just wanted to take it home then and there, we also saved a bit by waiting for the New Years sales before confirming the purchase.

In all our shopping, Sam had decided that he wanted a ring as well. So for him we chose a white gold and titanium band. Compared to gold, titanium sounded ‘manly' enough. He can say, “It's made of titanium” in a low, macho voice and he thinks it's funny. He'll also use it as his wedding ring.

In the end, after looking at finance and work options, Sam and I decided to move to New Zealand together this year. The fact that we were both leaving the country within 30 days of buying the rings worked to our advantage – it meant we could claim back the GST at the airport as we left.

So, eight months later, here we are in Wellington. Two people in a tiny, two room flat. Two people looking forward to the next twelve months of wedding planning, and the rest of the months and years that make up our lives after that.

And I'm very much looking forward to sharing all our stories and excitement with everyone here.

Take care,

Wedding date: 28th October 2006

Entry One | Entry Two | Entry Three | Entry Four | Entry Five | Entry Six | Entry Seven | Entry Eight | Entry Nine | Entry Ten | Final Entry |

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