TV celebrant's love lessons - ‘HOW YOU KNOW IT' S THE ONE'

Reality star Lois took her own advice when it came to finding herself a bride

- Kasia Jillings

Staring out at Rangitoto Island while on a blind date, marriage celebrant Lois Hawley-Simmonds couldn’t stop thinking about one woman. The only problem was, it wasn’t her date.

It was in this moment that she realised how smitten she was with the woman who is now her wife, Gaylene.

At the time, the pair worked together as teachers at the same school and had bonded over helping each other set up online dating profiles. Fearful of risking their friendship, Lois was hesitant. But having officiated at more than 40 weddings, she has been around love enough to know when you’ve found “the one”.

“I started practising writing my surname, the design of our wedding rings... I just knew,” says Lois, 55, who features in Aroha Nui: Say I Do, a new TV series following Māori celebrants as they guide happy couples to the altar.

But it was taking Gaylene home to her marae, Pikitu, in South Waikato, and seeing how quickly her whānau accepted her that really sealed the deal.

“I asked Gaylene, ‘Are you in this for the long-haul? Because I want to take you home and I don’t want to take someone there that’s not going to look after my heart,’” she recalls.